The rain stayed away long enough for the Heath volunteers to get the pitch ready and in perfect condition for the match but as soon as the player’s came out of the tunnel the heaven’s opened and the rain poured down for the duration of the match.

Despite the conditions though both team’s put on an entertaining match for the 280 plus supporters who braved the conditions.

Heath started well but it was the visitor’s who took the lead on 6 minutes when the ball found its way to Toby Byron wide on the left of the Heath penalty area and the Worthing player twisted one way then the other before shifting the ball on to his right foot and striking a curling shot that came off the goal-post and into the net.

The Bears responded well and on 17 minutes Zac Young hit a left foot shot from distance that was touched onto the post by the diving Rebels goalkeeper Taylor Seymour and out for a corner.

Minutes later a long drop kick from Heath goalkeeper Stan Williamson was chased down by Louis Evans who tried his luck on the wet surface with a right foot shot from 25 yards that flew under the diving Seymour into the net to make it level at 1-1.

The Rebels regained the lead on 27 minutes when a long ball from left fullback down the flank allowed Remiero Moulton to run through on goal before firing a low right foot shot past Williamson.

Again the Bears came back with Evans making a run down the left flank and firing a low left foot shot that flew narrowly wide of the post into the side netting and Charlie Connell tried his luck with a right foot shot from distance that was gathered on the line by Seymour.

At the other end the ball was played out wide left to Remiero Moulton whose cross into the penalty area was headed goalwards by Daniel Nkrumah and saved brilliantly by Williamson diving across to his right to push the ball out for a corner and it remained 1-2 at the break.

Despite the weather worsening both teams continued to put on a show for the supporters and on 60 minutes Heath were denied a clear penalty when the ball was played into the Worthing penalty area towards Zac Young who was hauled to the ground by Toby Byron but somehow the incident was missed by both the Match Referee and his Assistant.

Within minutes the visitor’s scored a third when a corner from the right was played into the danger area where it was inadvertently headed into his own net by Heath defender Lewis Hyde.

In the closing stages Luke Bejashvili had a shot saved comfortably by Seymour, Williamson made a good save to deny Ollie Godziemski and Heath striker Elliott Romain fired a right foot shot narrowly wide of the post but it remained 1-3 at the final whistle.

After the game Heath manager Chris Simmons said “Really proud of the lads in horrendous conditions! Gave everything and kept trying to play the right way against a strong Worthing side, with 8 of the starting eleven aged 22 or under!”

Team: Williamson, Staight, Gibson (Terry 71), Marino, Hyde, Richardson (Napper 79), Doughty (Bejashvili 71), Connell (Romain 790, Young (Hadfield 89), Evans, Abudiore.