For our third pre-season friendly Heath travelled to the home of Burgess Hill Town for a pre-season friendly against East Grinstead Town fresh from their overseas adventure to Gibraltar.

For the first time this season the temperature actually felt quite comfortable for playing football, in fact I even had to put a jumper on in the second half to keep warm.

The Wasps have certainly strengthened their side during the summer break, lots of players with Step 4 or higher experience in their lineup and they will certainly be hoping for a quick return to step 4 football.

The Bears manager Chris Simmons has managed to keep hold of the majority of his players from last season and has also made some impressive looking new signings to bolster his matchday squad.

The game itself was certainly a good workout for the players, Heath started well with a couple of long range shots going narrowly wide and one well saved by the Wasps goalkeeper.

East Grinstead gradually grew into the game and kept Heath goalkeeper Stan Williamson busy with several interceptions from balls played into the goal area but it was The Bears who took the lead when Ben Royall, new signing from Loughborough Students FC, advanced down the left into the penalty area before unleashing a left foot thunderbolt which flew past the Grinstead goalkeeper into the net giving The Bears a 1-0 halftime lead.

Both sides made wholesale changes for the start of the second half with Heath on the ascendency but unable to find that clinical finish in front of goal. The Wasps came close to an equaliser midway through the half with a shot from distance coming off the post but it remained 1-0 at the close of play.

Next Up for Broadbridge Heath is a HOME fixture on Saturday 18th July against Isthmian League Premier Division side Whitehawk.
PLEASE NOTE: Kick Off at 1.30.