Broadbridge Heath’s first ever match at Step 4 of the Football Pyramid system and they welcomed one of the Pitching In Isthmian League, South-East division promotion favourites Sheppey United to the BodyMould Community Stadium.

Heath manager Chris Simmons made five outfield changes to his starting line-up with Club Captain Ryan Brackpool available again and partnering new signing Tad Bromage at the heart of Heaths defence.

The Bears started well and had the first shot at goal on 8 minutes when Jamie Chesworth intercepted a pass wide on the left and played it inside to Mario Quisacca who in turn passed to Ashley Mutongerwa and the Heath striker hit a low right foot shot from 25 yards that flew inches wide of the left post.

Sheppey went close with a couple of long range efforts, one flew over the Heath crossbar and minutes later, a shot from the left went across the face of the goal and wide of the right post for a goal kick.

The opening goal came on 19 minutes when a free-kick on the left was floated high into the Heath penalty area, Roshan Greensall came off his line to gather but the wind caught the ball and it sailed over the keepers head, hit the inside of the post, rebounded back across the face of goal to Daniel Bradshaw for a tap-in.

Heath responded with Charlie Parmiter advancing down the right flank, taking the ball to the goal-line before picking out Jamie Chesworth 14 yards from goal but the fullback, on his weaker right foot, shot straight into the arms of the Sheppey keeper Aiden Prall.

Heath had a great chance to equalise on 33 minutes when Parmiter’s right wing cross found Quisacca 18 yards from goal but the striker pulled his shot wide of the post. Minutes later Chesworth played a ball inside to Mutongerwa who advanced on goal before rifling a right foot shot from 25 yards that flew just over the crossbar.

Play continued from end to end with Sheppey coming close to doubling their lead 5 minutes before the break when Maliq Morris tried his luck with a right foot shot from distance that crashed against the Heath crossbar but it remained 0-1 at the break.

The second half continued in a similar fashion to the first but the Bears did come close to equalising on the hour mark when Chesworth played a free kick from the right into the danger area where Bromage headed just over. Midway though the half and it was all square when Brackpool’s long throw-in from the right was met at the near post by the head of Bromage who flicked it in at the far post to net on his debut.

With 9 minutes remaining Greenshall was forced to save from a free-kick when he pushed the resulting shot over the crossbar but just as the game looked to be heading for a 1-1 draw the visitors regained the lead; a move down the right flank ended with a ball played in towards Frankie Del Morgan who stabbed it home from 12 yards to give the Ites the lead.

Tough on the Bears who looked worthy of the draw but it wasn’t over yet and within a minute the scores were level. Mason Doughty was put through down the right, took the ball to the edge of the penalty area before unleashing a fierce right foot shot that the keeper saved at full stretch; the ball came back out to Matt Penfold who hit a left foot shot that once again the keeper did well to block but he only directed the ball to Charlie Weller who steered it in to the bottom right corner to give his team a deserved share of the points.

Next up for the Bears is another home match when we welcome Chichester City to the BodyMould Community Stadium for a Velocity Cup match on Saturday 19th August.

Team: Greensall, Frankland, Chesworth, Scally (Doughty 65), Bromage, Brackpool, Weller, Penfold, Mutongerwa, Parmiter (Evans 73), Quisacca (Lindsey 52).