Broadbridge Heath 0-1 East Grinstead Town

Heath welcomed East Grinstead Town to the BodyMould Community Stadium for a Pitching In Isthmian League South East division fixture, our first midweek league fixture of the season but things didn’t go as hoped for the Bears with the visitors leaving with all 3 points.

The visitors started brightly but it was the Bears who thought they’d taken the lead on 14 minutes when Ashley Mutongerwa converted from close range but the Heath striker had strayed into an offside position and the goal was disallowed.

Minutes later the visitors were awarded a free kick wide on the left that was floated into the far post and headed clear by Tad Bromage, the ball was played straight back into the danger area where Roshan Greensall under pressure cleared it as far as Max Walsh whose left foot shot was charged down by Jamie Chesworth, again the ball fell kindly to the visitors with Tom Cadman eventually blasting his shot over the crossbar.

Both sides continued to create chances; for Heath Mutongerwa struck the ball wide of the post when well placed and for the visitors Connor Tighe had a great chance to score on 35 minutes when a long ball forward split the Heath defence but a poor first touch saw the ball go wide of the goal.

The Wasps should have taken the lead in the closing minutes of the half when a corner from the right was met by a powerful Ryan Green header but he failed to hit the target and it remained 0-0 at the break.

Greensall was forced to make a save within the first minute of the restart when Michael Wilson skipped a couple of challenges and struck low shot from distance that the Heath stopper pushed out for a corner.

The only goal of the game was scored on 58 minutes, a corner from the left was played into the Heath 6 yard box, it pinged around off several players before falling perfectly for Ryan Green to net from 3 yards.

In the final 20 minutes Heath put together some good attacks down both flanks, played some good crosses into the danger area and created several clear chances, Jamie Chatsworth's free-kick from distance was tipped over the bar; Sam Lemon’s drive rattled the crossbar but the Grinstead defence stood firm as they held to win the points.

Team: Greensall, Frankland, Chesworth, Waddingham (Weller 62), Bromage, Brackpool, Penfold, Evans, Mutongerwa (Quiassaca 81), Lemon, Doughty (Lindsey 73)