Chichester City 2-1 Broadbridge Heath

Chichester conceded a penalty kick after just 30 seconds when Ben Albury was brought down on the edge of the penalty area, Zac Young took the resulting free-kick which was blocked on the goal line and the ball came out to Faris Khallouqi who tried an acrobatic overhead kick which was saved on the goal-line by Kieran Magee low to his left.

The visitors gradually got the upper-hand with Alfie Hadfield making a good save from Ethan Pritchard’s right foot strike and minutes later the Heath stopper was in action again making a routine save at the far post to deny Ryan Davidson’s header.

Midway through the half the home-side took the lead when a Brad Peters pass was intercepted on the halfway line, the ball was played out wide to Pritchard on the left who advanced towards goal before playing a perfect through ball to Isaac Bello who rounded Hadfield to score from the angle and it remained that way at the break.

The hosts had then ball in the back of the net within 2 minutes of the restart when Joe Clark guided his header from a free kick into the top left corner but the striker had strayed into an offside position and the goal was disallowed.

At the other end, a rare Heath attack down the left flank saw Mason Doughty rifle a low right foot effort straight into the arms of Magee who and back to the other end where Hadfield was forced into another save to deny Pritchard.

The equalising goal came with 13 minutes remaining when Ben Pashley brought down Evans some 25 yards from goal, the Heath midfield player got up, brushed himself down and then hit a right foot free kick that curled around the wall into the bottom right corner out of Magee’s reach.

Just as it was looking like the match would be drawn and deep into injury time the hosts won a corner on the left which Pritchard floated towards the near post where Davidson lost his marker and headed home to earn his team the three points.

Disappointment for the Bears but we go again on Saturday 30th December when we travel the long and winding road to Sheppey United on Saturday 30th December at 3.00.

Team: Hadfield, Archeampong, Young (Schulz 81), Peters (Lemon 59), Bromage, Brackpool, Evans, Khallouqi, Aubrey, Lindsey, Doughty (Buchanan 58).