Horndean 4-0 Broadbridge Heath

This was a case of third time lucky with our two previous matches at Horndean both falling foul to the weather, so we arrived on a cold winter’s evening with gale-force winds welcoming our arrival.

Our first visit to Five Head Park the home of Horndean, an unusual ground with the clubhouse sitting outside the enclosed stadium, a long pavilion used for team and official changing rooms on one side of the pitch with several shipping containers in the far corner, one converted for seated accommodation, another used as a tea-hut/committee room and another used for storage but the thing most obvious to newcomers was the slope on the pitch which must have been several meters difference from one end to the other.

For the game Heath manager Chris Simmons was forced to make several changes to the team that played on Saturday with Louis Evans, Matt Penfold, Mason Doughty, Szymon Kowalczyk and Skipper Ryan Brackpool all unavailable.

The teams lined up with the Bears kicking down the slope, not sure if that was an advantage or not because the strong swirling wind was soon joined by driving rain making it difficult for both sides but it was the home-side who adapted better to the conditions and after going close twice in the early stages the Deans took the lead on 14 minutes when a corner from the left was headed home at the far post by Ethan Robb.

Things got even better for the hosts 6 minutes later when Rudi Blankson advanced down the left flank, left several Heath players in his wake before striking a right foot shot from the edge of the box that curled around goalkeeper Alfie Hadfield into the bottom right corner of the net and it remained that way at the break.

Heath started the second half much better without troubling the Horndean keeper but on 57 minutes with their first attack of the half it was 3-0; a long ball down the right flank was chased down by substitute Zackary Willet, he cut inside Tad Bromage and drilled a ball across the face of goal which struck Heath defender Kyle Sim and went in at the near post.

With conditions deteriorating and a few Heath players slipping around the wet, heavy surface like Bambi on Ice, a comeback never looked likely and the hosts wrapped up a well deserved victory in injury time when a free kick was awarded wide on the right, the ball was played into the Heath 6 yard box where it skimmed off the wet surface under the diving body of Hadfield to Willett at the far post who stooped down to head the ball into the net.

A disappointing evening for the Bears who for once were just not at the races. Next up a trip to Herne Bay on Saturday 10th, Kick Off 3.00.

Team: Hadfield, Chesworth, Acheampong, Sim, Bromage, Buchanan (Barlow 88), Lemon, Mutongerwa, Lindsey, Waddingham (Hay 79), Aubrey (Berry 45).