Broadbridge Heath 6 - 6 Merstham

Heath welcomed Merstham to the Bodymould Stadium for there first ever league meeting, the weather was horrendous but for the ones that did brave the conditions they never would of guessed what a thriller they were in for!

In what can only be described as one of the most bizarre games of football you will see with both Managers probably having nightmares for the next few days!
Both teams struggled to settle in the wet & windy conditions and nothing between them for the first 20 minutes until confusion in the Heath backline allowed Ben Senior to run at Tad Bromage and his deflected effort trickled past Hadfield to give Merstham an early lead.
And that is where the madness seemed to start, within a minute of the restart poor defending again by Heath saw the ball fall to Merstham's new signing Aaron Lamont and he dispatched a 35 yard effort to make it 0-2.
Heath restarted the game and within a minute of the restart an excellent through ball by Louis Evans found Mason Doughty who ran in on goal and rounded the Merstham keeper to give Heath a lifeline! 1-2 and 3 goals in 5 minutes

The next 10-15 minutes saw both sides have good chances, the best falling to Ben Aubrey who dragged his effort wide of the post but on 40 minutes Merstham extended there lead again when a good move down the left side resulted in Greenwood scoring to make it 1-3.
Heath were not ready to give up and within 2 minutes they reduced the deficit again when a good move between Doughty & Mutongerwa ended with Doughty scoring his 2nd of the game. 2-3

Half Time - And time to Breath!

Heath kicked off the 2nd half and inside a minute they were level when a surging run and pass by Louis Evans found Doughty and he made it 3-3 and completed his Hattrick. Straight from the kick off Greenwood found space in the Heath area and restored the Merstham lead 3-4.
On 52 minutes a Heath corner fell to Bromage who smashed a left foot volley past the Merstham keeper and once again levelled things up 4-4.
The next 15 minutes were almost normal with both teams trying to settle but it didn't last for long when poor defending again allowed Will Kendall a free header and the experienced forward made no mistake, giving Merstham the lead once again 4-5.
But one thing you can say about this young Heath side is they don't give up and they responded immediately, they forced another corner and when Kyle Sim's effort came back off the post it was Bromage again who responded quickest to tap home and equal things up 5-5.

Then on 84 minutes Heath nearly took the lead for the first time when a quick break from Heath, saw Mutongerwa find Doughty in the 18 yard box but his effort was well saved by the Merstham keeper, but 3 minutes later Heath were in front for the first time when Mutongerwa wide out on the left put in a high cross and the wind took it over the Merstham keeper to make it 6-5 to Heath.

The way the evening had gone it was obvious it couldn't end there and in the 95th minute a deflected clearance found Merstham's Ben Senior in the Heath area and he dispatched a fierce strike off the inside of the post to level the game at 6-6 (yes Six - Six).

Finally the whistle blew and it was honours even and both Managers would probably not sleep for the next few nights!

MOM; Mason Doughty

Team: Hadfield, Achempong, Sim, Bromage, Brackpool, Penfold, Evans (Buchanan 85),Lindsey (75), Mutongerwa, Aubrey (Dowdell 62), Doughty.