With Christmas over and done with, a large crowd turned out at The BodyMould Community Stadium for the visit of promotion hopefuls Sittingbourne who came into the game, top of the league and on an unbeaten run of 21 games with 19 wins and just 2 draws. While the Bears, despite missing several key players, were also on their best run of the season of six games unbeaten, five of which were away from home.

Heath got off to a great start when Callum Dowdell’s cross was turned away for a corner after just 7 minutes play, Jamie Chesworth crossed the field to take the resulting kick, an in-swinging corner from the right, which was headed against the underside of the crossbar by Bradley Peters at the near post, the ball dropped down onto the goal line before Peters stabbed it past the Sittingbourne keeper, Harley Earle into the net.

The visitors drew level on 27 minutes when the ball was played up to Joe Boachie just outside the Heath penalty area, the Sittingbourne player forced his way into the box before striking a low left foot shot across the face of goal into the bottom right corner to make it one-all at the break.

Heath started the second half as they had the first, restoring their lead within minutes of the restart when Charlie Parmiter received the ball wide on the right and played it inside to Mason Doughty, some 30 yards from goal and the former Heath youth player hammered a left foot shot that flew off the damp surface and under the diving Harley Earle into the bottom left corner, advantage The Bears.

Minutes later Doughty collected the ball on the halfway line and advanced towards goal before playing it to the feet of Mark Goldson who turned and hit a left foot shot from the edge of the penalty area over the crossbar.

Sittingbourne equalised midway through the half when Boachie was brought down for a foul wide on the right and some 30 yards from goal. The free-kick was played towards the far post to skipper Liam Smith who headed it back into the danger area to Jack Steventon who stuck out a leg to divert the ball into the net to bring the score level.

That goal spurred on the visitors who threw everything forward in search of the winning goal. Henry Sinai tried his luck with a right foot effort from 16 yards which Heath keeper Alfie Hadfield gathered comfortably, Ryan Kingsford fired a right foot shot into the side netting and Kyle Sim made a great stop on the goal-line to clear another Sinai attack.

The winning goal came in the 86th minute and it was that man Sinai involved again when he played the ball out wide to Smith who struck it first time with his right foot past Hadfield into the net, a goal which earned his team the points and helped to maintain the Brickies unbeaten run.

The Bears should take a lot of credit from the game considering they didn’t have a single recognised midfield player available, those who did come in did the club proud.

Team: Hadfield, Sim (Moteane 78), Chesworth (Terry 47), Marino, Bromage, Peters, Dowdell, Parmiter, Goldson (Waddingham 82), Doughty, Berry (Archard 57).