For the August Bank Holiday Monday fixture Broadbridge Heath were given a local derby league fixture against Three Bridges FC on a beautiful sunny afternoon at The BodyMould Community Stadium in front of in excess of 250 supporters.

Coming into the game Bridges were in fantastic form having played six matches, won all six, scored 21 goals and conceded only 3 so Chris Simmons knew his Broadbridge Heath side had to be at their best to compete with the visitors.

And it was The Bears who created the first opening on 8 minutes when Zac Young played a ball down the right flank to Francis Junior Ze, the Heath striker sprinted towards goal and drilled a low right foot shot that flew across the face of goal but wide of the post.

Junior Ze was in action again on 19 minutes when he controlled Matthew Hay’s through ball with his chest, turned sharply and fired a left foot shot inches wide of the Bridges upright.

The visitors finished the half strongly but were denied twice by Heath goalkeeper Alfie Hadfield, on 32 minutes a corner from the left was played into the Heath danger area, the ball pinged around the penalty area before falling kindly to Sam Bull who hammered it goalwards from 6 yards but Hadfield saved brilliantly on the goal-line to keep the score level. Minutes later a quick Bridges throw-in on the left was played inside towards Reece Hallard at the near-post but Hadfield was there again to deny the striker and it remained all square at the break.

The deadlock was broken minutes into the restart, Junior Ze’s right foot shot at goal was cleared as far as the halfway line before being recycled down the left flank, Hay played the ball into the 6 yard box where it was cleared as far as Charlie Connell who headed it down to Junior Ze, a quick one-two with Zac Young allowed the Heath striker to fire a left foot shot past Three Bridges goalkeeper Sam Roberts.

The visitors hardly gave Heath a chance to enjoy the lead replying within minutes of the restart when Hayden Velvick delivered a left wing cross to the far post where the prolific goal-scorer Reece Hallard arrived diving at full length to head into the net.

The game continued to flow from end to end, both sides had half-chances, Bridges Kevin Rivera fired a left foot shot across the goal but out for a goal-kick and for Heath Zac Young struck a right foot shot from the edge of the penalty area just wide of target and Sal Marino headed a Young corner over the crossbar.

The winning goal came on 80 minutes and was worth the entry fee alone, Charlie Connell received the ball in the centre of the park and played it out wide right to the advancing Jack Frankland who ran forward before playing the ball inside to Zac Young who took a touch, looked up and played a superb left foot shot from 22 yards that curled around the diving Roberts into the top left corner of the net for his second of the season.

After the match Heath manager Chris Simmons said “What a shift from the lads today! every player did exactly what had been asked of them from the management team! Great result against a very good side!”

Team: Hadfield, Staight (Frankland 58), Terry, Marino, Lowery, Peters, Dowdell Adam 63), Connell (Bejashvili 90), Junior Ze (Andall-Gibbons 85), Hay (Romain 71), Young.