Heath travelled the relatively short distance across country to South Park (Reigate) for the third meeting between the two sides already this season with the Park edging out the first game on the 15th August in the FA Trophy by 2-1 and 3-days later a league 2-2 draw at the Air Engineering Stadium home of Broadbridge Heath FC so could Chris Simmons side even up the matches with a win that could see them move up to second place?

Heath got off to a great start, at least that’s what the football pundits on TV always claim, when they won a corner from the right in the opening minute. Zac Young delivered the ball towards the near post to Ben Royall who timed his run to perfection to glance a powerful header past South Park goalkeeper Daniel Bracken into the net, 1-0 to the Bears.

At the other end on 20 minutes the Parks first clear chance came when Jerry O’Sullivan delivered a cross from the right which was headed goalwards by Findlay Johnson but straight into the arms of Heath goalkeeper Alfie Hadfield.

The game continued to flow from end to end and it was Heath’s Mason Doughty who had the next shot on target, trying his luck with a right foot shot from distance which was gathered comfortably by Bracken on the goal-line.

Back to the other end and on 30 minutes a swift move down the left flank saw the ball played inside to a Parks striker who turned sharply to strike a left foot shot from 18 yards but the effort lacked power and the ball went harmlessly through to Hadfield and it remained 1-0 at the break.

South Park started the second half on the ascendency and were denied an equaliser on 50 minutes when a cross from the right was met by Johnson who powered a header towards goal only for a miraculous save by Hadfield clearing the ball with an outstretched leg but it didn’t take too long for the home-side to find the net when on 57 minutes the ball was played up to George Vincent on the edge of the Heath penalty area who turned sharply to find space and fire off a right foot shot into the roof of the net to make it 1-1.

The hosts continued to create the better chances with Heath’s challenge being made all that more difficult with defenders Bailey Cotton and Lewis Hyde both having to leave the field of play through injury and the hosts took full advantage taking the lead on 75 minutes when Bradley Wilson delivered a left wing cross to the far post where it was bundled in from close range by Cerny Ando.

Heath’s best chance to equalise came on 80 minutes when Young received the ball some 27 yards from goal and struck a fierce left foot shot that Bracken did well to save diving low to his right. Luke Bejashvili was on the rebound in a flash to slam a left foot shot goalwards only to be denied by a desperate last ditch stretch by a covering defender to help his team to the 3 points and with it move up to second themselves.

Team: Hadfield, Cotton (Terry 53), Royall, Solecki (Marino 65), Peters, Hyde (Thiselton 61), Hards (Bejashvili 77), Connell, Doughty, Young, Yakubu (Hay 59).