With all other matches in the league postponed due to either waterlogged or frozen pitches the Bears Sussex Challenge Cup semi-final against one of our local rivals, Horsham YMCA, was deemed fit enough to play so off we went on a freezing cold winters evening to the Herbert Direct Stadium, Gorings Mead.

Heath started well and forced YM’s keeper, Alex Barker into making the first save of the evening in the opening minute when Harry Kent rifled in a right foot shot from the edge of the penalty area that the keeper gathered at the second attempt. Minutes later Saf Ahmed tried his luck with a right foot shot from distance that flew over the YM crossbar.

At the other end William Tomlinson tried a long range shot which went straight into the arms of Heath keeper Ollie Courtney.

The game continued from end to end and Barker was in action again on 12 minutes with another good save to deny Eugene Moteane from giving the Bears the lead.

The opening goal arrived on 18 minutes when a cross from the left was headed in at close range at the far post by YMs fullback Max Fuber.
Back came the Bears and Barker was again in action making a fine save from Ahmed’s left foot shot across the goal, forcing the ball out for a corner.

But it was the hosts who extended their lead on 26 minutes when a long ball forward allowed Tomlinson to run through and hammer a low shot that zipped off the frozen surface past Courtney.

The hosts were now on the ascendency and were denied a third when Luke Roberts broke through the Heath defence but Courtney was off his line quickly to smother the shot.

Heath reduced the deficit in the 36th minute when Moteane struck a right foot shot that went in off the post for his 8th goal of the season and it remained 2-1 at the break.

Heath started the second half well creating several chances but without troubling Barker until the 66th minute when Moteane swung in a cross from the right to the far post to Jack Hayes who bundled the ball into the back of the net.

Both sides had opportunities to add to their score but just when it was looking like going to penalties the hosts scored the winner when Sam Henderson’s long throw was turned in at the near post by former Heath junior player Luke Roberts.

Disappointment for the Bears, we weren’t at our best but good luck to YM in the final which will be against either Hassocks or Eastbourne Town.

The Bears Under 23s are back in SCFL North Division action next Wednesday 15th January when we travel to Oakwood.

Team: Courtney, Mark, Al-Meskin, Cranfield, Duneclift, Cumming, Moteane, Maguire, Hayes, Kent, Ahmed. Subs: Pickering, Louw, Wraight, Russell, Imperiale.