This was the only match in the SCFL U23 North Division to survive the winter rains as we welcomed Loxwood Under 23s to the BodyMould Community Stadium on a dark damp winter evening.

The visitor’s have had a mixed start to the season with 3 wins, 2 draws and 3 defeats, but on their day they are capable of beating any team in the division as they proved recently with a 5-2 win over current leaders Horley Town, so The Bears were expecting a close match between the sides.

Heath got off to a flyer in the 2nd minute when the ball was played forward to Saf Ahmed some 25 yards from goal, the Heath No.11 picked out Jack Hayes with his back to goal who set it up for Alfie Maguire to strike a left foot shot from the edge of the box that deflected off a defender giving the Loxwood keeper no chance of stopping.

Things got even better for The Bears 4 minutes later when an exchange of passes from right to left ended with Ahmed attacking down the left and he played a dangerous ball across the face of the goal which was only half-cleared to Eugene Moteane who struck it first time with his left foot high into the roof of the net.

Charlie Mark got on the score sheet on 18 minutes to make it 3-0 when he received the ball wide to the left of the penalty area, he spotted the keeper off his line and chipped the ball with his right foot over the Magpies defenders into the top right corner, a perfect strike from this shy young man.

Heath almost added a fourth on 37 minutes when Ethan Cummings ran on to a clearance and from 35 yards and smashed a right foot effort that was saved well by the Loxwood keeper diving across to his right and it remained 3-0 at the break.

The visitor’s started the second half well keeping Heath keeper Ollie Courtney alert but it was The Bears who added to their score in the 56th minute when Theo Imperiale attacked down the right flank and played the ball through to Jack Hayes who took a touch with the outside of his boot before hammering a right foot shot across the goal into the bottom left corner of the net.

Heath wrapped up the scoring 10 minutes from time and Imperiale was involved again, this time crossing from the right, Hayes, under pressure let the ball pass him by allowing Keanin Louw to rifle in a right foot shot from 16 yards past the Loxwood keeper to bring an end to a very good performance from the young Bears.

Strangle enough the teams will meet again next week in the away fixture.

Team: Hadfield, Bridgeman, Mark, Cranfield, Duneclift, Cumming, Moteane, Maguire, Hayes, Kent. Subs: Ahmed, Imperiale, Wraight, Louw, Courtney.