Manager Steve Painter made several changes to his team for the trip to Seaford Town in the Division 2 Challenge Cup, already missing Martyn Flack, Tim Martin and Mark Cave through injury, the management decided to rest first team regulars Ben Arthur, Dan Attwater, Stuart Chester and Michael Wood who all took up their positions on the substitute’s bench.

However it does go to prove what a good squad the management have assembled this year because you would still consider all the players who started the match as first team players. Heath kicked off going up the slope towards the clubhouse with Dean Robinson leading the line and a midfield five of Jake Holmes and Jamal Sultan playing down the flanks and Ollie Moore, Piers McDermott and Gary Pritchard occupying the centre.

Heath had the better of the early exchanges but the home-side gradually worked their way into the game with their direct style of football which was far more effective on a wet and heavy pitch aided and abetted by a torrential hail storm midway through the half. The score remained level at the break but Heath had to thank goalkeeper James Fisher for keeping the Bears in the game with two or three excellent saves.

Heath reverted to a 4-4-2 formation for the start of the second period with leading scorer Jake Holmes taking up his normal centre forward position and the change certainly made a difference with Heath looking far more threatening. Midway through the half Arthur and Wood came off the bench and now Heath really started to get on top with Wood down the left flank and Sultan re-energised down the right, twice in quick succession Wood crossed from the left, the first saw Robinson inches from converting with a header and the second saw Holmes sliding in at the far post and only failing to connect by a whisker, but with normal time running out and against the run of play the hosts took the lead in very controversial circumstances.

A Heath attack broke down and the ball was cleared upfield by a Seaford player, the Heath defenders had already pushed up and were all standing on the halfway line, a solitary Seaford player was standing several yards behind them and he turned and went after the ball, nobody from Heath reacted because the player was so far offside there was no way he would be allowed to continue and the Assistant Linesman was in a perfect position to see it; but inexplicably the Assistant did not raise his flag and the Seaford player continued his run at the Heath goal much to the disbelief of the majority of people in the stadium, Fisher came out to narrow the angle and brought down the player just inside the penalty area, the referee immediately blew for a penalty but strangely took no further action against Fisher, and Scott Dartnell stepped up to give his side the lead in the 87th minute. The Heath players, management and supporters were incensed with the Assistant Linesman and they had every justification to complain because he got it so wrong it was embarrassing; six minutes into time added on with Heath pushing everyone forward in search of an equaliser the home-side broke away to score a second through Ollie Davies.

To be fair on their first half performance Seaford deserved to go through, during that period they created more chances and looked the better side; it's just disappointing to lose a game in such circumstances.

Quick mention on the superb hospitality shown by the Seaford Officials at half-time, you can't beat a good home-made cake and this was a very good cake, thanks for making us feel welcome and the very best of luck in the next round.