The Highs and Lows of football supporters was in evidence at the BodyMould Community Stadium on Tuesday night when the Bears played host to Steyning Town in the ‘Horsham District Isthmian League derby’. Heath supporters, still buoyant after their 3-2 away win over Merstham on Saturday, knew that a win over struggling Steyning Town, fighting to maintain their league status, would see the Bears move into the top half of the division but as Jimmy Greaves use to say “It’s a Funny Old Game”.

Heath started well with Callum Dowdell and Adam Adam both having plenty of the ball in wide positions, creating chances for themselves and their team mates with balls into the penalty area but that final clinical finish was missing from Heath’s game.

Louis Evans had the first shot on target for Heath on 15 minutes with a right foot shot that was deflected wide and 10 minutes later Adam played the ball between two defenders to Evans who struck a right foot shot from 18 yards straight into the arms of Steyning’s goalkeeper Nathan Stroomberg-Clarke, minutes later Dowdell ran at the heart of the Steyning defence and struck a right foot shot wide of the post but it was the visitor’s who took the lead on 29 minutes with their first goal attempt.

A move from right to left found Finlay Chadwick in space and the defender played a ball inside that was intercepted by a Heath defender but Freddie Chester dispossessed the defender to win the ball and hammer a right foot shot from distance that zipped off the wet surface under the body of Billy Eastwood the Heath goalkeeper.

The Bears responded well with Sal Marino the next player to have a shot at goal but once again the ball went straight into the arms of Stroomberg-Clarke and minutes later Brad Peters saw his header from a corner collected by the Steyning keeper on the line but it remained 0-1 at the break.

Heath manager Chris Simmons was forced to make changes at half-time with Tad Bromage coming off injured and minutes into the restart Jamie Buchanan followed him into the treatment room but it was the visitor’s who started the half better with Elliott Romain firing a right foot shot into the side-netting and then hitting another shot from distance that flew wide of the mark.

Heath’s first chance of the half came on 65 minutes when Kyle Sim rose high above everyone to power a header for a corner towards the goal but once again the ball flew straight into the arms of the Steyning goalkeeper.

Evans tried his luck again with a left foot curler from 20 yards that was just wide of the post before another Heath forced substitution when Mason Doughty came off with what looked like a hamstring problem.

Heath continued to put pressure on the visitor’s defence, a long Sim throw-in saw the ball cleared to Sal Marino who shot through a crowded penalty area but his shot well saved by Stroomberg-Clarke but then against the run of play the visitor’s doubled their lead with 6 minutes remaining.

There was no real danger when Callum Dowdell played the ball back to his goalkeeper in space on the edge of the penalty area but he was closed down quickly by a Steyning player who slid in to challenge for the ball which was deflected straight into the path of Ethan Roberts to fire into the empty net and complete the scoring and victory for his team.

So no joy for the Bears who remain in 14th place but a lifeline for Steyning Town who move off the foot of the table.

Team: Eastwood, Terry, Sim, Marino, Bromage (Waddingham 46), Peters, Dowdell (Doughty 63 (Seale 70)), Buchanan (Cranmer-Flynn 56), Goldson, Evans, Adam (Moteane 75).