Broadbridge Heath 3 Hailsham 1: Holmes' double seals win

Two first-half goals by Jake Holmes plus another before the break by Scott Weller sealed victory.

Hailsham were a good attacking threat as well but were kept at bay by good work from Bears’ ‘keeper Michael Chester who pulled off a succession of good saves to keep his side ahead.

The visitors pulled a goal back midway through the second half through Danny Leach but never put it was never enough to put the result in doubt.

It was a welcome relief for Heath to finally get a home game on after a series of postponements.

Drainage problems on their pitch had meant they had not played at the Leisure Centre since December 12.

However some essential work was carried out by Horsham District Council on Thursday which finally made it playable.

The Bears put some early pressure on the visitors’ goal when at the end of a fine move, Scott Weller saw a shot from just inside the area tipped over the bar by Hailsham ‘keeper Ollie Nichols.

Heath ‘keeper Michael Chester was called into action when he denied Leach from a breakaway attack.

Holmes gave the Bears the lead in the 16th minute when he was put through by Jamie Robinson and scored off the inside of the right hand post.

Hailsham then enjoyed plenty of the play and put the home side’s goal under siege with a barrage of attacks.

Tristan Jarvis for the visitors saw a chance cleared off the line following a corner kick, then Michael Chester pulled off three saves to deny shots by Tyler Capon, Steve Stracey and Adebola Sotoyinbo.

Chester got down low to gather a free-kick hot from 25 yards by Leach to keep his side in front.

Heath attacked again for the last ten minutes before half-time.

Shaun Findlay made a run to close to the byline before shooting narrowly wide.

Tom Lyons played Weller through and he efficiently netted Heath’s 38th minute second goal.

Heath then made it 3-0 with a minute top go before the break when Weller ran round a defender before crossing to Holmes who volleyed in a brilliant strike from inside the penalty area.

It was always going to be uphill work to come back from such a big lead but nevertheless Hailsham did show plenty of fight, led mainly by Leach.

The talented attacker avoided the attention of the entire Heath defence before forcing Chester to be at his best again to hold a dangerous shot.

Leach did find the net to make it 3-1 in the 59th minute when Sotoyinbo’s shot was parried and he put it away on the rebound.

Tom Lyons spurned a golden opportunity to finish the game off when he fired wide after an initial shot by Findlay rebounded to him.

Hailsham never gave up as Leach twice more went close, forcing Chester into more heroics with a quiickly-taken powerful blast, before racing down the right flank and smashing a shot against the post.

Heath finished the game in search of a fourth goal as substitute Jake LeGrange set-up Holmes for another shot which was well saved by Nichols.

Finally Holmes, who was on a hat-trick, ignored two team-mates before driving a late effort which was blocked by a defender as Heath failed to add to their two-goal winning margin.

BEARS: M.Chester, S.Chester, Robinson, Flack, Howard, Findlay, McDermott, Sandell, Weller (LeGrange 71), Holmes, T.Lyons (Ozga 83)

Unused subs: Griffiths

County Times Man of the Match: Michael Chester

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