Blues give best showing of the season

Blues still lost 3-2 away to Heath, but the visitors put in a solid second 45 minutes in which Waller felt they could and should have gone on to win the game.

Goals from Mike Williamson, Mike Gardner and Mark Fiest gave the hosts a 3-0 lead after 33 minutes, but second-half goals from Simon Clayton and Gavin Heater got Blues back into the match.

Waller also felt aggrieved that his side had three penalty appeals waved away and said: “The day did not start too well as we had a couple of lads drop out.

“Steve Kirkham and John Beaney did not play, so I gave a debut to a young right-back, Sam Mcdonagh, so we took a bit of time to settle in and they scored a couple early as we were all over the place. But in the second half it was the best we have played since I have been here.

“The guys played with confidence and we played them off the park.

“We should have had another couple more goals and I don’t know how we did not get a penalty from three nailed-on shouts. If they were between the 18-yard boxes, they would have been free kicks, so I was a bit disappointed with the ref, but really pleased with they way we played in the second half.

“We just need to carry that on to this week and I am sure the results will come.”

Blues pulled their first goal back on 67 minutes when Liam Waller’s cross was flicked on by Alex MacIver for Clayton to finish at the far post.

James Bennett then fired a good chance over and Blues’ appeals for a penalty were waved away when Richard Kinyua was body-checked in the box – their third shout after Bennett and Andy Boxall had previously had appeals turned down

Blues’ second came late on through a 25-yarder by Heater, which flew into the top corner.