Cave double helps Loxwood fly clear of rivals

Haywards Heath 1

Two goals by Mark Cave and another by Dean Wright earned Loxwood a vital 3-1 victory over Haywards Heath, which put them three points clear of their third-placed rivals on Saturday.

The joint-leaders nearly took the lead when Tom Lyons missed an open goal from eight yards, narrowly putting the ball wide.

However the Magpies took the lead four minutes before half-time when Matt Hoyte threaded the ball to Cave who put away with his left foot from 18 yards.

Heath then equalised with 15 minutes to go as a ricochet off defender Joe Holvey’s knee set-up Mike Williamson to score under ‘keeper Williams.

Substitute Matt Merridew delivered a good through-ball to Dean Wright, who was in a one-on-one with the Heath centre-half who elbowed him across the head.

The referee awarded a penalty which was netted home by Cave.

Wright then made sure of victory with a third goal in added-time. He won the ball off a defender, drew the goalkeeper and placed his shot in the far corner.

Loxwood: Williams, Swaine, Freitas (Elkana 56), French, Holvey, Scally, Hoyte, Cave, Lyons (Merridew 80), Wright, Finlay. Unused subs: Elliott, Awcock