Heath boss Painter already excited by next season

The Bears clinched another good scalp as they overcame Loxwood on Tuesday, with Painter believing it ‘capped their season’.

He is adamant Heath have established themselves and proved they can mix it with any side in the Premier Division - but need to address player availability if they want to push on.

On Tuesday night, Painter said: “In the second half we were on it and we were worthy winners and that’s against a very good side.

“It’s probably only Horsham that we have played that have as good of a side as Loxwood and in the second half we rattled them, really pressed high and made them make mistakes.

“I was really pleased for the lads as they really wanted that one. It was a local derby and all the players know each other and it just caps a really good season.”

Against the odds, Heath have already topped last season’s - their first in the top flight - point tally, Painter added: “We have bettered that with two games left to play and I do believe we are a better side than 10th, but it’s consistency we have to work on next season.”

“That’s player consistency and availability as when we have a full side out, we have the ability to beat anyone.

“I have always said it and it just proves it, when we have our full side out, we can beat anyone in the league and I think that has proven it.

“Apart from Pagham, we have taken points off the top teams and we still have Eastbourne Town to play.

“We have used 49 players in the first team squad this season. That’s a hell of a lot and it was probably the same as last season, which is something we need to address.

“With players available week-in week-out, I am really looking forward to next season with this group. We are already starting to build for next season and I believe we can add to what we have started.

“We will lose one or two. Andy Waddingham has got a new job out in Vietnam so we lose him for two years - that’s a huge blow as he has been at the club since an under-seven.

“I’d like to believe we have established ourselves as a county one side, now we need to build on that.”

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