Painter praises '˜game changer' Andrade as Broadbridge Heath edge out Town
The Bears climbed up to fourth as the forward came off the bench to net in the second half against last season’s Premier Division runners-up.
Having arrived at the game late, he had to make do with a place on the bench with new signing Dean Wright, who has joined from rivals Horsham YMCA.
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Hide AdBoth came on in the second half and Painter said: “It was a good result from a poor game to be fair and we were not at our best. A good thing is, that last season, we would have lost that game.
“We showed good character and have a good bunch of honest lads in now and while we were good enough for the win, just not at our best.
“Tiago was on the bench as he arrived just before kick-off as he rushed back from Leicester to play. The fact he did says it all about him, he just wants to play.
“We put him on in the second half and he was the game changer. With him and Dean Wright, who we have signed, we threw them on as a gamble and went for the game.
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Hide Ad“It was a bit of a risk as it looked like being a comfortable nil-nil and a point, but the gamble paid off. Tiago really changed the game completely. He’s strong and they just could not cope with him.”
Heath welcomed keeper Michael Chester back for just his third start of the season as well as Ollie Moore - making his first start of the season after fracturing his cheekbone in a pre-season friendly.
Chester was forced into an early save with his legs to deny the lively Jason Taylor but that proved to be the only real shot on target in the first half. Heath had just the one effort when Jake Holmes headed a Piers McDermott long throw over the Eastbourne crossbar.
The second period continued much the same as the first with both defences very much on top.
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Hide AdEastbourne’s best chance fell to Wes Tate who headed a cross straight at Chester and Heath’s Shaun Findlay came close with a left-foot shot that went over the bar.
The game swung in Heath’s favour on 70 minutes with the introduction of strikers Andrade and Wright.
Both were involved in the goal on 85 minutes when a free-kick was floated into the penalty area and cleared to Wright on the edge of the box. He rifled a low shot towards goal that came off a defender into the path of Andrade who converted from eight yards.
Painter added: “Dean had a good debut, he impressed us and is a good signing. He is a proven goal scoring and honest lad, you get a good shift off him.”
Heath: M.Chester, Swaine, Godfrey, S.Chester, Balfour, McDermott, Sultan, Findlay, Moore (Andrade 70), Holmes (Wright 70), Weller.