Town’s winning run is ended by Heath

STEYNING Town Football Club’s four-match winning run was ended by Broadbridge Heath on Tuesday, who themselves returned to winning ways after three successive losses in County League Division 2.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Apr 2013, 16:03 BST
Craig KnowlesCraig Knowles
Craig Knowles

A jaded Steyning, playing their fifth game in 10 days and with captain Alex Gathern and keeper Matt Evans unavailable, never recovered from the concession of an early goal but still remain in with a chance of their best league finish in 20 years.

It was only Steyning’s second loss in their last 13 league games and they remain ninth, with a top-eight finish still their target.

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Steyning manager Richard Whittington said: “It was a tired performance from us, a fifth game in 10 days and one too far for us.

Steyning's Phil WilliamsonSteyning's Phil Williamson
Steyning's Phil Williamson

“They’re a good side but we gave away some very soft goals and it wasn’t our night.

“We were missing a couple of key players and it was a disappointing performance but we still have a chance of our best finish in 20-odd years, so we have to pleased.”

Although the 4-0 scoreline ultimately flattered the visitors, Town could have no complaints about the outcome and were up against it from the moment Ollie Moore fired Heath into a 10th-minute lead.

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Town’s Phil Williamson lashed an effort wide, before Steyning had a penalty appeal turned down when Williamson was barged over in a coming together with Dan Attwater.

Heath’s Grant Miller hit the bar direct from a corner and the visitors had another couple of chances as Steyning were fortunate to be just a goal down at half-time.

The second goal was not long in coming after the break, though, when Jamal Sultan’s inswinging free kick struck Town’s Ben Shelford, wrong-footed the Steyning keeper Matt Neocleous and rolled into the net.

To their credit, Steyning continued to try to force their way back into the game, and went close to halving the deficit through Adam Burton’s header, which was well saved by James Fisher.

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Heath did finally put the game beyond Town’s reach in the 68th minute, though, as Tim Martin tapped in from close range after Jake Holmes picked him out.

Holmes then added the fourth a minute later when he bundled home the loose ball after Moore’s initial effort was saved.

STEYNING: Neocleous; Dawes, McMahon. Parsons, Shelford; Harris, Hourigan, De Freitas, Knowles; Williamson, Burton. Subs: Aslan, Towse (DeFreitas, McMahon 73), Webb (Williamson 86), Mills.