Woodwork proves hard work in Heath defeat at United

The hosts ran out 3-1 winners with the Bears making three enforced changes to the back four and were then luckless in front of goal.

Heath manager Steve Painter put together a very attack-minded team due unavailabilities.

The home side exploited the weakness in defence early on when Ben Hall got round the back and cut the ball back from the goal line into the path of Craig Nagle who smashed the ball past Michael Chester from close range.

Things got worse for Heath when another defensive mistake midway through the first half allowed Gritt through one-on-one against Michael Chester and he finished well with a fierce left-foot shot into the roof of the net.

Heath slowly got into the game and almost pulled a goal back when Tiago Andrade slipped the ball under the advancing United keeper but a defender got back to clear the danger, minutes later Piers McDermott rattled the crossbar with a shot from 30 yards, but it remained 2-0 at the break.

Heath started much better in the second half and following a period of sustained pressure, pulled a goal back when a long McDermott throw came out to Stuart Chester who hammered the ball through a crowded penalty to reduce the deficit.

A long drop kick by Michael Chester was then chased down by Jake Holmes but his effort was just off target and then Andrade hit the woodwork for a second time with a right-foot shot from 18 yards.

Midway through the half a rare United attack resulted in a corner which was cleared by Scott Weller, but only as far as Gritt some 25 yards from goal and he took a touch and then hammered a half-volley past Chester for his second wonder strike of the afternoon.

Heath continued to create chances and Weller hit the woodwork when his shot struck the upright and in the final minutes, Andrade again hit the post with a free-kick from 25 yards.

Heath: M.Chester, S.Chester, Robinson (M.Clark 80), Waddingham, D.Robinson, Holmes, Mutungi (Burchell 85), McDermott, Andrade, Weller, Findlay (Legrange 6).

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