Hot Shot Heathens Bang on Target!

Tuesday saw Short Heath return to the La Liga summit after victories against the hosts, Hillstone, and fellow visitors Brownmead, on a dank, grey afternoon in deepest Shard End. This was Heath’s first outing since the league resumption, and they were keen to retake their top spot lost to both Abbey and Hillstone during that period.

The Heathens began against Hillstone and after a scrappy first half, in which they slightly edged on the balance of play, Heath took an early lead in the second half and though Hillstone fought back, they just couldn't find an end product despite crafting a couple of decent chances; on the balance of play though, Short Heath, deserved the spoils.
With confidence flowing, Heath went into overdrive against a Brownmead team struggling for form. The Heathens opened up the game with a penalty in the first half and that paved way for the floodgates to open in the second, and the soon-to-be-league-leaders ran away with the game netting a couple of fantastic goals en route to a resounding 6-0 win.

Brownmead then faced the unenviable task of facing the wounded hosts and it was no surprise that Hillstone largely dominated against a very tired Pencroft Road outfit. Though ‘stone led in terms of possession, Brownmead dug in and made it very difficult for the title-chasers, defending resolutely and remaining alert. However, the deadlock was broken before the interval courtesy of a left footed screamer from a ‘stone centre-back after a corner kick had landed at his feet. Hillstone looked the more likely to score again but spurned a couple of guilt-edged chances and despite Brownmead’s best efforts, fighting right until the final whistle, they failed to truly test the Hillstone ‘keeper and ‘stone could celebrate a hard-fought 1-0 win.

There was one other game in La Liga on Tuesday and it turned into an eight-goal thriller between St Barnabas and Colebourne. In a barmy and unpredictable game, Barnie’s edged out their visitors by five goals to three thus recording their first win of the season in what was described by all as a great game. They’re not half kidding!

So, after all the evening's entertainment, Short Heath lead the way, two points clear of second-placed Hillstone, and in addition, the Heathens have a game in hand on 'stone and hold superior goal difference over them as well. Brownmead's defeats leave them in eighth place with six points from eight games played, whilst St Barnabas’s maiden victory puts them just two points behind ‘mead in ninth. Colebourne, having played just the three games so far this season, remain in eleventh place with three points.