Heath end Oak's unbeaten run to seal league title
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
Heath went into the clash knowing three points would see them lift the title and they recorded a 26th successive league win with a 4-0 victory.
Oak’s Danny Curd put through his own net on 30 minutes, before Ryan Warwick, Jamie Weston and Daniel Turner all netted in the second half.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdOak’s Damon Pollard also saw red ten minutes from time for violent conduct.
Mile Oak boss Anthony Whittington felt his side were beaten by the better team on the day and said: “They have the best squad in the division and deserve to be champions.
“A lot of their players should be playing a division or two higher but, as I said in my programme notes, Manchester City and Chelsea should run away with the Premier League but they haven’t this season.
“We knew it was going to be tough with them needing to win. I just didn’t have enough variety on the day, with a few missing and you need your best team to have any chance against them.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdCurd put through his own net on 30 minutes as Oak found themselves a goal down at the break.
Warwick then added a second on the hour as Heath edged closer to sealing the league title.
The party was already starting when Weston added a third six minutes later.
Frustration began to get the better of Oak and Pollard saw red with ten minutes left.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdA late challenge from Warwick saw him kick out at the Heath man and receive a straight red card. A bad day was then capped off for Oak when Turner made it 4-0 with seven minutes to play.
Despite the defeat, Whittington still believes his side are in the promotion hunt.
Oak trail third-placed Storrington by three points with two games in hand.
Whittington’s side still have to face Haywards Heath again, second-placed Crawley Down Gatwick, Little Common, Langney Wanderers, Midhurst and Lingfield in what looks to be a tough run-in.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHowever, Oak’s boss believes his side have what it takes to sneak a top-three position.
He said: “We have got a really tough run-in if you look at it. I think we may be able to afford another defeat against Haywards Heath but then we need to win the other five.
“That’s not going to be easy with some of the teams we have to face but we will give it a good go.
“Storrington’s run-in is a lot easier than ours but we went 12 games unbeaten, winning 11 of those, so we know we are capable of going on a run.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“We need to respond in the right way to this defeat and go again. We travel to Midhurst & Easebourne on Saturday, which is never an easy place to go, but we’ll be going there looking to pick up three more points in that quest for a promotion spot come the end of the season.”
MILE OAK: Stenning; Lansdale, Pollard, Gillingham, Whiting; Arnold, French, Gould, Harley; Curd, Wedge-Bull. Subs: Austin-Slade (Harley), Clarke (Gillingham), Donaldson (Gould).
Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.
Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad1) Make our website your homepage at www.shorehamherald.co.uk/
2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ShorehamHerald
3) Follow us on Twitter @Shoreham_Herald
4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.
And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!
The Shoreham Herald - always the first with your local news.
Be part of it.