‘We owed them one’ - Locks avenge HPL double in cup win
Jon Whitfield spoke of his delight as Locks Heath defeated Fleetlands to get their L4 Teamwear Challenge Cup campaign off to the perfect start.
Striker Jordan Whiteley scored an early winner against his former club at Lederle Lane.
And assistant manager Whitfield was relieved to get a bit of revenge after Fleetlands had beaten his side 4-3 and 1-0 in the curtailed 2020-21 Hampshire Premier League Senior Division season.
He said: ‘As expected, everyone was a bit rusty. Both teams put in everything, put in 100 per cent, but the quality of the game was lacking a bit.
'It was good to get back out there again and it was great to get a win. We owed them one, really.
'It was probably the worst we’d played against them (this season) and yet we won so you’d take it, especially against your local rivals.
‘Both teams were in the full swing of things (when they last met) and the quality was a lot higher.'
Heath's next three matches in the competition are at home as they welcome Hayling United (tonight), Moneyfields Reserves (April 17) and Fleetlands (April 21).
Fleetlands boss Rich Bessey said: ‘It was flat, very flat.
‘Matt Andrews missed an absolute sitter for us, you’d have bet your house on it - but the ball went over his foot.’
The Coptermen return to cup action at Moneyfields Reserves tonight (7.45pm).
Bessey will be without top scorer Kelvin Robinson and suspended pair Tommy Woodward and Wayne Boud, and has called up five members of the reserve squad who currently top the Hampshire Combination East Division.