Heath still ‘hurt’ from defeat to Fleetlands

Locks Heath are relishing the chance to finally put a last-gasp defeat to rivals Fleetlands behind them.

Assistant manager Jon Whitfield admitted the whole squad were left 'hurting' throughout the month-long 'non-elite' football suspension after the 1-0 defeat to Rich Bessey's side.

It was a first defeat in 10 matches for Locks Heath in all competitions but it’s one they have been left to stew on during the four weeks of a nationwide lockdown.

A quick turnaround and getting back to competitive action after the enforced break does not bother Whitfield.

Instead, he sees the Hampshire Premier League Senior Division trip to Winchester Castle as one the players are looking forward to as they bid to put the defeat against Fleetlands last time out to bed.

‘You get back to training last night and you remember it again (the Fleetlands defeat) It does still hurt because you haven’t been able to move on from it yet,' admitted Whitfield.

‘We’re hoping for a positive result, a positive performance and to put that behind us (at Winchester Castle).

‘It was a good run of form (before the season suspension).

‘Had we been outplayed and lost the game (against Fleetlands) you’d take that.

‘But it was a bit disappointing because I’m not sure we did enough to win the game but we didn’t deserve to lose it.

‘It was a game of very small margins and it just went against us unfortunately.’

Locks Heath head into the season restart sitting second in the table - seven points behind leaders Bush Hill having played a game less.

However, it's the teams below Heath who they will have to be wary of.

Infinity, Fleetlands and Paulsgrove - in third, fourth and fifth respectively - all have played at least two games less than Locks Heath. But Whitfield's side have the points on the board and he insists the squad are looking 'sharp' as they get set to resume their campaign.

‘We’re raring to go. We had a training session last night which was good,' added Whitfield.

‘The lads are sharp, they’re fit and we want to get going and put that last result behind us as quick as we can.

Fleetlands have completed the signing of versatile Ryan Woodford.

He can play in central defence or midfield and previously captained Petersfield in the Southern League.