Performance pleases O'Toole in Mussels victory

Rob O'Toole notched his ninth league goal of the season at Broadbridge Heath on Saturday. Picture: Stephen Goodger

Strikes from Niall O’Hagan and Rob O’Toole in each half helped Mussels to a 2-0 away Southern Combination League Premier Division victory over Heath.

The win was a third in as many matches in the league since their only defeat at Horsham YMCA earlier in the campaign.

Despite their good run, O’Toole was not best pleased with performance levels in recent weeks but he felt Saturday was more like it from his team.

He said: “We were really good on Saturday. Before the game we spoke of how tough this was going to be but we played really well.

“Kevin Keehan came back in for the game and was exceptional. Jake Chadwick made his debut and showed great energy, which is exactly what we wanted from him.

“The only frustrating thing for me was the fact we didn’t kill the game off earlier.

“George Gaskin had a couple of really good opportunities and Rob missed a good opening.

“Credit to Broadbridge Heath, they are a big, physical team and very good at what they do.

“I was pleased to come away with all three points and I’m not looking forward to playing them again.”

Mussels went ahead on 23 minutes when Scott Packer’s corner was thundered home off the head of O’Hagan.

Shoreham should have put the game to bed a lot earlier following a flurry of chances in the second half.

Gaskin twice wasted good openings, while he also saw an effort come back off the crossbar and with ten minutes left, Rob O’Toole somehow fired straight at Heath’s goalkeeper as it remained 1-0.

Rob O’Toole made up for that miss with two minutes left, though, as Mussels made sure of all three points. Gaskin led a quick breakaway, before sending Rob O’Toole clear and he slotted home.

Shoreham host division-lower Southern Counties East Division 1 outfit Glebe in the FA Vase first round on Saturday.

Bryan O’Toole saw his side put ten past a team from a league below, Oakwood, in the last round but this time out he is expecting a much tougher test.

He added: “I don’t know too much about them but we’ll be ready for this game.

“They’ve lost only one game in the league so far this season, so they’ll have some momentum coming into it.

“If you look at their league position, then you’d expect a tough challenge and we will have to be ready for that.

“The most important thing for me is to progress into the second round and I’m hopeful we’ll be able to do that. We won’t be underestimating the challenge ahead of us and it’s important we do not look any further ahead then Glebe on Saturday.”

SHOREHAM: Heyburn; Hartley, Familton, O’Hagan, Storrie; K.Keehan Boddy; Packer, R.O’Toole, Chadwick; Gaskin. Subs: Cradock (K.Keehan), Zydonik, Tuck, Stevens, Hand.

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