Looking back over the last decade or so matches against Haywards Heath Town have been rare as recently they have been a level above us but surprisingly have spent quite a few seasons below The Lingers, passing us when we were playing in another league. We battled well but had two narrow defeats last seasons. When we visited them at the end of October they had lost once and drawn once in the league with their only other defeat coming in the FA Cup and had recently put nine goals past Saltdean United. We missed two great chances in a goalless first half and held out until the last quarter of game before losing 2-0 to the league leaders and Championship favourites.

Then came a change at the club and following a win at Peacehaven & Telscombe in the first game in November, they went eight games without a win and picked up four points until they finally won at the start of this month. Their excellent start to the season meant that we faced a team still second in the table albeit some distance behind Hassocks and with our team hit by injuries such that there was a surprise return for Haydn Dickinson in defence. Defending one of only two unbeaten six game runs in the league, the team put in a shift in the pouring rain to make light of the gap between the sides in the table. Having hit a post and the bar already, a fine Jason Stripp free kick deep to the far post found Conor Wilford's head and we took a 1-0 lead into half time. A rare lapse allowed Haywards Heath Town the time and space for a strike from the D to equalise. Into the last twenty minutes and Jimmy Williams received the ball in the box, sliced his shot but was then taken down for a penalty. Wilford stepped up and buried the penalty to give us a 2-1 lead that we were able to hold onto until the final whistle.

With just two minutes played, Keanan Allassani had the ball on the left corner of the box and fired in a shot that hit the outside of the left post. Just five minutes later Hamza Abubakari let loose a shot from a central position outside the box that hit the top of the bar. The teams battled between the boxes for the next ten minutes or so but without creating any openings in what was an absorbing game. With twenty minutes played a free kick from the right by David Heaton to the far post was headed wide of the left post by Haydn Dickinson. In the next minute Haywards Heath had gone down the wing and taken the ball into our box only to see our lads getting their blocks in and forcing them to fire a shot high and wide. On 23mins Conor Wilford crossed the halfway line on the left, drove forward and hit a shot that stung their keeper's hands as he pushed it out to the right. Ousmane Balde Dansoko was able to win the loose ball but his shot was wide of the right post.

With 25 minutes played, Jason Stripp was over a free kick on the left and curled the ball to just beyond the right post. Wilford was in the right place to win the ball and head it back across the goal for 1-0. Just past the half hour and Haywards Heath were hunting for an equaliser and attacked our box but a desperate block by Jimmy Williams diverted the ball for a corner. Nothing came of the corner and into the last five minutes of the half the lads were forced into to last ditch defending to keep our lead intact. A corner on 42mins from the right was cleared and the follow up shot was hit wide. There had been an injury requiring treatment but it did not seem to justify the amount of added time as the whistle finally went for half time after seven added minutes.

Haywards Heath had the first clear chance of the second half two minutes in but it was high over the bar. On 53mins they had a free kick from the left but the shot was straight into Sammie Saward's arms. The game flowed back and forth for the next period with both back fours holding their lines well and not giving any openings. In the 69th minute Haywards Heath were allowed too much space to cut into the centre and hit a shot from the edge of the D that looped over Saward for the equaliser. An immediate change for us saw Abubakari replaced by a returning Kobi Asante following his departure from the field at Pagham after a blow to the head. With an injection of energy, we were pressing around the edge of their box on 73mins when it was played into the box for Williams. He took a swing but sliced his shot only to then be scythed down from behind and the referee pointed straight to the spot. The penalty was comfortably despatched by our leading scorer Wilford and we were leading again. Five minutes later Haywards Heath were driving down the left but the shot was wide of the post. A change as Allassani was replaced by Richie Wetton to give us his strong hold up play and long throw if needed.

On 87mins having taking a bang requiring a bit of attention earlier in the game, Stripp was replaced by Ruebuan Zamorano. Into the final minute and a ball into the box was taken well by Saward under pressure that was called as a foul. Into added time and with Haywards Heath striving to take a point from the game Zamorano broke clear down the left to take the ball down to the edge of their box before being tackled to help the clock tick down. With two minutes played Balde Dansoko linked up with Wetton to give him a chance for a shot but it was just over the bar. A final change as Aaron Kiberu came on for the final added minutes. A last chance came for Haywards Heath with a free kick from the right touchline but the delivery was poor as it hit Asante and as he raced to clear it down field the final whistle came. A melee broke out as Asante celebrated our win and a number of players were involved out of my sight. The referee sought out Asante to show a red card and there was also a red card for a Haywards Heath player who had already been booked.

Playing on Friday evening ahead of everyone else gave a brief move up the table above Pagham where we would stay unless they won at Loxwood - which they did with a 3-0 win so moved back up to fifteenth. They are only a point above us but far ahead on goal difference. During the week, Wick finally ended their pointless run stretching back to before Christmas with a win over Midhurst & Easebourne. They followed this up with a win over Horsham YMCA to move three points clear of us but having played a game more. This result has dragged Horsham back into our group as they are on the same points and games played as Wick. The heavy rain resulted in three games being postponed including those involving Little Common and Saltdean United. Loxwood's defeat leaves them five points below us with a worse goal difference but a game in hand. The final side in the mix are Shoreham and they travelled to Petersfield Town where they were beaten 6-1 that leaves them three points below and with a much worse goal difference.

A round of applause for the team as they share with Eastbourne United the unbeaten team record over the last six games which puts us seventh in the form table ahead of our trip to Newhaven next Saturday who are tenth in form and in the table. On Tuesday Little Common host AFC Varndeanians ahead of the Saturday visit of Shoreham. Shoreham themselves have a Tuesday trip to Peacehaven & Telscombe. Loxwood host Saltdean United for their Tuesday game before they travel to Roffey while Saltdean go to Wick. Of the other teams, on Saturday Horsham YMCA host our neighbours Crawley Down while Pagham have a visit from Eastbourne United.