Pre-Season Friendly | Hanbury Park
Haywards Heath made a strong statement in their pre-season preparations with a commanding 3–1 win over Mid-Sussex rivals Burgess Hill Town at the HSEnergy Group Stadium.
The home side got off to a dream start within the opening minutes, as relentless pressure from striker Mark Goldson paid off. Goldson closed down former Brighton Academy and Worthing FC keeper Rocco Rees, intercepting his delayed clearance and calmly slotting into an empty net to give Heath the early advantage.
Burgess Hill responded swiftly. Chris Whelpdale, the experienced former Gillingham man, was allowed too much room on the edge of the box and made Heath pay with a thunderous strike past Nathan Stroomberg-Clarke to level the score.
The visitors had a golden chance to take the lead just after the half-hour mark when ex-Heath man Kieran Rowe’s cross struck the arm of Jack Barnes in the box. Whelpdale stepped up from the spot but failed to convert, dragging his penalty wide to keep the score level.
The sides went into the break at 1–1, but it was Haywards Heath who came out stronger in the second half. Sustained pressure paid off when Harry Shooman, with his back to goal inside the six-yard box, managed to turn and shoot. Though his effort was saved by Rees, the ball rebounded kindly to Flynn Bolton who smashed it home to restore Heath’s lead.
Burgess Hill nearly found an equaliser as Ben Pope slipped a precise through ball past the Heath backline, but Stroomberg-Clarke was quick off his line to snuff out the one-on-one opportunity.
Heath put the result beyond doubt late on, as Charlie Meehan latched onto a splitting pass, danced around Rees with some tidy footwork, and coolly slotted home to make it 3–1.
A performance full of energy, sharpness, and intent from Haywards Heath, and showed a much needed clinical touch and result which should provide a significant boost in confidence as they build towards the new campaign, while the manner of the win against local rivals will only add to the growing sense of momentum.