The first of two fixtures against top three sides was a trip to Haywards Heath Town where we were well beaten last season. An interesting change saw Alex Kpakpe starting in central defence but otherwise it was a familiar line up. In the opening couple of minutes on a fine Bank Holiday weekend afternoon with a wind blowing down the length of the pitch and squally showers coming along at times, it was a link up between Kwesi Ntim and Gabriel Odunaike that created an opening for Reon Donkor to shoot over the bar. Five minutes later Donkor played the ball out to Jack McDonnell on the right wing for a great ball across the home side's box that Yusuf McGregor just could not reach. A bad mistake by the linesman on 9mins allowed Haywards Heath to break down the right wing when clearly offside requiring Guyni Nganga to come across to see the ball. However, Haywards Heath kept the ball in and crossed it but we cleared it so the error did not cost us. The home side were targetting the right wing with long balls and a minute past the quarter hour did get a good cross into the box for a decent header sent wide of the left post.

Mid-point of the half and Jason Stripp found Donkor with a pass, who then crossed to Odunaike. He controlled the ball and required the keeper to save his shot. A minute later Donkor crossed from right to left where McGregor had a shot that was saved again. On 25mins McDonnell played the ball forward to Ntim who sent it out wide to McGregor on the left wing. He took the ball forward for another shot that was saved. In a turnover, Haywards Heath had a good break a minute later with two on two but McDonnell got a foot in to turn the ball behind. Targetting the right wing again on 28mins, Nganga was up to the challenge and shepherded the ball behind for a goal kick. From the goal kick, the home side had space for a shot from distance that was wide of the left post. With ten minutes to play, the linesman made another mistake and from an offside position Haywards Heath delivered a cross that brought a good save from Sang Baek. McGregor won a corner on the left that was went through the box to arrive at the feet of Stripp on the right. His radar was well off as for him the cross was really poor and pressure relieved. In a push to take the lead before half time, Haywards Heath were stopped by a great block in the six yard box by Kpakpe who then had the confidence to take the ball out and clear. Our last chance of the half two minutes from the break saw Ntim with the ball on the edge of their box but without any options to pass or shoot he lost possession. Goalless at half time to reflect an even game so far.

The home side made a change on the right wing at the break and made a good start to the half. After seven minutes of the half Haywards Heath were able to get down the right wing and cross into the box. Kpakpe was able to block the cross but at the expense of a corner. The corner was headed out but then headed back in and in a scramble on the line the home side were able to force the ball over the line to lead on 53mins. In a break down the left wing Haywards Heath put the ball behind with their cross. The home No. 9, goalscorer and former Linger Ousman Balde Dansoko looked to have been told to push onto Kpakpe at the break as the pair were tussling from the off. Frustrated at the referee allowing the grappling, Kpakpe shoved Dansoko off the pitch for a free kick from the right which we managed to get clear. A change on 58mins as Iker Noguera Leon replaced McGregor. Just past the hour and Odunaike was in on goal but unlike the home side was flagged offside. On 63mins Odunaike received the ball in the box with his back to goal and had a good claim to have been held but nothing given. Ten minutes later Haywards Heath put a free kick into the box that was put over the bar.

A second change as Jimmy Williams replaced Stripp and a change in shape as Kpakpe moved into midfield. Williams was across to cover on 73mins and missed the ball that allowed Haywards Heath to push into the box but Baek was off his line to gather the ball and take a hit from their forward. Less than ten minutes to go and to keep us in the hunt for a point, Stephen Hodge was sharp to defend on our right and see the ball out for a goal kick, especially with a referee not giving pushes at the byline. William English replaced Kristian Belousas. Odunaike shielded the ball well and set Noguera Leon for a shot that was just wide of the left post. Five minutes of normal time, and with a chunk of added time, Haywards Heath worked the ball from the left wing to the centre but fired a shot high over the crossbar. Ntim did well to win the ball and drive down the line on the left, beat a challenge and cross but it was cleared. Into a third added minute and we had English, Odunaike and Ntim with good possession on the edge of their box but they could not work a shooting chance. A fifth added minute and the home side were clear on the right but the final shot was safely over the bar. Into a ninth minute and a final chance for the Lingers as Noguera Leon had a shot that was straight at the keeper. A far better result than on our last visit as Haywards Heath Town won by the single goal with our efforts probably worth a point.

The table is very messy at the moment as there are teams like ourselves having played five games, others six and four teams on seven games. There were also games yesterday on Bank Holiday Monday and so having kicked off on Saturday in ninth place, we have now dropped to twelfth place, a point behind the two sides above us and above Bexhill United on goal difference as they lost 8-2 at table toppers Eastbourne United. Two teams remain unbeaten, Haywards Heath Town and tomorrow evening's opponents Guernsey. No 100% records already and Guernsey were held to a draw at home by Midhurst & Easebourne on Saturday. One team have yet to get a win as Forest Row have just a single point – the one where we conceded a penalty in the final minute when leading 2-1 – and have already played two more games than Little Common and Wick above them.