Following last week’s defeat to league leaders Hastings United, Valley travel to West Sussex on Saturday to face another of the SE Division’s promotion contenders.
Currently lying in 4th position – 2 points in front of Valley – Heath come into the game on the back of consecutive 1-0 wins over Faversham Town and Hythe Town. Making his debut in the win against Faversham was recent signing Ollie Allen – the exciting young midfielder having signed from Dorking Wanderers having had trials with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brighton & Hove Albion.
That Heath have kept eight clean sheets in their twelve league outings in 2022 speaks volumes for the division’s meanest defence, while up front their record of 45 goals is the lowest of the top eight teams.
Such has been the Club’s record at the back of late, Manager Martyn Dynan released defensive stalwart Nathan Cooper earlier in the week after 250 appearances as he was unable to offer him a place in the starting line-up.
Since Dynan joined the Club from South Park at the end of January, The Blues have won five out of eight matches – yes, all 1-0 – while conceding three in losses to Three Bridges and Sittingbourne. The third of three defeats under Dynan was a single goal reversal against relegation threatened Phoenix Sports.
Valley come into the game on the back of three consecutive league reversals and under threat of dropping out of the Play-Off places for the first time since the second game of the season.
When the teams met at The Atric stadium in November, an entertaining encounter saw Sam Remfrey give Heath the lead shortly before half time – Gavin Tomlin levelling for Valley a quarter of an hour from the end. Try as they might, neither side could secure a winner as the points were shared.
And for those currently sitting on the fence over Saturday’s outcome, it’s 10 matches since Heath were last involved in a draw, while Valley haven’t shared the spoils since a goalless trip to Phoenix Sports on 29th January – 8 games ago.
Could be a nailbiter……..
Pic :- Gavin Tomlin scores the Millers’ goal in our defeat at The Hanbury Park Stadium in 2020
SEASON 2021/22 LEAGUE FORM GUIDE
Haywards Heath Town
WWLLWW
Cray Valley (PM)
WWWLLL
MATCH DETAILS
DATE:-
SATURDAY 19th MARCH 2022, KICK-OFF 3PM
VENUE :-
Hanbury Park Stadium, Allen Road, Haywards Heath, Sussex. RH16 3PT
Please note that Allen Road is the only pedestrian and vehicular access to the ground.
(APPROX JOURNEY TIME FROM THE ARTIC STADIUM – 1 HOUR, 50 MILES)
Official Club website – https://hhtfc.co.uk/
ADMISSION
Adults: £10.00
Concessions (Age 65 and over) : £5.00
Under 18’s : £1.00
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee – Howard Collins
Assistants – Steven Goldup and Nik Garside
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
LEAGUE
Isthmian league SE Div
Played 2
Won 0
Drawn 1
Lost 1
Season 2021/22
Sat 20 Nov 2021 – Cray Valley (PM) 1 Haywards Heath town 1
Season 2019/20
Sat 11 Jan 2020 – Haywards Heath Town 3 Cray Valley (PM) 1
Full details of our previous encounters can be found at
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/a/season-202122–opponents-previous-meetings-62212.html?page=9
#daretodream