Whitstable ultimately had to settle for a draw following a great goal by Haywards Heath substitute Callum Saunders a couple of minutes before the end. The home team, boosted by two new signings, probably just shaded a goalless first half, although the visitors went close of a couple of occasions. A Liam Dickson header though was the only attempt that tested either goalkeeper. Jamie Brotherton was dismissed just before the hour mark for collecting two yellow cards and then Aaron Millbank put Whitstable ahead with a well taken free kick. The three points were almost wrapped up in the closing minutes, but a goal line clearance gave Heath the chance to break and Saunders curled the ball past Dan Eason to earn his team a point.

Haywards Heath were founded a few years after Whitstable back in the 19th century and made their debut in the Isthmian League last season, when they reached the play-offs at their first attempt. They have started quite well again this time around and arrived at a sunny Belmont in eighth place after four games. The two teams drew 0-0 in the corresponding fixture last season, with the Sussex team winning their home game 2-1. Both teams were without a few members of their squads for this game, with Tom Bryant and John Walker not quite fit to start for Whitstable and Harry Stannard played a part in the reserve team’s 1-1 draw at Deal Town Rangers as he continues his recovery from injury. Whitstable gave new singings John Ufuah and Marshall Wratten their first starts.

The first chance fell to Heath in the 5th minute when Hamish Morrison fed Brotherton down the right and his cross was glanced just wide by the head of Trevor McCreadie. Whitstable responded with Wratten heading a deep Jake Mackenzie cross wide at the back post. A good run by Mackenzie then gave Tijan Jadama a sight of goal, but he shot well over from distance. In the 11th minute, Dickson got his head to a long throw by Connor Sanders, but Luke Glover got back well to touch the ball over the bar. A good cross field ball by Dickson then released Ufuah on the right and he appeared to be brought down on the edge of the box, but the referee was unmoved. The game then went through a period where both teams played some neat football with little end product. McCreadie worked particularly hard to put the home defence under pressure, but looked a bit frustrated at times as he looked for some support from his teammates.

On 30 minutes, another long Sanders throw was spilt by Glover, before being hacked away from danger. Wratten just failed to reach a good Millbank cross, then nodded another wide. Brotherton received the ball from the left, controlled it and dragged his shot just past the far post on 39 minutes. The game flowed from end to end for the last few minutes of the half without either team finding the right final ball and the score remained 0-0 at the break.

Whitstable started the second half on the attack, as a Sanders throw was held up by Millbank, who laid it off for Dickson, but his shot was blocked for a corner, from which a header was easily held by Glover. A Brotherton cross dropped for Kieran Rowe, who at the second attempt got his shot away, but over the bar. Morrison made a surging run down the right into the box, but his attempted shot was well closed down. In the 52nd minute, Wratten was chopped down by Brotherton as he tried to bring the ball forward, earning the experienced Heath player a yellow card. The Sussex team were starting to knock the ball around confidently without really causing too many problems for the Whitstable defence. Then, on 59 minutes, a scuffle between Sanders and Brotherton led to both being shown a yellow card, which for the latter meant he was also shown a red, having been cautioned a few minutes earlier. Whitstable soon took advantage of the extra man when they won a free kick just outside the penalty area to the left of centre and Millbank found the bottom right corner, past the despairing dive of Glover to give his team a 62nd minute lead.

A one-two between Millbank and Ufuah almost created a second goal, but the ball was pushed behind for a corner. The visitors then made two changes and Saunders nearly made an immediate impact, lifting an effort over the bar following a free kick. Suddenly Whitstable looked a little nervy, conceding a few free kicks in dangerous areas, one of which was struck into the wall by Saunders. Liam Gillies came on to replace Wratten, then Reece Hallard lost his composure and found himself in the book. On 87 minutes, James Brown made a timely interception and brought the ball forward, before crossing for Jadama whose shot was partially saved by Glover, but the ball continued towards goal where it was just cleared off the line by Henry Watson. It was to be a crucial moment, because Heath broke and Byron Napper passed to Saunders on the left and he cut into the corner of the box before curling a perfect shot past Eason into the top far corner of the net. It was to be a brief, but telling, contribution from the substitute Saunders, who then went off holding his hamstring to be replaced by Tariq Straker in the 90th minute. Whitstable tried to find a winner in the six added minutes. Gillies made room and shot over from 18 yards, a Brown free kick was headed at Glover by Dickson, then a good curling right footer by Ufuah flew just past the far post. A final long throw by Sanders was gathered by Glover to ensure the points were shared at 1-1.

Whitstable have not had a great record in recent times when playing teams with ten men and once again will be disappointed not to have held on to take maximum points. Haywards Heath showed enough to suggest they will again be a force this season and their equalising goal was a special effort, although it was in fact their only shot on target in the match. Whitstable now move on to another tough game at home to newly promoted Cray Valley, runners up in the FA Vase at Wembley a few month ago.

Whitstable	Data	Haywards Heath
5	Shots on target	1
5	Shots off target	4
2	Shots blocked	1
4	Corners	0
14	Fouls conceded	14
0	Offside	5
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, James Brown, Connor Sanders, Marcus Evans, Liam Dickson (c), Tijan Jadama, Luke Girt, Aaron Millbank, Marshall Wratten (Liam Gillies 80), John Ufuah.
Subs (unused): John Walker, Osman Proni, Marcus Elliott, Tom Bryant.
Goal: Aaron Millbank 62
Yellow cards: Luke Girt 33, Connor Sanders 59.

Haywards Heath Town
Luke Glover, Hamish Morrison, Tom Summerfield, Byron Napper, Nathan Cooper (c), Henry Watson, Reece Hallard, Jamie Brotherton, Trevor McCreadie, Ryan Warwick (Callum Saunders 72, Tariq Straker 90), Kieran Rowe (Jack Hartley 72).
Subs (unused): none
Goal: Callum Saunders 88
Yellow card: Reece Hallard 84
Red card: Jamie Brotherton (two yellows 52, 59)

Attendance: 242
Referee: Ian Bentley
Assistants: Dan Blades & Richard Joss