In the Feature Game of the Second Round of our Sussex Senior Challenge Cup, Haywards Heath Town proved to be too much for Horsham YMCA at Gorings Mead. 

YM manager, Dean Carden, had fielded a young side who looked hungry to impress when they earned a corner early on that provided an early chance for Jack Ryder who was denied by Town’s Sam Freeman. 

Carden soon had something to think about when right-back Reece Batchelor looked unable to continue and was replaced by Ben Harrison. The hosts soon had their second chance with Freeman tipping away a Will Read strike with the Town ‘keeper looking like he would be tough to beat. 

Perhaps the lack of football recently had left a bit of pitch-rust on the Heath players but they soon kicked into action and found the game’s opening goal 20 minutes in when Jordan Clarke tricked his way through the penalty area and forced the ball in at a tight angle. 

Heath now had the bit between their teeth and came close again when Samuel Ogunseye had his long range strike tipped away by Aaron Jeal. 

Still bombing forward, Heath found a second just minutes later with Anfi-war Tran-West striking the ball into the bottom right leaving Jeal with no chance.

Five minutes later, it seemed like YM were crumbling completely as Tran-West grabbed his second of the match striking past Jeal into the right of the goal. 

The third goal seemed to wake YM up who actually took control of the game for the remainder of the half. Then, right on half-time Charlie Maguire, in plenty of space, unleashed a superb long-range strike to beat Freeman.

                                                                                      (Photographs courtesy of Simon Roe Photography) 

The second-half was being played at a much slower pace and was very start-stop with referee, Brian Small, with lots to look at. 

Town did have a half-chance a few minutes into the restart though as Michael Watson fired over the bar from range. This was followed by Adrian Todd’s ever-rising shot flying over the bar for YM. 

Just past the hour mark, however, YM had a golden opportunity to make the latter part of this game very interesting. Will Read drove through the Town defence with lots of pace but, with just Freeman to beat, couldn’t find the target. 

Clarke and Tran-West were running the game for Town and the latter came close to finishing the game off when his threatening cross fired back to him before striking very wide. 

But, with YM stretched at the back, Tran-West managed to finish the tie off and completed his hat-trick after being teed off by Clarke with just a couple of minutes of normal time remaining. 

Elsewhere in the competition Oakwood were left well-beaten at home to Lancing losing 6-1, a score-line matched by Brighton and Bexhill United with the Seagulls flying through. Ties still to be played are East Grinstead Town vs. Horsham and Lewes vs. Little Common.
SUSSEX SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP ROUND 2 RESULTS

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