Bexhill United 0 v 2 Haywards Heath Town

Wednesday 16th September 2026, Kick-off 19.30

Southern Combination League Premier Division 

The Polegrove, Bexhill-on-Sea

Admission: £8.00

Programme: £1.00

Attendance: 180

A match report from a Bexhill perspective can be read by clicking here, and from a Haywards Heath perspective by clicking here, also copied and pasted below

Bexhill lose out to high-flying Haywards Heath

Bexhill United suffered a 2-0 loss to Haywards Heath on Wednesday night as the club at last got the Polegrove ground back from the cricket club, ending their nomadic existence for the first month or so of the season for another year. 

An extraordinary effort by club volunteers had transformed what was a barren, scorched, dust-bowl, after the famous Bexhill Motor Show only a couple of weeks ago, into a proper football stadium with a lush, green playing surface no one could have any complaints about.

It was hard to think of tougher league opponents than Haywards Heath for this ‘back to the Grove’ fixture.

Heath are unbeaten in the league and were off the back of a four-game winning streak which has left them pushing Eastbourne United hard for pole position in the Southern Combination premier division.

Bexhill came into the game after a pair of disappointing cup exits in the Sussex County and FA Vase competitions.

Pirates boss Jay Skinner-Swain had strengthened his defensive lines, drafting Kasey Smith and Harry Marchant back into the starting line-up after Saturday’s defeat to Tooting Bec, and slotting Ryan Moir back into his advanced wide role.

Bexhill responded well and had the better of the opening exchanges against their highly-fancied opponents, using the full width of the pitch to stretch the Heath defence.

Bexhill carved open the first clear chance of the game on ten minutes with Theo Coombs, who had been a bundle of energy from kick off, just failing to connect cleanly with a ball in from the left.

The game rocked from end to end, with the Pirates more than holding their own, and on the half hour they came closest to breaking the deadlock.

It was Coombs again, connecting with his head this time from another ball from the left, producing a stunning save from Stroomberg-Clarke in the Heath goal. Some in the crowd of 180 thought it had actually gone in.

At half-time Bexhill fans were in high praise of their teams showing over the 45 minutes, but concerned that for all the good play and pressure the Pirates had failed to convert.

A few minutes after the break those fears were compounded when Haywards Heath opened their account, Towning being first to a Shooman header that bounced back off the post.

Bexhill were now chasing the game but it was difficult to find the levels that had been a mark of their first half performance.

Finn Holter pulled off a good save on 65 minutes to keep the home side in the contest but as time slipped away on 86 minutes Meehan buried an easy chance for the visitors to kill off the game.

That’s how it ended – 2-0 to Heath with Bexhill left to rue what might have been but taking some small conciliation from the brighter moments when they shone in the game.  On Saturday they are away in a 3pm league game at Crawley Down Gatwick.

Match Report | Bexhill United 0-2 Haywards Heath Town

Haywards Heath Town continued their unbeaten start to the Southern Combination Premier Division season with a hard-earned 2–0 victory over Bexhill United at The Polegrove on Wednesday evening.

Second-half goals from Charlie Towning and Charlie Meehan ultimately secured all three points for the Bluebells, but goalkeeper Nathan Stroomberg-Clarke also played a crucial role in ensuring Heath returned home with a clean sheet.

The opening 45 minutes proved a competitive affair, with Bexhill showing why The Polegrove can be a difficult place to visit.

While Heath looked to impose themselves on the game, the hosts carried a threat of their own and created opportunities to break the deadlock.

They were denied by Stroomberg-Clarke, who produced a number of crucial saves during the first half to keep the scores level and ensure the Bluebells went into the interval at 0–0.

Those saves would prove particularly important when Heath emerged for the second half and quickly found the breakthrough.

Towning breaks the deadlock

Just four minutes after the restart, Charlie Towning put Heath in front.

The goal arrived after Charlie Meehan beat his man to deliver a cross into the Bexhill penalty area. Harry Shooman timed his run perfectly but saw his header rebound off the far post. Charlie Towning was the first to react and fired home from just a few yards out.

Bexhill now had to chase the game, while Heath knew a second goal would give them breathing space.

With four minutes of normal time remaining, Charlie Meehan made sure of the points.

Meehan struck in the 86th minute to double the Bluebells’ advantage after bringing the ball down brilliantly in the Bexhill box, turning and beating the Bexhill keeper at his near post. 

It completed another strong away performance from Heath and, just as importantly, another clean sheet.

FULL-TIME: Bexhill United 0–2 Haywards Heath Town

Another three points, another clean sheet and the Bluebells’ unbeaten league start continues.

Goals: Charlie Towning 49′, Charlie Meehan 86′