‘Worst display of season’ says boss

Sam Willett, Jamie Bell, Lawrence Brand and Steve Ringwood form a defensive wall during Westfield's 2-1 defeat at home to Haywards Heath Town. Picture by Steve Hunnisett (SUS-141220-162448002)

Westfield’s footballers produced their worst performance of the season on Saturday, according to manager Jethro Warren.

The Westies’ bid for a third successive Macron Store Sussex County Football League Division Two victory ended in a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to mid-table Haywards Heath Town.

Warren said: “We were poor. It was probably the worst we’ve played all year by a country mile. It was a fair result - we got what we deserved. It was just all-round a really bad day.”

Westfield didn’t move the ball quickly enough and therefore didn’t create much in the first half despite a couple of good Sam Willett runs.

They duly fell behind shortly before the break through a good half-volley by Mitchell Hamilton into the corner of the net, although Warren felt the player clearly brought the ball under control with his arm after a loose first touch.

Westfield improved slightly after the break. They moved the ball a bit quicker and played with a bit more urgency, but never really threatened.

Heath doubled their advantage with a second goal on the break. The ball was whipped in for Hamilton to loop a header at full stretch over Carl Morris in the Westfield goal.

Westfield nabbed a consolation in the dying seconds. Lawrence Brand delivered an early ball for Tom Archer to score his first goal of the season with a close range header.

Westfield: Morris; Burt, Archer, Paine (Discala), Bell; Warren, Brand; Willett, Ringwood, Whiteman; Pugh. Sub not used: Drinkwater.