Petersfield Town won 3-1 at fellow promotion contenders Haywards Heath Town in the Southern Combination Football League Premier Division.

The visitors went ahead after five minutes after excellent determination from Kian Towse.

Towse brought down a lofted ball and picked out Harrison Cable in the box to tap home.

The early goal proved to be against the run of play.

Haywards Heath turned up the pressure, with Rams keeper Ellis Grant helping a free kick over the crossbar.

The hosts levelled in the 40th minute when Charlie Gibson went through on goal and squeezed his effort past Grant.

Haywards Heath began the second half well, but a superb performance from Petersfield centre-back Harrison Hide helped to keep the home side at bay.

The Rams nearly regained the lead when Asad Ssemwogerere set up Liam Kimber, who couldn’t hit the target.

Petersfield went 2-1 up after 54 minutes through Ssemwogerere. Towse showed superb tenacity as he bore down on goal on the counter and went into the area before fizzing a low ball across the box which Ssemwogerere slammed home.

Ssemwogerere then grabbed his second and the Rams’ third on 67 minutes. A quality first touch in the box allowed Ssemwogerere to swivel away from defenders before firing a low effort home at the near post.

The Rams should have scored a fourth from the restart. Towse played a low pass into the feet of Cable, but he failed to score from a promising position.

Petersfield’s Will Webb produced some impressive last-ditch defending as the visitors saw out the remaining minutes in style.

Petersfield co-manager Connor Hoare was delighted with his side’s performance.

“We worked on a gameplan to hurt Haywards Heath and the boys executed it perfectly,” said Hoare.

“Haywards Heath are a good passing side, but we’re a good pressing side and our pressing was superb.”