Dramatic finish gives Broadbridge Heath their first draw of the campaign

The Bears had looked to pinch all three points when Jake Holmes fired them 2-1 ahead with three minutes left to play, but the Mavericks - under new manager Simon Funnell - netted an even-later leveller through Matt Hards.

That grabbed them a share of the spoils and left sixth-placed Heath with their first draw of the Premier Division campaign.

The hosts started well and took an early lead on five minutes when the ball was played into Frank Foster who hit a low shot from 20 yards that flew off the wet surface past Michael Chester.

The best chance then fell to Dean Wright, who got behind the United defence and pulled back to Holmes who hit it first time from 12 yards straight into the arms of Fraser Trigwell.

The equaliser came 10 minutes before the break when Scott Weller floated a free-kick to the far post where the ball was missed by a posse of Heath players as it flew straight in from 35 yards.

Conditions deteriorated dramatically in the second period with high winds. Chester made a good save low to his right to deny Adrian Todd and Trigwell did similarly at the other end to prevent Jamal Sultan from scoring.

With just minutes remaining, Jamie Robinson advanced down the left and crossed to Holmes who turned the ball past Trigwell for what seemed to be a late winner.

Within a minute of the restart the hosts were level when Hards received the ball 12 yards from goal, his powerful shot was parried by Chester but in the wet conditions the ball squirmed out of his grasp and over the line.

Heath return to action a week Saturday at Hassocks.

Heath: M.Chester, Holvey, Robinson, Howard, Maxwell, S.Chester, Findlay, Weller (Swaine 80), Holmes, Martin (Sultan 60), Wright.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make this website your homepage

2 Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex

3 Follow us on Twitter @SportSussex

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!