Goals: McCreadie (pen) 63’ - Fazakerley 70’.

Guernsey kept up their encouraging start to the season with a 1-1 draw at Haywards Heath Town on Tuesday night.

Nine points and just one defeat in their opening six games – all away from home – represents the Green Lions’ best start to a season with this level as they also continued their unbeaten run against the West Sussex side.

Will Fazakerley continued his fine start to the campaign with a well-taken equaliser not long after Tony Vance’s side had fallen behind to a penalty. Fazakerley has now already matched his total of six for the whole of last season.

There was also a first start for GFC’s youngest ever player Alex Scott, and an early return from injury for the player he took the record from, Charlton Gauvain.

The result was perhaps even more satisfying given the withdrawals of Matt Loaring and Kieran Mahon from the traveling squad due to unavailability and injury meant Guernsey had to revert from the system that has served them well this season, instead having to adapt and go with three centre-backs and two wing backs.

In a frantic start to the game, it took 10 minutes for the first chance as Trevor McCreadie glanced a header well off target for the hosts. Four minutes later Frank Tobin, fresh from his screamer against Ramsgate on Saturday, tried his luck again from outside the area with a dipping effort. Luke Glover could only parry but Fazakerley was off balance as he stretched for the rebound and his header looped harmlessly into Glover's possession.

McCreadie miss-controlled when well placed six yards out and spooned wide while Liam Mahon brought a comfortable save out of Glover from distance just before the halfway point of the half.

Fazakerley’s quick turn and shot from 30 yards on 26 minutes brought Glover’s best save so far as he flung himself to his left to get fingertip to the ball to divert it wide. Two minutes later, Frank Tobin made an important block to deny Melford Simpson from close range after a free-kick was delivered high to the far post.

The Green Lions’ best chances were coming via Fazakerley, and he used his height just after the half-hour mark to get to a bouncing ball in the area, but his header was straight at Glover.

Byron Napper’s half-volleyed dipper from 35 yards was straight down the throat of Stanton, and Heath came the closest they had been so far as Ryan Warwick narrowly cleared the bar from the middle of the area after jinking his way into space. Just before the break, Simpson took down a long ball and hit a volley that whistle just wide of Stanton’s right-hand post.

The hosts had turned the screw towards the end of the first half and they came close again on the hour as a cushioned volley from the left of the area was headed inches wide by Reece Hallard.

Just a minute later, the Blues edged in front as McCreadie burst into the area and was brought down by Stanton as he tried to round the stopper. Stanton, who had an outstanding outing in this fixture last season, guessed the wrong way as McCreadie tucked the resulting penalty into the bottom left-hand corner.

It was nearly two moments later as Simpson ran onto a through ball but bent his shot just high and wide.

Guernsey were not deterred, though, and Allen’s free-kick forced another save from Glover on 68 minutes.

Two minutes later, the Green Lions were on level terms thanks to an opportunist finish from Fazakerley. He capitalised on a defensive error as both Haywards Heath centre-backs missed captain Jamie Dodd’s direct ball form the back. The ball was bouncing awkwardly, but Fazakerley improvised well to lob Glover with the outside of his foot.

Both sides had chances to win it in the closing stages. It was a huge let-off for Guernsey when Warwick sliced wide from 12 yards, while Allen brought a save out of Glover with a powerful shot from the angle at the near post, then hit a promising-looking free-kick high and wide with the last kick of the game.

Honours even in the end between two sides who remain just inside the top half with identical records. The Green Lions’ last of seven consecutive away games to start the season is at Sittingbourne on Saturday.

Tuesday night’s other Isthmian South East results were as follows: Ashford United 2-1 Sittingbourne, Chichester City 0-1 Three Bridges, Faversham Town 1-2 VCD Athletic, Hastings United 2-0 Whitehawk; Hythe Town 0-1 Sevenoaks Town, Phoenix Sports 6-3 East Grinstead Town, Ramsgate 0-3 Herne Bay, Whitstable Town 1-1 Cray Valley PM.

Haywards Heath Town: Luke Glover, Hamish Morrison, Tom Summerfield, Byron Napper, Nathan Cooper, Henry Watson, Ryan Warwick, Reece Hallard, Trevor McCreadie, Melford Simpson, Melford Simpson, Jack Hartley. Not used: Joshua Spinks, Nico Cotton, Kieran Rowe, Tariq Straker, Jamie Brotherton.

Booked: Cooper.