On a beautiful, dry sunny day at The Recreation Ground Fletching looked to bounce back from a very disappointing result the previous week against lowly Lindfield, where they only came away with a point. Despite a recent poor run of form, which also saw a defeat in the last home game to Handcross, there was still a great dressing room atmosphere. Carter’s side were in buoyant mood as they welcomed Scaynes Hill, who are currently fighting for a promotion spot, and with only three points separating the two sides, it was vitally important for The Archers to raise their game and recapture their winning ways.

A change in formation, saw Carter plump for a 4-4-1-1 line up as Burchett came in from the fixtureless First Team, Dowding dropping in just behind him, whilst big midfield mainstay Head found himself on the bench. Keoshgerian was unavailable, as young Luke ‘Y.T.S’ Donnelly reverted to his favoured right wing role, the rest of the team remaining relatively unchanged from the previous week.

After a slight delay due to a clash of kits, Fletching kicked off down the hill for the first half, against a large, physical Hill side, whose aerial threat caused so many problems in the previous league meeting which ended in a draw. Right from the whistle it was a very tight affair between two good footballing sides, both looking tentative in the early exchanges. The Archers slowly began to find their passing game, with skipper Hartup firing up those around him as most of the home sides best moves stemmed from the big man’s skilful boots.

The Villagers were looking particularly strong down the right hand side, Greg Dann who had been recalled to the starting line up at right back, stepped forward with his usual assured confidence, taking it round the visitors with ease, whilst Donnelly continues to impress in his first season with the senior squad, as Mark Dann immediately stamped his authority on the game with several trademark powerful challenges. Minutes later a tactical switch saw Eastoe and Jefford swap roles, the later moving up into the midfield, as Fletching looked to pressure Hill, before working some passing opportunities, however neither side really took control in an evenly contested and packed midfield.

That said, the home side took the lead on twenty-five minutes with one of their rare periods of sustained possession football. In what was the best move of the match, Fletching swept forward from deep as Donnelly found space on the right before releasing Dowding who played a neat one-two with Burchett in and around the danger area, where a lurking Paul Dickens emerged with the ball to place a hard shot past the keeper from all of twelve yards.

Once again both teams found it hard to maintain any sort of rhythm, with little time on the ball, as the visitors showed glimpses of the kind of football which has helped them to second place so far this season. A succession of dangerous in swinging corners gave Mark Hill and his defensive boys a real test, but they passed with flying colours, remaining disciplined and organised throughout, as The Villagers headed in one-nil up at the break.

A similar pattern of play followed for the second forty-five, as going up the slope, The Archers looked more to feet, rather than pinging it long and relying on the pace of Burchett and Dowding. Both teams created a handful of half chances, but could not find a way through. The tight physical battle was starting to take its toll on both teams, the more experienced campaigners of Hartup and Dowding, who was impressively working back well from a forward position, were putting themselves about, as Dickens filled the voids, however they dug in and battled for the full ninety minutes.

The home side always remained a constant threat, with First Team hitman, and Archers all-time leading scorer Burchett playing off their last man, turning him on several occasions as he made his way towards goal, only to be denied by solid defensive cover. In a swarming middle of the park, Carters side found the channels most profitable, Donnelly and Jefford were supporting the front two well with some quick breaks, stemming all the way back from Bradley in goal, but their recovery play and fitness levels were also exemplary.

Burchett missed out on the chance to notch, after a floated corner found the striker on the edge of the box where he completely missed the ball, in what is surely one of the biggest ever air shots ever witnessed at The Recreation Ground. Dowding and Jefford also had long-range efforts that failed to test the Scaynes shot stopper. With twenty minutes still remaining and the game evenly poised, the visitors began to pressure Fletching deep back into their own half, as the home side suddenly found themselves on the back foot. Hill had a great chance to get back in it when a loose ball in a crowded box was met by a tremendously struck shot, which was only equalled by an athletic reaction save from Bradley, who safely gathered at the second attempt.

Dave Eastoe turned his knee over, which could now see him out for the remainder of the season and he was replaced by Toby ‘Sinead’ Powell. The talented young striker is currently finding his feet again, after falling out of favour with manager Carter, and could have made the game safe with only injury time remaining. After being played in with a delicate ball from Dowding, Powell beat the offside trap to go one-on-one with the advancing keeper. With a chip or curl into the corner looking inevitable, he elected to go past the goalie, forcing himself wide and firing his shot into the side netting as moments later the final whistle went to give The Archers a well fought three points.

Team: Bradley, Jefford, M.Dann, Hill, G.Dann, Donnelly, Dickens, Hartup, Eastoe (Powell 79), Dowding, Burchett. Sub Not Used: Head