I can’t remember a time ever in my long football career when I and the rest of the team have looked forward so much to a new season and a football match. Such was the anticipation that a blank week last Saturday and a 4.30pm kick off almost seemed cruel to the boys- but eventually the moment arrived and the lads met at Ringles Cross pub car park prior to what should have been a convoy drive up to Balcombe (Piers if others are meant to be following you it means they don’t know the way!!)

Our pre season had been very successful with some excellent results and looking around the changing room it seemed that all we had to do was turn up and the championship was ours. Football, as is often said, is a funny old game. No one was getting carried away, the changing room banter was as sharp as ever and the pre-match talk was well rehearsed and executed by an ever confident manager now serving in his third season. Players were reminded that the team would be picked on merit, good attitude, hard work and training attendance.

The playing surface was very narrow and small, almost school pitch size and maybe this is not suitable to Fletching’s ‘on the deck’ expansive style. We tried to play football as much as possible and when we did we often carved open the opposition from keeper to striker in three smooth passes. Alas, the finish was rusty. Before the half time break we had created four good chances one of which would be deemed a gift but we went in at the break 0-0, never feeling that the game would be anything but three points to us! The half time talk was one of encouragement and ‘no regrets’ and to push further up the field and put the hosts under greater pressure.

The half time substitution made by Balcombe in centre midfield changed the game. For twenty minutes Martin and Sol struggled to cope with the nimble footed number 14 (must be a first teamer!) who dictated play and linked beautifully with his attacking players. Throughout the game linesmen were having erection problems with their corner flag. Our assistant referee’s preoccupation with trying to get the damn thing to stay up was the cause for a blatant offside to be played on and tucked passed a hapless Bradders for 1-0. Ten minutes later and it was 2-0. A good ‘combe move and an anticipated snapshot wrong footed all of us, ending up in the back of the net.

Enter the reinforcements. Mark Hill on in defence along with Dave Eastoe later followed on by young Matt Newman to mark his league debut for The Archers. Moving Greg Dann up into midfield made sense and he was a colossus as he battled with three or four of the hosts players. They began to get rattled and Fletching began to play the kind of football which we had threatened first half. Two or three one-on-ones were created but no end result, before a resultant corner ended with paul Dickens climbing up unchallenged to head home a deserved goal- 2-1 and wild excited celebrations adding further frustration and angst to an already dishevelled Balcombe.

There seemed only one team in it. Twenty minutes to go and the chances kept coming. Powell, Barter, Dowding and Newman all had opportunities but it wasn’t to be and the final whistle was greeted with jubilance by a home side who knew they had been in a game.

Champagne Moment From ‘The Sol Man’

Overall, obviously gutted at not opening with any points but all of us would have felt confident that we will have a very good season and the results will come if we keep up the hard work and the spirit that we showed on Saturday. Piers brought in some beers to the changing room for us all no doubt to celebrate a winning start but still it was appreciated and all left with a determination to put things right at training on Wednesday. Tomorrow is another day……

Team: Bradley, .................