Having been dumped out of the Parsons Challenge Cup the week before against lower league opposition, The Archers are now left to focus their attention on the league, as they looked foward to a Recreation Ground fixture against fiercest rivals Wealden. In what was The Villagers last match before the Christmas break, Carters side were hoping for an early present of three points and a few goals against a Wealden team who are rooted to the foot of the table having leaked an unenviable sum of goals. With big defensive stalwart Duly on First Team action, Jefford, who missed the previous week, came straight in at the back, whilst promising youngster Luke Donnelly was unavailable to play against his former team, meaning a start on the wing for younger Dann brother Greg.

Of course though it was derby game not to be taken lightly, the wisened Wealden old boys at the heart of The Archers defence expected a tough game, especially as this was the first meeting between the two sides for a season and a half. However from the start it was clear to see why the away side have continually struggled this season, as Fletching took the game to a predominantly young team, looking totally dominant from the off. The experienced back four, all of whom have Wealden connections, rarely broke sweat as the Framfield outfit offered little resistance against the power and physical presence of Head and Hartup in the middle. They were first to everything, winning the second ball on the rare occasion they failed on the first, which gave Greg Dann and Eastoe time to push on and support Toby Powell and Dan ‘Dogger’ Benton up front. The youthful, electric pace of Benton, playing against many of his former academy players, was a constant thorn in the opposition’s side, causing all sorts of problems as the battle hardened veterans of The Wealden back four failed to adjust to such lively legs. The young striker bursting through on numerous occasions only to be denied by the aging Wealden goalie or by his own ineptitude.

A solid defensive display, which saw Hill constantly stepping up, allowed much more creative freedom for The Archers midfield to ply their trade and further support the front two. Time and time again Fletching found themselves in good goal scoring opportunities but failed to break the deadlock, with Benton, Powell, Dickens and Hartup all finding time and space to push forward, whilst being guilty of squandering chances, ‘Dens keeper in inspired form as he kept his team in the game. Carter’s side could have realistically, and probably should have, gone in at the break ten goals to the good. As it was they only went on to convert one of their chances, Greg Dann firing a stinging shot with some vicious swerve, after one of his renowned runs, that the visitors shot stopper failed to hold onto.

Carter was forced into three immediate half time changes, with the two Dann brothers departing to a high profile boxing match, and Benton getting ready for his girlfriend’s Christmas party, ‘Champagne’ Sol, Gary Smith and Piers Carter all came on. A similar pattern of play followed for the remaining forty-five. The Archers picking up where they left off, once again establishing themselves as the overriding team with another fine display of fluid football, every member looking composed on the ball, until yet again they found themselves in front of goal. The introduction of Smith and Keoshgarian gave The Villagers a new spark of life. The former, as usual, bursting forward into the Framfield outfit’s half from a defensive role, and the latter taking over from Benton, giving the home sides defence absolutely no respite, continually snapping at their heels in the hunt for a goal. Tensions were running high and the frustration clearly evident at Fletchings lack of penetration, but the continual battering of the Wealden box eventually led to another well deserved strike. This time it was ‘Bendy Legs’ Powell who doubled the hosts lead, with the best goal of the game, a snapshot low and hard into the bottom left hand corner, which left the keeper rooted to the spot.

The visiting side, who had seemingly resigned themselves to defeat, then began to start playing some decent football. For the first time The Archers back four were having to work at their game after a number of threatening long balls caused problems, Wealden now finding time to settle on the ball as they begun stringing some neat passes together. However, Fletching stuck to the task in hand, Bradley alert to any foreseeable danger, before Carter made the game safe with a third for The Villagers. Like something out of ‘Smooth Criminal’, the pintsize player/manager paraded his Michael Jackson-esq quick feet before stabbing home for his first of the season.

Wealden grabbed a late consolation after a defensive mix up. Jefford stumbled on a routine clearance which The Wealden forward picked up on before launching a shot into the lowering sun to deceive the previously redundant Bradley. With his clean sheet out the window and his wallet now safe, this incident was the talk of the playing staff after the game. Rumours that this defensive lapse was a pre-meditated routine between the two, so that Bradley didn’t have to delve into his pockets and buy everyone a round are unfounded! This was a comfortable win for The Archers in which they should really have bettered their goal difference, especially in light of their next fixture – a tough home game against Felbridge.

Team: Bradley, Jefford, Eastoe, Hill, M.Dann, Hartup, G.Dann, Head, Dickens, Benton, Powell; Subs: Keoshgarian, Smith, Carter