Unfortunately, I missed the pre match changing room talk due to arriving at The Recreation Ground fifteen minutes into the first half but judging by what I witnessed it seemed we were playing a revolutionary new system devised to outwit any football player anywhere in the world.

The team was sent out to play a 4-3-3 formation (supposedly) with Newman and Dowding as forwards supporting ‘Dogger’ Benton up front. However, they were actually playing behind the midfield trio of Dann, Hartup and Leeves as full backs alongside our defence of ‘Sheepy’ Cork, Hill, Eastoe and Dickens. So in reality we were playing a world-first 6-3-1 formation and because there were so many of our guys ‘goal side’ picking up the opposition was not required and best left to a fellow Archer- “…after all he’s there doing nothing!”. Maresfield couldn’t believe their luck at the time and space they were being afforded by very generous hosts. Thank heavens that at no time could they do anything worthwhile with all the possession and create a solitary chance.

Before the end of the half and after much instructional screaming by JC, PC and yours truly the shape of the team improved and at half time Dann was switched to right midfield, Matt pushed up front alongside the (lonely) Benton and Leeves in his customary midfield role alongside playing partner and mate Hartup. Dowding (stomach) was replaced by Barter to protect his injury and to inject much needed pace and width to a very ‘heavy’ looking team.

The performance of the second half bared no resemblance to the first. It seemed that each player had taken off lead weights and were beginning to move and flow before the ball and offering options to the man in possession. The defence (which to be fair had been commanding in the first half) continued to win everything with some very ferocious but fair tackles particularly from Sheepy and Dickens and used it to good effect by playing a quick ball to feet in wide areas where both Barter and Dann started making strong threatening runs into enemy territory. In the first half twenty players were condensed into twenty yards of pitch while now the play was spread over the entire width of the playing surface and spaces were opening where our creative duo in the middle could play killer balls forwards.

This was more like Fletching football. Even on occasions route one balls from Bradley were beating the last man allowing Dogger free runs towards the Maresfield goal. At this point one sensed a home victory and the start of a winning run. A good shot by Hartup followed up by two or three attacking corners should have resulted in the lead being taken by the home side. But in one of those typically cruel footballing twist in the tales a long range free kick effort from ‘Field resulted in a momentarily early move by Bradders to his right just at the point where the hulk of a number five for Maresfield fired a bullet towards the home goal. Alas, the keeper had been wrong footed but his effort to palm away the shot proved too much and the ball crept just below the bar and rolled down the back of the net, ending up in the ditch behind the goal. The crowd were bemused to find that the ref pointing towards the centre spot instead of the corner flag. Unfortunately none of us had realised that the ball ended inside the goal and so the score was 0-1 with twenty-five minutes still to play.

Throughout the game the boys had accepted all of the referee’s decisions (most of which seemed go against the home side) without hesitation or moaning (unlike the crowd on the touchline!) and it was just reward that in the seventy-five minute mark Benton pounced on an un-expecting defender giving him an almighty shoulder-barge (are you sure Sol? Dan weighs just under half of Chris Hartup's average daily lunch box!! – ed.) which was waved play on (good call the ref) and the loose ball was tucked away fiercely past a surprised keeper to make it 1-1 - Game on!

With fifteen minutes still remaining The Archers smelt blood. Still the attacks continued and some tricky wing play by Barter and the newly introduced Clark who was on for Newman on the right resulted with both making powerful shots which troubled the keeper but sadly not the net. In all I counted over ten efforts on goal and seven corners in that final fifteen minutes but try as we might we could not sneak the deserved win and bag the much needed three points.

The final whistle brought a wry smile to the Maresfield faces, much helped by a very good keeper (was he really 55!), whilst frustration was further heaped on a Fletching side desperate to amass points and start the climb up a very steep looking table - clearly our lack matches so far this season is showing on the pitch. Man for man I don’t believe there is a stronger team in our division (one exception of course) but on current form we need to get fitter in order to flow and start scoring freely and kill off games. Unfortunately, it is games that get you match fit so there is the dichotomy.

Finally, praise to the boys! Firstly, to the manager; well done for seeing it wasn’t working and ‘Martin Jol’ style making the change without waiting. Well done also to all the boys on the pitch for carrying out the gaffer’s instructions to the letter without a whinge or a moan. Well done to all those substituted who accepted their fate and double well done to the subs who really turned the game in our favour. It was a real team performance and each of us played our parts.

Team: Bradley, Cork, Hill, Eastoe, Dickens, G.Dann (Jefford), Hartup, Leeves, Newman (Clark), Dowding (Barter), Benton. Subs not used: Harris, Brady