Fletching returned to league action this week against after a comprehensive cup rout over Bolney Rovers the previous week. Scaynes Hill III made the short trek for this A272 derby, with a less than impressive defensive record which had seen them slip to the foot of the division seven table.

Manager Richard ‘Ping’ Clark was away celebrating his birthday at Wembley Stadium, which meant assistant Pat ‘Minty’ Phillips was entrusted with gaining, certainly on paper, a comfortable three league points to help maintain the villagers thrust for a first league title, looking for their sixth straight win. Experienced campaigner ‘Badger’ Hill and former gaffer Piers Carter were both unavailable, as was last week’s two goal hero Toby Powell, but Harris, Aygate, Brady and Newman brought some depth to what was still a strong side. With Powell absent at the England game, this gave Burnett a start in only his second game for The Archers.

Fletching started well with good spells of possession as they began to excerpt a dominance of the visitors. Only minutes in and Burchett wasted a glorious opportunity to fire his team into the lead, as he went clean through on goal only to place just past the post. In a one sided first forty-five, The Villagers played some eye-catching football, which was a real spectacle for the fans who had gathered after the front sides early kick off. The pick of these moves starting deep in their own half from a defence who were rarely troubled and looked keen to step forward into midfield with the ball. The wisdom of an established back three look to be benefitting fourth member Fletcher, who at only 16 looks a real find and has made massive inroads since his senior debut only a month or two previously. They helped to ensure Bradley in the Fletching goal remained fairly redundant as several decent chances came and went at the other end.

Burchett and Dowding were running riot along Hill’s back line, whilst Scott owned the right wing – their pace, power and assured touch saw them plague the visitors, but they could not find a breakthrough, Scott going the closet with an effort that whistled across the face of goal and off the post. In truth, a big, physical and more veteran-like Scaynes Hill defended stoutly to restrict the hosts and both sides had penalty appeals waved away.

As the first half drew to a conclusion the home side continued to push and came awfully close to taking the lead. This time a Greg Dann corner found Scott who blasted home at the back post where it brushed the a defenders arm and looked to clearly crossed the line only for the referee to wave play on as both sides went in at the break level.

Fletching came out of a big and bold team talk from Minty Senior, who laid into his side giving them the full hair dryer treatment. This seemed to have a positive effect and they continued where they had left off in the first half, dominating the play and creating a couple of decent half chances up top. However it was the visitors who steadied themselves and began to establish themselves in this encounter, looking a completely different side from that of the first half. This belief was furthered when Hill took a shock lead to silence the crowd midway through. After a unwavering break the visitors won a free kick deep into the Fletching half which was viciously whipped in with and was slotted home on the volley past a bewildered Bradley in the villagers goal.

An angry Phillips was close to boiling point and must have raised his blood level by 100% as he blasted his players for simply strolling around the park. It was Cronin who started the revival, inspiring others around him, as the captain led the way by bossing the midfield with his individual flair. The Archers maintained a presence and continued to test Hill’s back line, but could not find a final product. It looked as though an expectant crowd would return home disappointed as nothing went the way of their side – and time was running out, as was their unbeaten run.

With some of the crowd already leaving the stands and just over eighty minutes already having slipped away The Villagers made two attacking changes, the fresh legs of Aygate and Harris coming on for Jefford and Burnett. It was the spark needed, but it was Ian Dowding who turned the game on its head, in a ten minute spell of pure genius. Mike Cronin and Dann linked well down the left to eventually win a corner which was fired deep into Hill’s area as Fletching loaded men forward. A defensive mix up allowed Dowding to tap home and make for an interesting and frantic last five minutes.

Buoyed by this lifeline and spirited reply the home side found a new engine as they bombarded Scaynes Hill’s final third, pushing support on in numbers as they dominated proceedings and pummelled a now nervy looking defence. Scott in particular the main source of torment with his crossing ability. Harris went close with a free header that was cleared off the line before a mad scramble saw a further chance go begging. Dowding then made an explosive drive through a central area; brushing aside a fatigued Hill side to clinically punish an onrushing keeper and place his effort firmly into the net.

He completed his hat trick in style with only moments left, as Fletching were now in top gear and really pushing Scaynes Hill to the limit, finishing off a lovely through ball from Head, by taking it round the keeper and slotting home coolly. There was still time for the visitors to come straight back down the other end in attack, but they were unable to break the villager’s goal for the second time. Mike Cronin failed to make the full ninety as he hobbled off in injury time, after a man of the match performance, as The Reserves played their ‘Get out of jail free’ card, running out with a two goal cushion as the game finished 3-1 to leave them well in title running.

Team: Bradley, Jefford (Aygate), Dann, Dickens, Fletcher, Scott, Dowding, Cronin (Newman), Burnett (Harris), Burchett. Subs not used: Brady