On paper The Archers 100% winning record in all competitions was in jeopardy as they welcomed division five outfit Handcross Village II in a second round Stratford Cup match. The task was made no easier for manager Richard Clark, who was not only without his trusty number two, Pat ‘Minty’ Phillips, who was on his travels in Spain, but was missing a number of key personnel. Strikers Toby Powell and Pete Burchett were called up to the first team, whilst captain Mike Cronin, Neil Head and new signing Burnett were all unavailable, leaving Clark with a quandary up front. However the return of the veterans Mark Hill and Marten Leeves helped to ease his woes.

Both sides started brightly, as one would expect from the calibre involved, chances coming at both ends. The visitor’s wingers were causing havoc for youngster Aygate and the long-serving Jefford in the back line, who did well to force them into the wide channels, but a number of hazardous crosses threatened the home side, as Bradley was called into action, one in particular should have produced an opener for the visitors as the striker put it just past the post.

Despite a gulf in league differences, this was not apparent and The Archers contested this cup tie on an even par with the hosts gradually starting to find their feet. Some good play on the wing from summer signing Chris ‘Scotty Too Hotty’ Scott set up Newman but he was unable to convert. Then moments later Greg Dann, on the opposite wing, avoid two attempts by Handcross to bring a halt to his stylish run, being allowed to play on by the referee he fired in a cross towards powerhouse Ian Dowding, who put his header over the bar. Moments later and it was Dann once again who was in the thick of it, his free kick deep to the far post found Dickens who headed just over the bar, to go closest for The Villagers.

This time the momentum was with Handcross and for the first time their class began to shine through as they started to come right back into the tie after The Archers two near misses. The wings were still fruitful for the away side where they showed some lovely touches and tidy interchange passing moves as the back four found themselves slowly stretched. A flowing move down the right hand side allowed the number 7 to slip in a through ball for the number 9 to coolly slot home past Bradley, as The Tangerine Machine went in one down at the half time interval, but with still very much all to play for, having shown glimmers in the first period.

The Archers came out of the break full of beans, but had the arduous task of kicking up the infamous Recreation Ground slope, however the experienced campaigners were well adjusted to this and it was the home side who started promisingly as some neat attacking play allowed Newman and Downing to get couple of half chances on target to work the visitors keeper.

At the other end Handcross also asked questions as they went with the downhill impetus to test Barn End favourite Darren Bradley. Indeed they should have doubled their lead and put this intriguing cup tie to rest, when another fine ball in from the left hand channel found their unmarked number seven at the back post. He had acres of time to pick his place from close range but inexplicably put it wide, giving Fletching a reprieve and some much needed breathing space in which to compose themselves, which seemed to be the turning point.

With only ten minutes of the game remaining it was time to take risks and the home side began to push adventurously forward. It left big gaps at the back and would have been game over if a second was conceded, but led by a resurgent Ian Dowding from the front line, Clark’s side found a way back in. Seventeen year old right back, John Aygate was at the heart of it as he came away with the ball from deep to show some neat link up play with Scott, feeding the new signing with a simple pass and allowing his pace to do the rest. The winger put a fine cross into the box where Dowding was lurking to head home from all of five yards. It was no less than a battling home side deserved and clearly lifted the spirits of the entire team.

The Villagers were now in a completely different gear to a demoralised away side and continued to press with the drive that the talismanic Dowding had gifted his team. With barely more than five minutes remaining they completed a wonderful smash and grab result and with it a notable scalp. Once again it came from the right hand side, involving Aygate and Chris Scott who sent in another long ball from a wide area, where Dowding was able to nick in past a hapless keeper, for his eighth of the season, to stun the visitors.

There was still time for Handcross to come straight back at the Archers, and this they certainly did, chucking everything forward in one final throw of the dice. Creditably the Tangerine Machine dug in well to get men behind the ball, as Handcross still posed a real threat. They almost took the tie into extra time in the final seconds from a corner, but a despairing lunge from Fletcher, who has shown a maturity way beyond his juvenile years during his rookie season, cleared the ball from danger, as Fletching progressed into the third round of the Stratford Cup.

Team: Bradley, Agate, Jefford (Brady), Dickens, Fletcher, Dann, Scott, Hill, Leeves, Downing, Newman (Carter)