Things seemed ominous as The Archers travelled to Adastra Park to face league high flyers Keymer & Hassocks, a team they had beaten earlier in the season for a rare three points. Arriving at the ground with a little over half an hour until kick off and with no less than six players unavailable for the journey, Williams was forced into some major changes. Cork, Harper, Donnelly, Leeves and Fingerneissl were all out, whilst Burchett was dropped to the reserve team. Into a new looking defence came the experienced Dickens, two seventeen year olds in John Agate and Sam Fletcher who was handed his First Team starting debut. Barter came into the middle of the park alongside Funnell, whilst Duff was assigned the left wing, allowing Egleton a berth up front alongside Dowding who was returning from injury.

Despite the odds the visitors put in a top performance to do the double over an obviously good side, as they came away with all three points. On an expansive, but deceptively boggy pitch the first half belonged to Fletching, as they took a direct game to the hosts. Keymer started the brighter though, looking particularly dangerous from their big men at set pieces and they found themselves ahead early on. After only ten minutes a lapse in concentration saw the visitors get to the by line, before crossing. With the ball seemingly well out of play everyone stopped expecting a goal kick, but Raftery headed home amongst a motionless penalty area.

Fletching hit straight back as they then began to dominate proceedings for the first half. The combination of Dowding and Egleton upfront was working a charm, and both went close with a couple of good efforts. Duff and youngster Marcus Barbe, who was having an outstanding game as he drove forward with the ball, and for a change was looking up for the pass, carved out shots, as The Villagers also threatened from several dangerous corners which were scrambled clear. Fletching got their reward midway through after fine work from Barbe saw him whip a ball in from the right towards the edge of the box, Egleton running on to it as he dummied for Dowding to latch on and poke home from just inside the box. Williams’s side were unlucky not to go further ahead as they made the most of some uncharacteristic Keymer defending, which had them arguing amongst themselves and in disarray at the back. Funnell blazed a sweet half volley over the bar from just outside the box, as Dowding, the tricky Egleton, Barter, Duff and Barbe all continued to work the keeper.

The second period was a far more even affair, the home side looking a lot more organised and disciplined, as they started to play some simple football, and they were always a real threat. The host’s pesky, skilful middleman was a real handful and much of their decent stuff stemmed from his quick feet. However Barter, playing a somewhat unfamiliar role, handled him expertly. On the occasions Keymer and Hassocks did break through, The Archers back line stubbed out the attack almost instantly. Man of the match Paul Dickens and Phil Holford did well to guide the youngsters through, as they restricted the home side to pretty much long range efforts.

Fletching took the lead ten minutes in when the crafty Egleton got the ball out in a wide area, before cutting onto his right and curling a brilliant long range shot into the far top corner from just outside the penalty area. He was unlucky not to get a second only moment later after what was the best move of the game, with some delightful one touch, free flowing football. Dowding’s incessant running, particularly after coming back from injury, was giving the hosts back line problems as he chased every last scrap down. As Fletching cleared their lines the big powerhouse picked up the ball on the break and played into the feet of Egleton, he chipped the ball back to Dowding who had continued his run, taking it on the knee and playing the volley back to Egleton who had just sneaked inside the box. He side footed his first time volley perfectly to the far corner, past a despairing keeper, as the ball hit the underside of the top corner, bouncing down onto the back of the goal keeper’s heel, just managing to prevent a third.

Despite an hilarious over head bicycle kick from Dowding, which he totally missed, as Williams continued to see his side press, Hassocks went close at the other end as they pushed men forward, before Egleton made the game safe with a little under ten minutes remaining, with his second of the game. The striker making a late slide at the far post after a cross from the left to guide home just pass the Keymer’s shot stopper, as The Archers came away with a much needed victory as they try desperately to climb out of the division three relegation scrap.

Team: Phillips, Fletcher, Holford, Agate, Funnell, Barter, M.Barbe (Starnes), Duff, Egleton, Dowding