The Archers returned to action after the Christmas break as they welcomed Cuckfield Town II for a crucial bottom of the table Division Three clash. Any concerns of a festive hangover were put to rest as the home side ran out convincing 3-0 winners to hoist them above their opponents and also East Grinstead Town. With only Dowding out of action (flu), for one of the only times this season young manager Rhys Williams had a full strength squad to pick from. In a change to the team that lost narrowly at home to Maresfield before the interlude, Wolvey and Cork came straight into the heart of the defence, Funnell and Steve Barbe making way. Barter also returned to the midfield alongside Leeves, Donnelly and Marcus Barbe, as Duff moved up to partner Burchett.

Winning the toss, skipper Michael Duff elected to kick up the hill for the first forty-five in difficult, slippery conditions and driving rain. It was the home side who dominated the first half, certainly in terms of scoring chances and the positive way they went forward. The Archers were playing some delightful football at times, most of it stemming from the back, where time and time again, man of the match Darren Wolvey and alongside him Cork, won the ball before distributing it quickly and efficiently. Holford and Harper alongside them were outstanding, both were given a stern test by their younger opponents, but worked up and down effortlessly all game, winning everything in the air and reading the game like a book.

To their credit a young Town side which also include some vastly experienced campaigners never gave up and by no means gave the hosts an easy ride. It was clear that both sides desperately wanted the win and the over-eagerness combined with the playing conditions resulted in a yellow card for ‘Field’s wing back, Barter was also fortunate to avoid caution after several lunges. Cuckfield looked most dangerous when sending their big lads up for free kicks. Time it time again it was the visitors who frustrated The Archers, playing quick, short and intelligent balls from their set pieces. They were finding the right hand channel the most productive, the wide two linking in forward areas and over lapping very effectively, as they kept Harper on his toes. But there was no end product and despite threatening, seventeen year old Fingerneissl in the Fletching goal was redundant, having only to make the occasional claim.

Leeves in the middle was the lynch pin in the side and was the pioneer in many an innovative move. Whilst having to work extremely hard against a testing Town midfield he was freely picking out young Barbe and Donnelly as they moved into forward positions. However things really picked up for The Villagers when a tactical switch saw Barter and Barbe swap roles, Marcus Barbe giving his side even more impetus as the youngster drove into danger areas with the ball at his feet, whilst Barter’s discipline saw him get forward but at the same time track back with his lively opposite number, which began to stifle the visitors productive looking gains down the right hand side.

The Villagers front pair of Burchett and Duff were a real thorn in the Cuckfield side. They continually looked to threaten in the danger area, but the visitors were lively to it and played a neat off side trap to win the free kick on numerous occasions. Throughout the half The Archers failed to adapt to the slick greasy surface and despite the good work from midfield the passes forward were over hit as they skidded on for the ‘keeper to easily claim. Holford and Harper were producing the goods from deep though and the strikers latched on to these to carve out several half chances.

It was Duff who gave the home side a deserved lead midway through the first half with a fantastic strike characteristic of the veteran. A ball dispatched from the middle was controlled by Duff in a high left position of the field. He showed poise to hold off his man as he waited for support, but with none arriving he cut in on his own moving it across the corner of the box before expertly curling his shot into the top left hand corner for his eighth of the season. One-nil to the home side as they went in at the half time break.

The second half was far more even despite the home side’s late brace which made the game safe. Cuckfield looked far more assured in possession and competitive in chasing down the ball, experience down the spine of the side clearly beginning to shine through. The visitors began to carve out some half chances and Fingerneissl was forced into some smart stops, but it was The Villagers who looked more certain of furthering their lead.

Burchett was guilty of squandering several fabulous goal scoring opportunities, having smartly beaten Town’s methodical off-side trap, which began to tire as the game went on. He went clean through from an angled run on the right and with the ‘keeper quick off his line, it looked certain that Fletching’s often so prolific hitman would just lift it over him from distance, however he drilled it low and hard across the goal, allowing the shot stopper to get a hand to it.

Only a matter of minutes later and the striker was fed in again, doing well to latch onto a piercing through ball which left him with only one person to beat. Once again Town’s ‘keeper was equal to Burchett’s target bound effort, but couldn’t grasp it safely as the striker pounced on the fumble to have another shot. He was denied by the in-form old boy who made pulled off a fantastic double save whilst still on the ground, eventually putting it out of play.

The resulting corner from Leeves picked out big man Darren Wolvey who had lumbered up from the back. He beat everyone as he attacked the ball with a bullet header which just whistled over the bar, as the hosts continued to press, with William’s brining on Egleton and Funnell midway through, in a half that was becoming increasingly fragmented by stoppages in play and two further yellows cards for Harper and Egleton, both for dissent.

These changes seemed to do the trick as The Villagers made the game safe with two quality goals in the final fifteen minutes. The home side continued to bound forward, especially Donnelly who throughout the half was just tremendous – getting in behind the back four time and again down the right hand side to create chances for himself and others, but it was the substitute, Egleton who extended the lead. Having received the ball in the danger area he hooked a high curling effort in the direction of the goal which was seemingly heading out of play. However it hung up in the wind to elude everyone, finally nestling in the far corner.

With the game safe The Archers midfield applied the pressure in the final third, Duff, Burchett, Leeves and Funnell all had efforts to add to the tally – the later offered the best chance after his closing down high up the pitch, led to the visitors giving the ball away to him on the edge of the box, where his early shot curled wide of the goal.

It was Burchett who got a deserved final goal late on which was the pick of the bunch. A quick counter-attack straight down the middle of the pitch with some attractive one-touch stuff, involving Egleton and Burchett, which ended in the former looking for a one-two as he played the ball out wide before making his way into the area. As the return came in he dummied, allowing Burchett to run into the box unmarked to lash home a pile driver. It was no more than Fletching deserved, picking up a rare, yet vital three points and recording their first clean sheet of the season, as they face a daunting couple of weeks against the league high flyers.

Team: Fingerneissl, Holford, Wolvey, Cork, Harper, M. Barbe (Egleton), Leeves (S. Barbe), Barter, Donnelly, Duff (Funnell), Burchett. Unused Sub: Williams