The Villagers showed great character to come back into this crunch relegation game against a lowly East Grinstead side at The Recreation Ground on Saturday. Williams was able to name virtually an unchanged side from the one that continued The Archers impressive run of form when they picked up three points in their last outing against Dormansland. Funnell was unable to make kick off so Donnelly came into midfield, whilst ‘Deano’ Harper came back into the squad having been absent the previous week.

Despite their lowly league position, Town have several games in hand on the teams around them, and on the evidence of this performance they will certainly have no problems climbing out of the relegation zone. Few could argue that the visitors, in this form were one of the best footballing teams The Archers have faced this season. Clearly the product of County League set up, Town were a very young and talented and skilful side, with a few old heads thrown in to guide them through. They played a controlled, passing game around all areas of the park with every member looking accomplished and confident, yearning for the ball.

They took the game to a lack lustre Fletching side who had the advantage of the slope in the first period, but they were made to work for it. Grinstead eventually took the lead after half an hour’s play, the home side losing possession in the middle of the park and being punished for it when Town drilled in a low shot from outside the box. The hosts got men behind the well, looking to counter, but created little of note in the first half of the game, before their defence was broken for a second time only a minute or so from the break - the visitors scoring a second after indecision from youngster Fingerneissl in the Fletching goal.

Manager Rhys Williams made two changes at the interval, Funnell replacing injured skipper Michael Duff, who now looks set to be out for a number of weeks with a broken toe, and Harper coming on for a hung- over looking Agate. Only five minutes in and Grinstead looked to have buried the home side when they scored a third, after Barter crudely brought down the striker in penalty area – the spot kick leaving Fingerneissl with no chance.

The Villagers were seemingly now out of the game but continued to play, looking to the creativity of Leeves and Egleton, as Dowding seemed to find a second gear up front. The home side pulled one back mid way through as the big, marauding defenders Dickens and Harper looked to cause havoc at a rare Fletching corner. It was the later whose late foray into a far post area, saw him power one home off his head, which seemed to give his side belief, as from then on in they began to ask questions of the visitors who were put on the back foot.

Not long after and Egleton reduced the lead further after good work on the right from Dowding, allowed the inform striker to sneak in at close range. With their superior fitness, youthful exuberance and skill set, Town were always a threat and continued to press down the slope, but they were met by an inspired Archer’s defence of Cork, Dickens Holford and Harper, whose performances in recent weeks are clearly a large part of this Archers mini-revival. They kept an over powering attack at bay, as the host’s themselves continued to pour men forward, sensing a share of the spoils. Once again it was Egleton, playing in his first season for Fletching, who plundered another to bring his side level, in almost identical fashion to his first. Again top work on the right saw the ball drilled in low where the front man finished.

In this entreating league match both sides went for the win in the final few minutes. The Villagers should have capped a remarkable comeback by wrapping up all three points after Dowding burst through to break the visitors off side trap. He thundered his way towards goal with only the keeper, who made the decision to come off his line early, in his way. It was Dowding who met the bounce of the long ball first, but his effort went agonisingly over an empty goal as the game ended with a well earned point for The Archers.

Team: Fingerneissl, Cork, Agate (Harper), Dickens, Holford, Barter, Leeves, Duff (Funnell), Donnelly, Egleton, Dowding