Encouraged by only their third league win of the campaign, the previous week against promotion chasing Keymer and Hassocks, The Archers entertained the Surrey based outfit Dormansland Rockets. In perfect conditions at The Recreation Ground, the Barn End faithful knew a good result would help to lift them a couple of places up the division three slippery slope, but went home disappointed as the home side slumped to another defeat, in a game that they were outplayed in. Williams stuck with the same side of the previous week, the only change being Jack Fingerneissl who started in goal ahead of Phillips who provided cover for The Reserves. The Villagers welcomed back Dean Harper, Luke ‘YTS’ Donnelly and ‘Sheepy’ Cork, all of whom took a place on the bench and were to see action later on in the game.

In truth The Villagers were never really in this game, they looked sluggish and dishevelled in key areas all over the park. Rockets were dictating, particularly down the middle, as they worked the ball well. That said the visitors were made to work hard for their three points, as the Archers back line dug their heels in to deny them any real opportunity - Dickens, Holford, Fletcher and Agate working well together with some important challenges. Indeed it was Agate who poured forward to support Fletching’s counter attacks, and Dormansland had a good few scares early on with several scrambled clearances from a spate of home side corners. As always Egleton and Dowding worked tirelessly for the cause, but came up against a well drilled and physical Rocket defence, as Fletching failed to find any killer ball. The visitors took the lead after half an hour of play, as the striker created room for the shot which he placed past an outstretched Fingerneissl. Fletching were unlucky with the effort, Barter having made great ground up to get a comfortable slide in on the goal line, which looked to have saved the day, only for it to bobble over him and into the net. To compound things Funnell received a nasty dead leg in a nothing challenge and struggled through to half time, whilst Marcus Barbe also picked up a knock which saw him replaced at the break as well.

Williams decided to make a third and final substitution at half time, as Fletcher made way for Harper, and a much improved Fletching came into the game for the first time, showing glimmers of creativity, much of it from Egleton, who put in another fine performance. Both sides were more evenly matched in terms of possession, but it was still the visitors who were looking most threatening. The Villagers looked to have got back in it early on when Donnelly outpaced his man as he latched onto a deep cross field ball from the right; he calmly put it past the keeper, but was adjudged to be offside, in what looked like a harsh decision. The introduction of Cork sured things up at the back, adding a bit of bite to defence and it took until late on for Rockets to make the game safe. Once again Fletching could consider themselves unlucky – an individual error from seventeen year old Fingerneissl gifted them a goal, as he dropped a routine catch on the goal line to the feet of the lurking striker to tap back past him into an empty net. It was no less than the visitors deserved though, they were well worth their win against a tired looking Fletching, who have it all to do now next week against a decent East Court side.

Team: Fingerneissl, Fletcher (Harper), Dickens, Agate, Holford, Funnell (Donnelly), Barter, Duff, M. Barbe (Cork), Egleton, Dowding