After a horror show from The Tangerine Machine last weekend, Fletching looked to bounce back with another tough away fixture to East Grinstead Mariners. The visitors were buoyed by the return of Unwin, Roberts, Duff and Bradford, with the later three coming straight into the starting lineup. An experimental shuffle around saw skipper Funnell move into the centre of the park, whilst Wolvey dropped into the vacant sweeper role, with the rest of the side lining up like it did for much of last season.

The game kicked off at a fast pace, in the sweltering heat, with the visitors looking to get amongst the Mariners back four and lively midfield, getting just the start they wanted when they took the lead inside ten minutes. The front pairing of Burchett and Lucey combined well resulting in ‘The Northern One’ lashing a powerful shot off the underside of the bar and just over the line, as Duff raced in to make sure, stabbing into an empty goal from one yard before wheeling away trying to claim it! The Villagers were dominant as they continued to press and almost got a second, a header from a corner skimming the bar, but it wasn’t long before they gained a two-goal cushion. Lucey harassed the Grinstead defender into a mistake before striking an unstoppable shot into the top corner to give The Archers a fantastic start.

To their credit Mariners rallied well and started to control the game midway through the first period, with the angled balls into their two quick wingers starting to cause problems for Hyland’s men. They reduced the deficit after the host’s tricky right-winger, who was a constant thorn in the Fletching side, managed to beat four players before shooting well inside the box. This was met by a fine save from Phillips who was unlucky to parry into the path of Mariners striker who tapped home. A few minutes later and the teams were level. This time a fast-paced move down the left saw their winger cut in before firing the ball into The Archers danger area, where some scrappy, schoolboy defending let Grinstead in to drill home for 2-2.

The game was evenly poised going into the second half but the hosts had the bit between the teeth and looked to continue where they left off with their pacey attacking play. After more poor defending from the visitors, a Mariners broke through and rounded ‘Minty’ Phillips before sliding the ball across the box for the striker to make it 3-2.

Fletching fought hard to get back into the match but couldn’t find a break through with a Roberts cross only inches away from the pouncing Burchett and Lucey. Burchett also had a headed chance moments later that went inches past the post. The hosts made it 4-2 with twenty minutes of the game remaining. A corner was routinely cleared where it was collected and played back into the box only for The Archers defence to watch the ball roll into the net! Chances came at both ends as players from either side squandered good opportunities for further goals, but Hyland’s men could not avoid a second successive defeat.

View From The Dancefloor with Billy Elliot (a.k.a Chris Hyland)

This was a tough result to take for The Archers, as we had battled very well to go into a 2-0 lead, but in this division we are soon learning that any mistake are much more likely to be punished! All four of Mariners goals could have been avoided, but you defend as a team, not as individuals, and that was missing from Saturday! Hopefully we will close down quicker the fitter we get! We will have to be on our game next week as we travel to last year’s promotion rivals Eat Court, who have started with two wins from two. We really have to show our strength of character & go there and work as a team and play as a team and hopefully get a positive result. There were definite signs last week, but now we have to sustain it for ninety minutes.

Team: Phillips, Holford, Wolvey, Cork, Funnell, Bradford, Hyland, Roberts, Duff, Lucey, Burchett. Subs: Cronin, Unwin