Having met each other on the opening day of the season only a month or so ago, The Archers welcomed AFC Grinstead, looking to improve on a dismal performance in which they were soundly beaten 4-1 at Talbot Road. A bumper crowd gathered for the early kick-off as The Recreation Ground played host to a double-header on what was a fine day for football.

Manager Rhys Williams was away on holiday which meant Steve ‘Stelios’ Barbe and Jamie Funnell were left in charge of a team which had won two on the bounce. Neil ‘Nails’ Bradford had withdrawn from the squad midweek having failed to shake of a knock from the win at Punnetts Town, Aygate went down to The Reserves, and Funnell was still not 100%, suffering from man-flu. All in all it left Barbe with a managerial quandary and meant a re-shuffle. Matt Newman was called up to the bench alongside Funnell, whilst Steve Barbe swapped full back roles to come in at right back. Michael Duff dropped in from midfield to take Barbe’s vacant left back position, which meant a start on the left for Luke ‘YTS’ Donnelly. Phil Holford found himself in uncommon territory pushing into the holding midfield slot alongside regular midfielders Egleton and Barter. Two man of the match performances in a row meant seventeen year old Marcus Barbe kept his place up front with Lucey.

The first half was by no means pretty on a surface that began to cut up due to the rain of the previous week, and the expectant crowd were witness to some resolute, unyielding defending from the home side for much of the period. Players and coaching staff alike knew exactly what they were in for from the visitors, who looked to use the benefit of the infamous slope, as they fed their vast, physical striker, however Cork who had been assigned to man mark him, carried on his fine work from the previous week, keeping the hitman generally very quite. New First Team captain Stuart Douglas too on their other tricky striker, played superbly, and assemble his back line well, Duff giving the home side a completely new outlook on the left, as for the first time really this campaign, The Archers began confidently.

It was the Surrey-based side that dominated proceedings in the first half. Fletching, who were fielding possibly their youngest ever side, with an average age of just 23 with Jamie Funnell being the oldest player, were on the back foot and had no answer to the aerial ability and physicality of AFC. The lack of Darren Wolvey, who is still serving an internal suspension and Bradford was visibly evident, as time and time again the ball was pinged back into the danger third, as a big gap between defence and forward line transpired, keeping The Villagers pressed back. Youngster Luke Donnelly and ‘Titch’ Barter on the right looked to have acres space in front and around them Donnelly, in particular clearly had the edge on his man, but so often Fletching overlooked this avenue, opting instead to play it long which was easily mopped up.

That said on occasions when the home side got the ball down and played to their strengths, particularly through the middle of the park, looking to the creative ‘Fun Time’ Frank Egleton, they posed problems for the visitors defensive line. Lucey and younger Barbe brother Marcus were their busying usual selves, allowing the back four no time on the ball as they chased down everything with optimism. But for all the home sides good work they were restricted to a couple of half chances and the Lingfield-based side’s goalkeeper was ultimately redundant. The visitors took a deserved lead just before half time, after a rare lapse in concentration when Fletching lost the ball when in good attacking possession. A simple ball to the AFC striker saw him drive deep into the attacking third unchallenged, as The Villagers backed off, allowing him to drive his shot past a helpless Fingerneissl from just inside the box, as The Archers went in at the break one down, but still very much in game.

Kicking down the hill and with the wind Fletching started very brightly, as they started to find the confidence needed to enjoy time on the ball, Holford and Egleton utilising the pace and youthful exuberance of Donnelly and Barter. The home side found a spectacular equaliser after good work down the right hand channel from Lucey. His cross found Egleton who had made a run to the near post where he masterfully took his chance – a Di-Canio-like scissor kick which beat everyone, for his second of the season.

This seemed to serve as a wakeup call for AFC, as immediately they upped their work rate, evidently disgruntled at being on a level par in a game in which they had clearly edged and hit back in fine fashion with two goals in the space of ten minutes – The first a well taken attempt on the edge of the box. Williams’ men were still finding their feet from this setback when Grinstead had seemingly killed the game off with a stunning long-range belter, as their midfielder found the top corner of the net past a fully stretched Fingerneissl.

With a third of the game still remaining the hosts looked to pick themselves up and with much resolve sought to get back into this fixture, showing great character as they continued to try and play some decent football. Steve Barbe was carrying a slight knock which meant an injection of pace for the front line as Matty ‘Mr Kipling’ Newman was thrown on upfront, Holford dropping into his accustomed right back role vacated by Barbe, as his younger brother filled the midfield void. For the remainder of the game a swelling Barn End faithful urged their team on as they continued to press, but couldn’t produce anything when it mattered the most in front of goal. ‘Sheepy’ Cork went on another mazy run, breaking down an AFC attack, coming out with the ball from his defensive position and waltzing past several players. Hopes were high after his recent exploits, but he failed in his bid for his second of the season, firing his shot wide from just outside the box.

With only ten minutes remaining it was the last throw of the dice as Funnell came on to replace a work tired Egleton. The veteran Archer is clearly relishing his newfound midfield cameo role this season and once again got the ball down to bring his simple style of football to the middle of the park. His first touch put Neil Lucey through one-on-one with the keeper, but he failed to convert after the shot-stopper did well coming off his line. Seconds later and this time The Northern Monkey made no mistake, slotting past the keeper and handing his team a vital lifeline. His deserved effort was to be all in vain as the closing last five minutes saw the visitors snatch two more quick fire goals to firmly take a grasp of all three points. Their first coming after possession was lost in midfield, Grinstead’s tricky centre man winning the ball before slipping it to the left of the penalty area into the oncoming striker who spanked a Jimmy Floyd-esq thunderbolt past Finngerneissl’s near post from close range, the second being another powerful drive when close in on goal.

Team: Fingerneissl, M.Barbe (Newman), Cork, Douglas, Duff, Barter, Donnelly, Holford, Egleton (Funnell), Lucey, M.Barbe