Fletching went into this fixture in a stronger position than expected, now lying second with the same games played as third placed East Court. With two points the difference, The Archers had it all in their own hands, but welcomed top of the table AFC Ringmer for the last home game of the campaign. With nine wins from nine, only the visitors stood in the way of a 100% home record. Pat ‘Minty Philips was welcomed back in goal, Cork was restored to the back line, but Davidson & Leeves missed out due to niggling injuries, as Lucey partnered Burchett up front in an otherwise unchanged team.

With a record Recreation Ground attendance of around forty and in lovely footballing conditions, Fletching started the brighter, kicking down the hill but found themselves up against a very stubborn and experienced defence, as AFC began to find their feet after an opening fifteen minutes of good pressure from the hosts. With Duff and Roberts restored to the flanks, the Hyland’s men looked to the wings to cause some trouble, and almost found an opening when Lucey shot wide. Not long after, some good football from Chris Hyland and Neil Lucey ended up with Burchett hammering a shot on goal only for it to fly over. Ringmer looked dangerous on the break, and if it wasn’t for some brave defending between Cork, Funnell and Holford, The Archers could of found themselves behind. A couple of well-worked set pieces from both sides caused problems but were nothing more than half chances in a very tight first half which remained goalless.

A big, physical and technically strong Ringmer side looked the better from the restart, as the hosts found themselves on the back foot, when after only a few minutes AFC took the lead. After an interception on the right, the winger drove on into space before cutting in to the box, as The Archers defence stood off, more concerned with the probable pass to danger man Callow which never came, the AFC player continuing on to squeeze the ball in off both posts from a tight angle. With nothing now to loose Fletching came back into it as they found their passing game of the first half in what was still an evenly contested match, however they lost influential captain Darren Wolvey who had fought bravely in the midfield aerial battles against Linstrem. The injured big man was replaced by Cronin as Fletching continued to probe against very organised team. The Archers were awarded a free kick midway through the second period as dead ball specialist Michael Duff and Neil Lucey stood over the ball. It was the new boy who stepped up to bend a stunning twenty-five yarder into the top corner which left the keeper with no chance as ‘The Northern Monkey’ was mobbed by his team mates after scoring his first goal for The Firsts.

The hosts now found themselves in the ascendancy, and looked to push for all three points against the champions elect, however this left gaps which AFC exploied on the break only moments later. A long ball from the back was bent into the area where the Ringmer player got up the highest only for Philips to pull off a stunning close-range save which unfortunately for the hosts was diverted straight to the AFC substitute who was unmarked to lunge the ball in from an almost impossible angle for 2-1. Fletching, again looked to bounce back, Greg Roberts almost salvaging a point late on with a shot that smashed against the cross bar, as the visitors packed their defence in the closing stages, to hold on in what was a truly entertaining game of football.

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

This was a really strong performance from Fletching and we feel we were unlucky not to come away with anything from the game. AFC Ringmer are clearly a very strong team and are champions for a reason, but if we could have got our noses in front who knows what may have happened. With East Court narrowly beating Uckfield to reclaim second spot, it will go down to the last game of the season for the automatic promotion spot. We now have a very difficult away game at Dormansland Rockets who also boast a very strong home record, whereas East Court travel to lowly Ardingly, but all we can do is concentrate on our own game, and hope results go our way elsewhere.

Team: Phillips, Holford, Funnell, Cork, Bradford, Wolvey, Hyland, Roberts, Duff, Lucey, Burchett; Subs: Cronin, Unwin; Unused Subs: Bradley, M Dann