AFC Ringmer 3 - 0 Fletching

With eight members of the team missing, and travelling with only eleven fit personnel The Archers were always going to be up against it, against one of the bookies pre-season title favourites. With manager Hyland also absent, the selection nightmares were left to his trusty assistant Darren Wolvey, as he tried to motivate the team and come away from the game with something respectable. In truth though, with the odds stacked against them, Fletching were already beaten before the referee had signalled the start of the match.

Despite this The Villagers came away with their heads held high, playing some spells of sparkling football and showing a gritty, battling performance against a team who are always going to have an impressive goal difference at the end of the season. With only two recognised defenders The Archers opted for three at the back as Bradford joined Funnell and Duly, whilst Pearce and Roberts found themselves in the unfamiliar role of a packed central midfield alongside Head as Duff and Clark provided the width. The front two remained the same from the first game with Fletching looking to Burchett and Benton for goals.

The first half started brightly with stand-in skipper Funnell winning the toss for the first time this season and Fletching looking comfortable on the ball. The majority of possession went to AFC though, as the Archers just lacked the movement and pace of their hosts, who also seemed to win everything in the air. Fletching showed their true character as wave after wave of Ringmer attack was broken down thanks to tight marking at the back and the incredible effort put in by the midfield. However it was inevitable that this pressure would eventually generate results – and it did, as AFC took the lead from a set piece close on fifteen minutes. The lead was doubled ten minutes later, again from a set piece, this time corner, as Ringmer’s right back eluded ‘Minty’ Phillips to head in.

Despite great skill shown by Roberts, who frequently tormented AFC’s midfield only to receive several brutal tackles, and the distribution of Head et al, Dan ‘Dogger’ Benton and Burchett were left to a feed off a few scraps, with the former having Fletching’s best opportunity of the half – seeing his header saved on the line, as Fletching went in two down after forty-five.

With the towering Duly coming off at half time with a reoccurring hamstring injury, making way for Greg Dann, Clark stepped into the alien role of left back. The tax dodging, parasite on society dealt well with the constant threat of Ringmer forward Callow, who he marked well throughout the second half. However he could not prevent a stunning, precision free kick late on, which beat the wall leaving Phillips with no chance. Very much like the first fort-five, The Archers battled well, but created little, as Burchett went closest with a stinging shot, which would only have been a consolation had it gone in. The return leg should be a much more even affair, with Fletching taking much heart from this match.