Attentions turned away from the league struggle this week with a visit to the luxurious Haven Sports Field complex for a first round Edgar German Cup tie against unknown opposition in the form of Crawley Down III. Having won only two games all season, The Archers knew they would be in for a stern test of character, against a side who were sitting on top of division two.

After the previous weeks mauling at the hands of AFC Grinstead, the visitors were without the services of Egleton and Neil Lucey, Bradford was also still out injured. In came striker Toby Powell who was joined on the bench by youngster Sam Starnes, making his first appearance in the First Team squad - the Archers line up remaining relatively unchanged, Funnell coming straight in at centre back for his first start in a number of weeks.

On paper it certainly looked like a mismatch – literally men against boys. Down were an older, bigger, and stronger side with no doubt plenty of experience, some at a much higher county league level, whilst The Villagers oldest player was, long time servant Jamie Funnell. Still this mattered little throughout the course of the game as Williams saw his team raise their performance to produce by far their best display of the season in what turned out to be an even and open contest.

The Archers more than matched Down in all areas of the field, and evidently for the neutral observer no apparent gulf in class. Manager Rhys Williams’s decision to switch to a 3-5-2 formation was clearly looking to be paying dividends, as his side looked solid defensively – Funnell at his commanding best, whilst Stevie Cork was simply awesome– Steve Barbe also looking assured when in possession. In a packed midfield Marcus Barbe was the one causing all the problems with his imaginative and constant running – he was allowing the host’s absolutely no time on the ball. Holford and Douglas - the ball winners developed a great understanding between one another, both working up and down and winning the aerial challenges.

The hosts were always a threat though, looking extremely dangerous down the left hand side with one of their silky livewire wingers. He was a constant thorn in The Archers side, bounding forward with speed and proving to be a real handful for Barter who stuck to him like glue. The Villagers diminutive midfielder was impressive throughout – finding time to almost tame him and to get up the field himself. Things seemed most profitable for Crawley Down from set pieces and they went close on a couple of occasions as an undisciplined Fletching side gave away numerous needless free kicks and corners. They could not convert though.

An exemplary passing display, breaking through from midfield, in which Donnelly and Duff were running on to receive the ball in space, saw the visitors create a couple of chances which didn’t really test the keeper. Burchett and Duff were evidently gelling together in a fledgling partnership and The Archers felt aggrieved to have what looked like a stone-wall penalty decision waved away. Michael Duff latched onto to a pinged through ball as he pounded into the area with Downs defender hot on his heels. He appeared to take the man before the ball, but the referee waved away protests to award a goal kick, booking the makeshift striker for diving!!

The referee issued a further yellow card; this time for Marcus Barbe who couldn’t keep his mouth shut after several tussles in the midfield struggle went against him. The home side continued to break well, their two in central midfield looking very accomplished as they demonstrated some lovely simple passing moves to work the ball forward. Cork, who was not feeling 100%, coming to the rescue with an impeccably-timed crunching covering tackle to deny the striker after he had found his way into the penalty area. Moments later and Fingerneissl pulled out a cracking save, pushing the ball round the post to keep his side level.

It was the hosts who took the lead midway through after gaining ground in the final third. A weak pass unfortunately slipped under the feet of a diving Holford and found its way into the box where Down’s forward had made a run on the blindside to meet it and slot past Fingerneissl for one-nil.

This did nothing to dent the visitor’s confidence and they continued to stick to the football they had been playing for the majority of the half. Duff was getting into every channel, left and right, dropping deep to receive the ball – clearly relishing his new found role. Burchett was his physical self holding the ball up and chasing lost causes, whilst Donnelly on the left hand wing enjoyed acres of space to link up with some switching long balls and crosses to support the front two. The Villagers were rewarded almost instantly after a mix up at the back saw their shot stopper scuff his clearance straight to Duff. He then fabulously lobbed the back-pedalling keeper from all of forty yards, with a two touch effort.

An exhilarating cup tie continued back and forth between both sides, both going for all out attack, and more than matching one another. Williams saw his side fall behind for the second time, right on the stroke of the interval. Another dangerous in swinging corner to the near post found the opposition player a couple of yards off the line. He somehow toe poked his effort just under Funnell’s foot and into the net – it was a poor goal by the visitors standards but they went in at the break knowing they were still very much in with a shout.

The only half time change was Steve ‘Stelios’ Barbe and ‘Sheepy’ Cork swapping sides. Another pulsating forty-five minutes followed, both sides picking up where they left off, and one which definitely belonged to the away side. Fletching looked far sprightlier, wanting the ball and enjoying time when in control of proceedings. In the end to end excitement Douglas and Holford were simply exceptional, putting everything on the line in a cultured display. All eleven pulled together in a patient passing game which was combined with some long range, angled deliveries. The wide outlets occupied by Donnelly and Barter proving the most fruitful.

Still down by two goals it was the introduction of Toby Powell that edged the impetus in favour of the visitors. He came on and completely changed the game, fashioning all sorts of nightmares for the home side. Having no sooner made an entrance he could have reduced the arrears as he broke Down’s offside trap running on to a loose ball, before bottling it with the on rushing goal keeper. Moments later another glorious chance fell to him that went begging. In what will surely be miss of the season, having taken up a good position in the area, from the right the ball was drilled in low and hard across the face of the goal. From only two yards out with an open goal and with everyone beaten including the goal keeper, an unmarked Powell failed to connect.

Once again it was Powell in the thick of it, this time a stunning scissor kick on the edge of the area, which he caught flush on the volley, was matched only by the goal keepers reactions as he helped it onto the cross bar. Burchett and his new strike partner had further opportunities to get their side back in the tie, as The Archers continued to commit men forward in the final ten minutes, Starnes coming on for his debut and playing blindingly down the left. The hosts had already gone close, breaking quickly against a now exposed back three, finally rounded things off late on with a low cross from the left hand side, leaving Barbe with no time to react as his man slotted home to make the game safe. Three-one the final score then, but a much improved performance from Fletching saw them come out of this cup game with a lot of credit and the feeling they really should have got a more positive result.

Team: Fingerneissl, S. Barbe, Funnell, Cork, Donnelly (Starnes), Barter, Holford, M. Barbe (Powell), Douglas, Duff, Burchett