It was the same old story down at The Recreation Ground, as once again for the umpteenth time this season the home side came away from a game with nothing to show for the effort and excellent display of football they produced. And, like the rest of the season so far, Archer’s manager Rhys Williams was forced into fielding yet another changed side for this important pre-Christmas derby match against a young Maresfield side, which included former Fletching favourite Dan ‘Dogger’ Benton.

Four of lasts weeks starting line-up were out – Douglas, Cork and Barter all unavailable, whilst youngster Agate dropped down to The Reserves along with Starnes. Darren Wolvey was also still absent, as Funnell and Steve Barbe came straight back into the defence alongside Holford who reverted to a familiar right-back role. Leeves and Burchett made a deserved step up from Reserve Team football, in midfield and up front respectively, as leading scorer Duff was forced to fill the left wing void, Donnelly moving over to the right. The biggest cheer of the day though came with the announcement of ‘Fun Time’ Frankie Egleton’s return to action after recent weeks on the treatment table; he was the only named sub.

The first half saw both sides enjoy good possession and was evenly contested, as they treated a bumper crowd to an entertaining game. The visitors looked big and strong at the back, but the pace of prowess of Dowding and Burchett’s trickiness gave them some real headaches. At the other end ‘Field, who were kicking with the slope, were finding the ball from deep to be most probing, it took a good quarter of an hour for The Archers back line to adjust, after Benton and his young strike partner began to win the sprints before being denied on the cover.

The away side’s main threat came from their creative midfield duo of Brooker and Vacher but their attempts were thwarted by The Villagers very own playmaker Leeves, who always seems to shine when called up to First Team duty. The veteran was certainly on form as he worked effortlessly alongside the raw talent of Marcus Barbe, the two complementing each other like a fine port and stilton, restricting the visitors to wider areas as they dominated the aerial route forward.

Twenty minutes in and Fletching were dealt a hammer blow, when the impressive Dowding pulled up after a darting burst forward as he looked to latch onto a through ball. But with Egleton still only at 60% and fifteen minutes or so in his tank, the striker bravely battled on through the pain of his hamstring for the full ninety. He continued to barge and battle Field’s back line, but was clearly hampered by the strain.

Burchett went close midway through after he skinned the visitors defence, nipping in to round past the keeper. He was however forced wide by his touch and it was asking a lot as he fired his effort into the side netting with from a tight angle with two defenders having covered their ground back. Donnelly and Duff seemed to enjoy the freedom of space in front of them, but were kept on their toes by the visitors energetic and industrious full backs, the former looking much more assured on his favoured right foot.

They both supported The Villagers front two competently and worked diligently back to help out their defence, but at times it seemed like Maresfield had an extra man when attacking forward. They created a couple of half chances and Fingerneissl was called into action with some smart stops, at one point making a fine save to tip a wicked shot just over the bar, but Funnell and Harper at the heart of it controlled things well. Phil ‘Pippen’ Holford, as ever was superb, he really is the Mr Consistent of Fletching as his end of season trophies prove, Barbe......well we all know what Steve Barbe is like! Both sides had further good opportunities to take the initiative but they went in at the break level.

It was The Villagers who came out for the second looking the better side at least for the opening exchanges as they kicked with the advantage of The Recreation Ground slope. Williams side pinned back Field for the opening quarter as they played some lovely passing football, much of it stemming from the silky Leeves and then Egleton who came on for younger Barbe brother Marcus. He brought some of his trademark touches to the table, including a cheeky little back hill nutmeg number. But the visitors were always a real threat, particularly having changed things around up top which saw Benton revert to the wing and they came right back into the game.

After a decent spell of pressure The Archers looked to have been rewarded for their efforts when Donnelly was pushed whilst in the penalty area. Despite his injury Dowding stepped up confidently for the spot kick but dragged his effort just inches past the post. The home side had further chances to take the lead, but ‘Fields veteran ‘keeper was on top form to deny them. At the other end the visitors looked to have broken the deadlock when they beat the off side trap, the electric pace of the two youngsters leaving Funnell and Harper well behind as they went on to round Fingerneissl, squaring the ball across an empty goal line for his team mate, only for the Fletching legend Jamie Funnell to make a fine lunging clearance.

Williams’ side were looking comfortable and were clearly enjoying their time on the ball, and late into the game they looked to have earned a share of the points. However with a little under ten minutes remaining Maresfield took the lead. Michael Duff gave away a needless free kick deep in The Archers final third, right on the by-line. A vicious ball was swung in; the referee missing what appeared to be a blatant barge which took several key marksmen out of the game, leaving Benton free to head home from close range. Manager Rhys Williams was clearly incensed by this occurrence and was lucky not to be cautioned on the sideline.

What with this incident, Dowding’s penalty miss and the other glorious chances Fletching had to wrap up this game, it clearly wasn’t meant to be their day. However they almost hit back with an instant reply as Burchett set off to pick up a through ball down the left, cutting into the box he fired his shot agonisingly wide. Maresfield made sure of the local bragging rights late on as the home side poured players forward, leaving them exposed at the back, as The Archers went into the Christmas break with a lot to work on for the new year, which starts with a must win game against fellow strugglers Cuckfield Town II.

Team: Fingerneissl, Holford, Funnell, Harper, S. Barbe, Donnelly, M. Barbe (Egleton), Leeves, Duff, Dowding, Burchett