After a season of constant interruptions due to the bad weather, and with the cup adventures over, it was almost like a new beginning as Fletching hosted Horley in the first fixture of the newly formed mini league. Horley were previously the league leaders, having strung some great results together, and Hyland expected nothing less than a tough encounter, knowing that his side pushed them all the way despite losing out 4-2 earlier in the season. However he was bolstered by the fact that he could name the same starting eleven that lost out in cup semi-final the week before. Bradford was still recovering from a knee injury, Mike Cronin was away, and there was no Marcus Barbe, as he returned to his former club, Burwash, for the remainder of the season. Sol ‘Wee Man’ Keoshgerian and Matty Newman stepped up from The Reserves to take place on the bench.

For the first time in a while The Archers were very slow out of the blocks and it was the visitors who began to exert a dominance for much of the first forty-five. Horley were running though the hosts with an apparent ease and opened the scoring after some sloppy defending. One of their impressive front two were left unmarked as his miss hit effort crawled under Dann to open the scoring. The hosts did manage to put a few good spells of football together, Lucey being the main outlet, going close on a couple occasions, but they failed to really test an experienced back line.

The Surrey-based outfit extended their lead after Fletching gifted it to them with some more slack marking. The big striker broke clear and hit an early goal bound effort which Dann did well to parry, unfortunately into the path of the opposition striker who slid into an empty net from close range. To their credit The Villagers kept at their game, trying to produce the sort of football they are usually capable of, but without really creating any clear-cut openings, much to the disappointment of a growing home fan base. At the other end Horley should have put the game to bed, but the midfield man missed an easy opportunity from only yards out, as the home side went in two down at the break.

After some choice words at half time, The Tangerine Machine came out for the second half fired up looking to get back into the game, with Duff, Hyland and Rider linking up well supporting the front two, with the big man Wolvey holding in the middle. The Archers looked a changed side, but ‘Ley were still managing to find gaps in behind the midfield and if it wasn’t once again for the fast improving Dann, making a couple of tremendous saves, the home side could have found themselves further behind. He could do nothing to prevent a decisive third though; his own miss hit kick falling nicely for the forward who rebounded shot once again fell kindly into the path of his on-rushing team mate to slot home.

Now midway into the second period and seemingly well out the game The Archers began to enjoy their football. The Villagers were unlucky not to get a consolation when Neil Lucey expertly bent his direct free kick around the wall on the edge of the area. His endeavor was curling into the bottom corner before the keeper’s intervention which saw him somehow scramble across and get a toe to it, in what was a terrific save. Rider and Burchett also went close after good work, as the visitors scrambled clear.

With Fletching still pushing forward the promotion favorites broke quickly and effectively, eventually their striker was bundled down by Dann, but the subsequent penalty was cracked against the post. It had taken nearly 70 minutes but Hyland’s men began to wake up and continued to battle gamely, and with fifteen minutes remaining were handed a lifeline. The ever-running Lucey hunted his defender down, and managed to nip it past the keeper for 3-1. Fletching were to throw everything at Horley, and then got another as a sweeping move from the right found Chris Hyland who switched play to Lucey. He beat his man and in turn fed veteran Paul Rider who had started the move, before dispatching the ball into the top corner from a tight angle. The visitors had to hold on for the remainder, which was made even more difficult after one of their midfielders was sent off for a second caution, but The Archers had left themselves too much to do finally going down 3-2 at the final whistle.

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

Not to use too many footballing clichés, we now know that the final four games are going to be like cup finals if we want to compete in division three next season. We have proved it time and time again we are more than good enough, but the consistency has to improve. As a team we were poor in the first half and didn’t close down Horley quick enough, but we got stronger as the game went on and almost nicked something at the death. We deserve a lot of credit for that because being 3-0 down at home is never easy, but we didn’t give up and continued to play football. We know from next week we have to start the game against East Court as we finished it in this one, and there is no reason whatsoever why we can’t go on and get the three points.

Team: M.Dann, Holford, Funnell, Cork, S.Barbe, Duff, Wolvey, Hyland, Rider, Lucey, Burchett. Unused Subs: Keoshgerian, Newman.