After last weeks disappointing result against an excellent AFC Ringmer side, The Archers took yet another break from league action for an enticing Mowatt Cup second round clash against Franklands Village. Having dumped out division one team Turners Hill in the previous round, Hyland’s men were looking for another big scalp in the shape of the mid-table division two side.
Manager Clive Hyland had a selection nightmare ahead of him with a number of key personnel missing. Phillips sudden retirement meant that Dann dropped out of his regular central defensive role to take the number one spot and in light of this ‘Sheepy’ Cork stepped in from full back to an unfamiliar central position partnering Funnell. Wolvey’s hasty protest left a massive gap in the middle of the park, the highly influential ball winner being replaced by the skilful and inventive midfield man Mike Cronin who enjoyed a rare start alongside Neil ‘Nails’ Bradford. The Archers were also deficient of wide man Roberts who looks set to be out for a number of games after last weeks injury left him on crutches, Duff switching to the right-hand side as The Barn End faithful welcomed back the prominent Paul Rider whose knee was still not back to full fitness. Burchett and Lucey were the obvious first choice front two, with Smith, Powell and Eastoe all on the bench.
On a wet weekend which looked set to jeopardise the fixture, it was a surprise to most that it went ahead, and credit to head groundsman Brian Horscroft it played very well, as The Archers kicked off up the slope as they looked to take an early advantage of a strong wind. Fletching set their stall out from the very off, playing their renowned passing game on a sticky surface after the debacle of recent weeks. Cronin and Bradford, despite an irregular pairing were controlling the middle against their young and skilful midfield counterparts, who were slow starters as The Archers looked to the wide men of Duff and Rider and the wide channelled runs of Burchett and Lucey. This proved to be fruitful and the home side began to dictate play, as time and time again Lucey and Burchett’s wide angled runs in behind the defence were causing problems for the Haywards Heath-based side’s back line. In truth FV contained an excellent blend of youth and experience and they were maintaining a commanding line at the back, the home side’s front two caught offside on a number of occasions.
The Tangerine Machine was working exceptionally well throughout the whole of the team and took a deserved lead early on. A flowing move started from the middle with a dissecting ball into the right avenue found Burchett who had timed his run to perfection, beating the offside trap as his pace carried him down the line before cutting in and driving a ball across the six yard box for Lucey who arrived late at the far post to tap into an empty goal.
The hosts continued to press in the same way as before, with Cronin, Duff and Rider’s immaculate passing aptitude picking holes at will in the Franklands defence, Burchett and Lucey both failing to score after being put through one-on-one with the keeper. This seemed to wake the visitors who began to ask questions of The Recreation Ground side for the first time in the encounter. The big, physical, powerful and pacey presence of the front two made Funnell and ‘Sheepy’ Cork work hard. They held the ball up perfectly in want of support and began to work some openings. Cork, Holford and Barbe doing extremely well on the cover on a number of occasions with some last ditch attempts they as forced the visitors into wasting a couple guilt edge opportunities in front of goal.
Funnell and Cork marshalled well to clear any danger weather the storm, whilst at the other end Fletching were wasteful in the chances they had to effectively bury Franklands and kill off the game. Bradford blasted over from seven yards out, FV were troubled by a spate of corners which they somehow scrambled off the line, Rider shot wide when in a good position before Cronin, in what was a mirror image of the opening goal, agonisingly failed to slide into an empty net after good work from the right. Franklands Village had further chances to level up before half time but could not convert as the home side went in at the break one goal to the good.
FV came out the stronger both mentally and physically for the reminder of the 45 minutes. They upped the tempo with some quick one-touch passing and pushed The Barn Enders onto the back foot. The home support saw their side sit back on the slender lead they had inviting such pressure deep in their own half, time and time again standing off and allowing their diminutive midfielder to run with the ball at his feet. Fletching’s controlled possession game of the first half began to break down in the middle and they were made to graft for the scraps that Village offered them on occasions, relying on counter-attacking football instead.
The home side were thankful when one of FV’s strikers blasted onto the bar when inside the box, but put it behind them to snub out any further danger and moments later were lucky not to concede an early penalty when Duff blatantly tripped their forward in the box, the referee however waved play on much to the disbelief of a strong away support. FV then broke through one-on-one only to be denied by Mark Dann who had a dazzling game throughout.
On the hour mark, as usual Cronin was replaced before the onset of cramp, Smith, despite his veteran status, injecting some much needed liveliness and enthusiasm into the heart of the formation, as he began to nip at the heels of the midfield, chasing down lost causes and bringing a certain calmness to proceedings. A now very much even affair continued to see openings at both ends. Burchett and Lucey working their socks off, the former guilty of pushing a shot wide when in space from only five yards out and the keeper beaten. The Archers looked set to rue the amount of good workings they had squandered when moments later the visitors equalised. This time an astounding last-ditch challenge from a rejuvenated Cork in which he clearly won the ball was adjudged by the referee to be a foul, the resultant spot kick calmly tucked past Dann.
The back four of Holford, Cork, Barbe, and captain Funnell upped their game and dug in deep ably supported by Bradford who was having an outstanding game as extra time loomed. With a little of ten minutes remaining Powell replaced Barbe coming on to the right wing as Duff reverted to the departing mans left back role. The youngster who is very much in the same mould as Roberts, looked to go past his man every time he go the ball, giving his side vital time on the ball and taking sting out of the opposition’s ascendancy. With only minutes left and after good work from Powell a flicked on header from Lucey was met by Gary Smith who had bounded forward. The substitute picked out Burchett with a simple square ball to rifle home with no mistake, giving The Archers a two-one lead to which they held on, much to the delight of the Barn End faithful for what was another fine cup result.
View From The Dancefloor with Billy Elliot (a.k.a Chris Hyland)
With all the key players out and the conditions we were certainly up against it and the odds were against us. I was impressed with Franklands Village. They had some very good young players together with some old heads that can still do the business, although I don’t believe we saw the best of them as a team. We should have killed off the game by half time and need to start taking more of our chances if we are to move forward both in the league and the cups. It was a true cup game, which was great to be a part of and I am sure was a great game to watch by the many that turned up. I don’t want to single out any players because everyone played their part and pulled together after all the off field activities that have supposedly been going on at the club. We let our football do the talking and we enjoyed it. Now lets carry everything forward for next week when we face Ardingly and the rest of the season.
Team: M.Dann, Holford, Funnell, Cork, Barbe (Powell), Duff, Cronin (Smith), Bradford, Rider, Lucey, Burchett. Sub not used: Eastoe