The first ever meeting between a Newick side and The Archers provided a surprise result as the division five visitors stunned the home side with a smash a grab win to progress into the third round. The home side were back in action after a couple of weeks without a game and it certainly showed. With a plumb draw, on paper it looked like a passage through to the next round where further lower league opposition were waiting, but not for the first time this season The Villagers pre-match preparations did little to encourage the gathering home fans, not that this was an excuse for the lack lustre performance, or that they were taken their opponents lightly. Fletching have faced numerous lower league teams in cup-ties over the years, not to be naïve to league status.

Young manager Rhys Williams was away meaning his assistant and Steve Barbe and Jamie Funnell were left in charge, and they had to hastily change things around, when upon arriving at The Recreation Ground they were to find out they only had ten available players. Darren Wolvey, who looks to have played his last game for the club at this moment in time, Douglas, Dowding, Marcus Barbe, Leeves and Cork were all unavailable, meaning a shuffle all over the park. Goalkeeper Phillips had been omitted from The Reserves in favour of Darren Bradley – he stepped in at the last minute to start between the sticks and meant the home side could start with eleven players. Regular shot stopper Fingerneissl played in central midfield alongside Barter. Duff dropped back to the left wing as Egleton, who is still only at 75% fitness and reckoned he only had an a half in him, bravely played the full ninety up front alongside Burchett. Only the defence, made up of Holford, Funnell, Barbe and Harper, looked at all familiar. Chris ‘Sooty’ Brady came along as substitute from The Reserves and ‘Davey’ Boy Eastoe, who had come along to cheer on his beloved Fletching was also named.

In a fairly even first half neither side could break the deadlock. A young Newick side played some good football and looked to up their game against their higher league opposition. Kicking down the hill the home side seemed to have the better chances on balance, but it was the local visitors that created clearer cut opportunities to take the lead, going close when they hit The Archers woodwork. Newick’s pacey front line broke the offside trap on a number of occasions as Williams’ side struggled to adapt, but late call up Phillips made some smart stops to deny the visitors. At the other end Egleton and Burchett, along with a roaming Fingerneissl who was relishing a free role in the middle, all had glorious opportunities to notch after a poor clearance from Newick’s goalkeeper. The Villagers also looked dangerous from set pieces as a number of well worked corners posed problems, but on the whole both sides were restricted to tame, long range efforts as they went in at the break level.

A dourer second period followed in much the same way as the first half action. In a game dominated by the midfield both sides created little of note as The Archers simply could not seem to raise their game, content with just playing it around before a hopeful long ball. To their credit Newick continued to try and force some positive football. As extra time looked a certainty, the home side were left to rue what precious chances they created in the first half, after Funnell crudely despatched Newick’s on-running pesky forward, five yards or so outside the box. The resulting free kick was expertly curled into the top corner in what turned out to be the last kick of the game, as the referee blew the whistle for full time upon commencement of the re-start, giving the visitors a shock passage through into the next round.

Team: Phillips, Holford, Funnell, Harper, S.Barbe, Donnelly, Fingerneissl (Brady), Barter, Duff, Egleton, Burchett. Unused Sub: Eastoe.