The Villagers were in high spirits after a much improved all round team performance the week before against division two front runners Crawley Down, in a cup tie they should have got something out of. Today The Recreation Ground played host to league new boys Keymer & Hassocks, who have taken the division by storm since gaining promotion and were sitting pretty in second place. Meanwhile at the wrong end of the table Williams’ knew a point would help to ease his worries within his tightly contested division three ‘mini league’.

Fletching remained unchanged from the previous week, the only exception being Jack Fingerneissl who was away on holiday, this meant Reserve Team assistant boss and goalkeeping coach Pat ‘Minty’ Phillips was wheeled out from retirement to take his place between the sticks. ‘Fun Time’ Frank Egleton came back into the squad after missing last week, as did striker Neil Lucey. They started on the bench alongside Greg Dann, who earned a call up to First Team duties after a consistent and impressive start to the season for Clark’s side. After accrediting himself the previous game with a very well taken goal, Michael Duff continued up front.

The Archers went with the slope for the first period, but a strong wind coming in from The Downs made things tricky; however the home side started much the better and certainly won the opening twenty minutes of this intriguing contest. Once again Williams’ side looked at ease on the ball, as they enjoyed decent possession, patiently working an opening, before looking to feed in Duff and Burchett. A snappy midfield never gave the visitors a chance as The Villagers moved forward extremely well as a unit to support the front two. Keymer were a good physical side who excelled in the air at the back, but looked to have taken the hosts recent league form too lightly – the swiftness of Duff and Burchett, who are beginning to form an effective partnership, causing the visitors headaches, as The Archers got the ball down on the deck.

Hassocks found themselves behind on the fifteen minute mark, when they gave away a free kick just inside their own half. Skipper Stuart Douglas fired in a direct, teasing ball to fuddle the keeper, who was caught in two minds as Michael Duff took advantage of this indecision to simply flick his header over the on rushing shot stopper into an empty net, making it two in two games for the long serving Brighton-based player.

This seemed to stir the visitors into life and they came straight back into the game, and on balance the remainder was evenly contested, despite what was to be a one-sided scoreline. ‘Sheepy’ Corke once again excelled, a sign that he is clearly enjoying his football, whilst Steve Barbe was his usual staunch self, together with the influential Funnell they quashed out any real threat to frustrate Keymer, as the hosts went on to double their lead once again from a set piece and from the most unlikely of sources. The long throw from Holford was flicked on into the box where an unmarked Luke Donnelly directed his header into the top corner, leaving the hosts keeper motionless¸ and leaving YTS dumbstruck, as he wheeled away in a frenzy, clearly not knowing how to celebrate a goal!!

Again, the response from Keymer was a positive one, and they began to show glimpses of the sort of creative and explosive football that has taken them to the near summit of the league. Some fraught last ditch defending from the three at the back in the area, particularly from Holford who covered back well from his midfield position, and a couple of fine saves from Phillips, helped to maintain the hosts advantage – the visitors looking dangerous from wide areas and a succession of in-swinging corners. They wasted a glorious chance after a scrambled ball fell to a free man at the far post, but he blazed over from close range. A large away following were also aggrieved to have what they thought was a penalty decision turned away.

The salt was certainly rubbed into the wound only moments later when Fletching plundered a third on the half hour mark, from a quick break. A stunning run from ‘Titch’ Barter, who was clearly trying to impress his on-viewing new missus, saw the tricky and troublesome, one half of the self proclaimed ‘wing wizards’, pop up the opposite left wing, where he accelerated past his man with the ball before cutting in on his right as he strolled into the box. The tax-evading soap dodger had nothing else on his mind but the goal as he drove a rifled effort across the angle and into the far corner of the net.

With a little over ten minutes still remaining and the visitors were already making changes, bringing on a diminutive attacking midfielder, who appeared to be playing almost as a third striker. With his skilful aptitude and artful presence he looked to unnerve The Villagers and upset the balance. He was by far their most dangerous player, holding the ball up on the edge of the host’s area as he looked to jink his small frame and get a couple of efforts on target. Between Corke and Funnell however they managed to suppress the number twelve as Fletching went in against the form book with a three goal advantage at the break.

Manager Rhys Williams made two bold decisions at half time, bringing off Pete ‘Barndoor’ Burchett and midfield engine, youngster Marcus Barbe. Neil Lucey and Frank Egleton respectively were the replacements. The second half belonged to the hosts, who had the advantage of the infamous gradient, but in truth failed to fully adapt to it in the final third, when it mattered the most. It was evident from the outset that Fletching were set to dig in at the back for the for much of the forty five, looking to defend their lead, as Stuart Douglas sat in more of a holding midfield role, looking to tame Hassocks number twelve and prevent any service. Douglas was once again paramount in the containing the aerial route that the hosts now looked to going down the hill, winning most of challenges he competed for.

The hosts seemed cautious to commitment men forward, but looked more than dangerous of furthering their lead when they countered. Donnelly, who was quiet in the first half, came into the game and enjoyed decent possession in space; Barter too out wide was outstanding as he worked tirelessly up and down the line. There was a sweet display from the creative hub of Egleton who linked up with the rest of his midfield and Lucey, with some one touch, Arsenal-esq football, even allowing time for a cheeky nutmeg, which left his man bedazzled, as The Archers still asked questions when working the lines.

Keymer & Hassocks poured forward as the second half rolled on, supporting attack after attack from midfield as midway through Fletching reverted to four at the back with Greg Dan coming on in place of Steve Barbe and Holford dropping back into a familiar right back position. The visitors should have got back into the fixture, twice hitting the post, as the woodwork came to the aid of the home side. Phillips had a busy time in the home side’s goal, providing a controlling, commanding and calming presence in the final rear-guard, but was rarely truly tested. Despite the visitors roving attempts in the final third, it did not deter The Villagers and as time closed in they came out of their shell once again, with three points firmly in sight. Neil Lucey had grafted hard all half, but without much success, but in his unselfish way had encouraged Donnelly, Barter and Egleton to support, as he held the ball up well, but it was the introduction of Greg Dann who gave The Villagers one final drive. He made a number of customary mazy runs from the back¸ and was assured on the ball – he was nicely covered by a disciplined Duff, as he steamrollered into the box for one of The Archers best chances of the half, but a weak shot failed to test the keeper, Lucey too had chances to finish off in style, but the home side could not find a fourth.

It was to be Keymer and Hassocks who had the last word in a frenzied final fifteen minutes that became quite heated with several testing challenges from both sides going unpunished, when they scored a much deserved consolation with three minutes remaining. A drilled effort from just inside a packed penalty area took a wicked deflection off Greg Dann at close range past a despairing Phillips, who had already committed to the path of the ball. It put a blemish on the final scoreline, as The Villagers picked up only their second league victory, but was nothing more that the visitors deserved after fine second half performance.

Team: Phillips, S.Barbe (G.Dann), Funnell, Corke, Barter, Holford, Douglas, M.Barbe (Egleton), Donnelly, Burchett (Lucey), Duff