A strong Fletching side looked to continue their good run of form this season against a side, which until today’s game had scored a remarkable 156 goals, including nearly seventy by their star striker, a certain G. Wright. A record not even prolific French import Piérre Burchétt, included in the line up, could boast. After narrowly losing to the 'thorne earlier in season, their manager claimed that Fletching were the one best sides they have faced and were looking forward to today's return match. In the early exchanges the reserves certainly lived up these claims as they started the more brightly, but could not convert any of the limited chances they had thanks to an organised Copthorne defence. The first half remained much of a stalemate, although the league leaders had several good opportunities to go ahead, which they did late on in the half with a good finish after an uncharacteristic error from Bradders.

A half time pep talk from the gaffer seemed to do the trick as the Archers upped the tempo and tried to take the game to Copthorne, with the midfield trio of Hartup, Neil, and Dickens starting to run the show, the latter of whom who was playing some of the best football of his career, putting himself about all over the park in a man of the match performance. It was shortly after Buchétt departed, with the returning tax dodger Clarkey replacing him, that The Archers should have levelled. A surging run into the box by Sol, who was then crudely upended as he rounded the keeper, should have resulted in a penalty but the referee waved away appeals to the disbelief of the players and a stunned crowd.

Instead, salt was rubbed into the wound as Copthorne went up the other end and scored a second, which they must have thought would seal the win. However, The Archers, playing in a changed second strip of tangerine, showed the sort of team spirit and battle which one has become to expect of them this season and a few minutes later were awarded a penalty, which Champagne "I have never, ever missed a penalty in my career" Sol, calmly slotted home. As Fletching pushed men forward looking for the equaliser it was inevitable that they were to become exposed at the back, and if it wasn't for some first rate defending would have been a lot more than the one goal conceded to make it three - one. Once again though Carter's side bounced straight back, as a goal mouth scramble which cannoned of the post landed at the feet of young striker 'Dogging' Dan who poke home his thirteenth of the season from close range. This set up a tense finale as once again Fletching pushed forward looking for something from this fixture, but Copthorne managed to withstand the last ten minutes of pressure and take all three points in a very entertaining game of two-halves.