Vs. Beulah Baptists (A)
Starting XI	Substitutes:
Grant Lewis
Steve Chapman	(76 Dom Fowler)
Alan Cowley
Dale Scowen
Paul Ford	(60 Darrell Hartley)
Dave Mills
Adam Johnson
Andy Mills (c)
Pete Cooper
Tom Frere-Smith
Gary Walsh
Referee: M Southam
HT Score: 0-1
FT Score: 1-3

In a church derby that stems back to the origins of both these Clubs it was Beulah who came out on top of this East Sussex League Division 4 encounter.

Battle made a brisk start and ought to have opened the scoring when captain Andy Mills shot narrowly wide inside the penalty area. Up to his usual tricks and turns Tom Frere-Smith crafted a shooting opportunity that makeshift keeper Jon Cole kept out.

Beulah took the lead on 35 minutes when a corner was only half cleared and full back Phil Gladstone in acres of space riffled a shot that flew into the roof of the goal.

The home team started the second half strongly and went two up within five minutes of the restart when a quickly taken free kick that was crossed for the Beulah striker to force home. Stunned like a boxer about to fall Battle looked shaken and were thankful to Grant Lewis who made 2 magnificent saves, diving full length to tip a shot round the post and then smothering the ball at the feet of a Beulah forward.

The visitors’ belief was reignited when a left wing corner was driven in by Adam Johnson and flicked into the roof of the net by veteran Gary Walsh.

Battle then worked hard to force an equaliser and Frere-Smith forced further good saves from the home goalie Cole. However, Victory was secured when a defensive miscalculation presented the Beulah striker with a one-on-one which he duly converted restoring the two goal lead.

Battle will learn from their two games and should be greatly encouraged by the chances they are creating. Next week’s home game against Cranbrook offers a good chance to get off the mark in Division 3 (KO 3pm)