Vs. Battle Rangers (H)
Starting XI	Substitutes:
Grant Lewis
Paul Rook
Darrell Hartley
Alan Cowley
Paul Ford
Dave Mills
Adam Johnson
Andy Mills (c)
Pete Cooper	(70 Owen Davies)
Dom Fowler	(55 Tom Frere-Smith)
Gary Walsh
Referee: G Lucas
Goals: Walsh (65).
HT Score: 0-0
FT Score: 1-0

A battling and bruising cup encounter saw the Baptists narrowly take the spoils in the first competitive derby of the season and progress to the next round of the Hastings Junior Cup, keeping up hopes of emulating last season’s great run. More importantly it was a third straight win following a disappointing beginning to the season.

The game started brightly with Rangers much the better side for the opening period but another reshuffled defensive line-up kept good chances to a bare minimum. The Baptists slowly worked their way into the game and at half-time a draw was a fair score following some more concerted Baptist pressure, and a great penalty shout turned down.

The second half was equally as tough for both sides in a hard fought game and as the tackles started flying in it was the Baptists who slowly gained the upper hand. At one point it seemed fully fit players were at a premium but no-one could fault the work rate and it paid off in the end when good work down the right from Tom Frere-Smith saw the ball pulled back to Andy Mills. A neat slide-ball into the channel gave Gary Walsh a glimpse and the veteran made no mistake as he side footed the ball past the Rangers keeper.

Rangers huffed and puffed in the remaining minutes but couldn’t create anything of note as the defence, well marshalled by Alan Cowley, remained steadfast. Andy Mills and Adam Johnson in the centre were everywhere while Dave Mills, Pete Cooper, and later, Paul Rook, provided great outlets down the wings. Darrell Hartley was solid next to Cowley at the back and looked forward more than anyone to the well deserved grub laid on by Granville at The Squirrel after the game! All in all a great derby, and a great result for the Baptists.