Vs. Burwash (H)
Starting XI	Substitutes:
Gary Walsh
Owen Davies
Gary Williams
Paul Rook
Paul Ford	(62 Darrell Hartley)
Dave Mills
Bryan Leggett
Andy Mills (c)
Pete Cooper
Adam Johnson
Dom Fowler
Referee: M Woodhams
Goals: Cooper (35,87), Johnson (90).
HT Score: 1-0
FT Score: 3-1

On a sun drenched Saturday afternoon, the Baptist’s beaming ball-skills ensured a brilliant result and three well-earned points, but not before Burwash almost stole a point during a three-goal final five minutes.

In a contest between two teams at the top of the Sportsmanship Leaugue, this was always going to be an enjoyable game and the beautiful weather put icing on the cake. The home team took change after the 2^nd minute, when visiting marksman Mark Pickles shot high over the bar. Bryan Leggett deserved a penalty when he cleverly rounded Burwash goalkeeper Dan Smith but couldn’t hurdle the flailing feet of the keeper. The challenge was deemed to be outside the penalty area and Burwash were off the hook.

Soon afterwards, captain Andy Mills won the ball in midfield, exchanged passes and found himself through on goal but his shot squeezed narrowly the wrong side of the left-hand post.

Dom Fowler and Adam Johnson worked energetically up front, creating chances that were also frustratingly wide of the mark. The Baptists also looked dangerous from a succession of Owen Davies corners where team mates narrowly missed the target. At the other end Paul Rook and Gary Williams in the centre of the home defence ensured that Burwash were restricted to long range shots.

From his central midfield position, Zion Man of the Match Leggett made several breaks through the troubled Burwash defence, and had a golden opportunity blocked to stop him from scoring, before finally great work by Andy Mills found Pete Cooper in space down the left channel and the cool Cooper hit the net to deservedly break the afternoon’s deadlock on 35 minutes.

The Baptists regained their rhythm immediately after the restart when a halfway-line shot by Pickles dropped out of the bright sunlight and was calmly trapped on his 6-yard box by goalkeeper Gary Walsh.

Further opportunities to extend the lead came to nothing. Adam Johnson hit the goal before play was brought back for an infringement. An agonisingly close off-side decision ruled out another netted shot, before a powerful goal-bound Leggett strike was incredibly finger-tipped wide by Dan Isaac, now playing in goal for the injured Dan Smith.

Battle should have made the game safe by now but Burwash showed great determination as they pushed men forward. Walsh sprinted out of his area to clear after a long ball penetrated his defence. Anthony Coulson’s right-wing cross sailed goal-bound and was expertly tipped over by Walsh to stop an equaliser. With just five minutes left the unbelievable happened, as Burwash striker Joel Eastoe cleverly turned inside the area to fire low into the goal seemingly winning a point for Burwash.

But the Baptists immediately bounced back. Slick passing again found Cooper in the area and his calm finish restored the Baptists’ lead to the great joy and relief of the faithful fans.

With moments left on the clock Battle had to endure one last heart-stopping moment when Walsh rushed out and fouled a Burwash player just outside the box. As Burwash shot their 2^nd equalising attempt into the well-organised wall, the ball was cleared up-field for Adam Johnson to chase and fire in Battle’s third to settle the result on the stroke of time.