Vs. Hastings Rangers II (H)
Starting XI	Substitutes:
Grant Lewis
Owen Davies	(80 Paul Rook)
Alan Cowley
Simon Hockley
Paul Ford
Dave Mills
Adam Johnson
Andy Mills (c)
Bryan Leggett
Dom Fowler	(65 Mike Gould)
Gary Walsh
Referee:
Goals: Leggett (30).
HT Score: 1-1
FT Score: 1-3

Another Division 3 lesson for Battle showed that hard work is not the only thing needed on another frustrating day at Battle Rec. Hastings Rangers were untouchable last season but it was a different side that faced a Battle team, eager and determined, to lay the ghosts of the Magham Down game firmly to rest.

Always slow out of the blocks Battle came under some early pressure from a confident Hastings side, who were making the best of a poor playing surface. Great chances were non-existent though except from a spectacular left foot volley from the Hastings left-winger that crashed against Grant Lewis’ crossbar. It was a windy day and this played a part, as a long throw was Battle’s undoing. The Rangers player launched it into the box and Simon Hockley was very harshly adjudged to have pushed Mark Smith, the Rangers striker. The penalty was dispatched and Battle found themselves 1-0 down.

As usual this only served to spur Battle on and they took the upper hand with a great last 20 minutes of the first half. Bryan Leggett on the left looked inspired as he drove at the Rangers defence and he was rewarded on about the half hour mark when great play by Adam Johnson set Leggett through who calmly beat the last defender and rounded the keeper to level the game. More pressure unfortunately came to nothing and the teams turned round all square.

Battle were confident now with the strong wind behind them but couldn’t regain the same fluency that they finished the half with. The second half was a fairly dull affair with good chances at a premium but as it seemed the game was fading away to a draw a clever free kick from Rangers caught the keeper unawares and the wind dropped the ball into the far top corner. A real hammer blow for Battle who again tried to pull the game level, only to see it killed off 10 minutes from time. Some static defending on the left allowed the striker to nip through and he gave the keeper no chance.