Vs. Magham Down (H)
Starting XI	Substitutes:
Jamie Pooley	(84 Gary Walsh)
Owen Davies
Paul Rook
Gary Williams
Darrell Hartley	(60 Paul Ford)
Dave Mills
Seb Elliott	(70 Stuart Batchelor)
Alan Cowley
Andy Mills (c)
Bryan Leggett
Adam Johnson
Referee: D Harman
Goals: Leggett.
HT Score: 0-0
FT Score: 1-1

Following an excellent performance against the league leaders last week, Battle were keen to put in another good performance and at the same time avenge a 6-2 drubbing from earlier in the season.

Confidence was high on a terrible pitch and it was again Battle that started the brighter, with the Bryan/Adam forward partnership continuing to blossom. Chances were fairly limited, as was flowing football on such a bobbly pitch, and Magham Down began to ease themselves back into the game that found half time deadlocked as both defences looked fairly comfortable. The wind/spin/pitch did come to the rescue of Battle at one point as Dave Mills somehow watched his attempted clearance go wide when it seemed that an own goal was the only possible outcome!

The second half was bound to be a different match as now the wind and sun were very much against Battle, as opposed to the first half when they had failed to use them to their advantage. The game settled back down into a midfield dominated scrap but Battle still seemed the likelier to score on the break, and so it proved when Andy Mills cleverly diverted a half cleared ball back into their area for Bryan Leggett to nip in before the keeper and head it into the net.

Cruelly the lead lasted only two minutes as an otherwise excellent Jamie Pooley in goal brought down the nippy Magham Down striker in the box – the penalty was excellently converted. A gripping and exciting finish was in prospect but that was unfortunately spoilt by the introduction of a Magham Down sub who seemed far more intent on verbally abusing referee and opposition than doing anything constructive with is feet – perhaps a reflection on his relative ability in both areas. The game descended into bouts of messy and dirty play, but Battle admirably rose above things and kept their dignity – something that cannot be said for Magham Down who saw one player booked and many others warned for their poor conduct. The referee finally brought a close to a game that had been full of promise, but ended on a sour note.