Vs. Firehills Seniors (A)
Starting XI	Substitutes:
Grant Lewis
Adam Staplehurst
Alan Cowley
Max Sztyber	(70 Mark Palmer)
Paul Ford	(73 Josh Howe)
Dale Scowen
Dave Sitch	(60 Paul Rook)
Ollie Jeffs (c)
Ian Rafiti
Tom Frere-Smith
Gary Walsh
Referee: P Bezance
Goals: Cowley (4,35), Walsh (10,40), Rafiti (50,55), Frere-Smith (65).
HT Score: 4-2
FT Score: 7-3

Two goals each from Alan Cowley, Gary Walsh & Ian Rafiti together with a Tom Frere-Smith penalty produced a goalfest to beat Firehills at a mild-weathered Bulverhythe this afternoon.

Cowley started the goalfest volleying in unchallenged at the far stick from a Dale Scowen free kick after 4 minutes. Walsh extended the lead soon after finishing coolly when released through on goal.

Firehills replied resiliently, Reece Johnson and Nathan Phillips each scoring within 5 minutes to level the score. However, the Firehills defence couldn’t snuff out the Baptist threat and leaked again, Cowley scoring again this time from a corner and Walsh repeating the goalscoring double act neatly sidefooting a Frere-Smith cross inside the post to give a 4-2 half time lead.

After the break both teams realised the importance of the next score. Rafiti put the result beyond doubt when he charged down a defensive mistake to score Battle’s fifth past the stranded Firehills keeper, who had previously kept the home team in with a chance with a point blank save from Dave Sitch.

Rafiti netted his second five minutes later, when Frere-Smith provided another right-wing cross that needed a simply side foot pass to finish. As the Firehills team collapsed, Frere-Smith was fouled inside the area and the proliferate striker converted to make it seven.

With the game safe Battle made all three substitutions, and Firehills helped themselves to a consolation, Tim Oakman heading in at a corner, before the final whistle ended a joyful afternoon for the Baptists who climb two positions and overtake Firehills in Division 2.