Vs. Little Common III (H)
Starting XI	Substitutes:
Andy Poulter
Paul Rook
Alan Cowley
Max Sztyber
Paul Ford
Ollie Jeffs
Dave Sitch	(75 Ian Rafiti)
Peter Cooper (c)
Dave Mills
Tom Frere-Smith
Gary Walsh
Referee: M Southam
Goals: Walsh (x2), Frere-Smith (x2).
HT Score: 0-3
FT Score: 4-5

After picking up 4 out of 6 points from great performances against Catsfield and White Knight, the Baptists were relishing the visit of lowly Little Common, with the prospect of overtaking them in Division 2.

However, the afternoon went pear-shaped during a 45 minutes period in which the home team’s generosity offered the Commoners a three-goal lead, and despite a fantastic effort to claw back Battle just failed to clinch a point in a climactic 9 goal thriller.

First half communication breakdowns, free headers and miss-kicks caused the problems for the generous churchmen, as Battle handed out more gifts than a John Lewis Santa. Growing in confidence by the minute, Little Common gratefully accepted the Baptists hospitality, clinically finishing their chances with enormous glee.

Facing a 3-0 deficit at half time, the punch drunk home team cleared their heads and came out fighting, scoring within 5 minutes of the restart as Alan Cowley landed a left-wing free kick in the path of Gary Walsh who fired into the bottom left hand corner of the net. Moments later, however, Common restored the three-goal lead after another calamitous miss-kick, gave unchallenged possession to the grateful goal scorer.

Playing almost totally in the Little Common half, Battle now showed the resolve that give them wins over Hollington and Ticehurst earlier in the season, Tom Frere-Smith cleverly pulling another goal back with a tight-angled finish after Walsh’s whipped pass had split the defence. Once again the little Common lead was restored within minutes, this time from the penalty spot, after a ball-winning tackle by Paul Rook was adjudged to have been a foul.

The come-back began in earnest for Battle when left-back Paul Ford chipped a cross into Walsh on the 18 yard line and the seasoned striker’s guided header was measured into the path of Frere-Smith who rounded the last defender and placed his shot accurately in the top corner, lifting the hopes of the home team. After Walsh headed home Battle’s fourth from another Cowley cross, it was all hands to the pump to strike the equaliser. Hacked down in the area, Dave Mills appeared to earn a penalty but play was waved on and a late strike from captain Pete Cooper flew over the upright as the frustrated Baptists finally ran out of time.