Vs. Magham Down (H)
Starting XI	Substitutes:
Grant Lewis
Dave Mills
Adam Staplehurst
Max Sztyber
Paul Ford
Dale Scowen (c)
Pete Cooper	(55 Dave Sitch)
Andy Mills
Ian Rafiti
Tom Frere-Smith
Gary Walsh	(75 Steve Spicer)
Referee: B Hughes
Goals: Frere-Smith
HT Score: 0-0
FT Score: 1-0

What a great performance! Every one of the 14 man squad that helped to gain victory against Magham Down yesterday deserve massive praise.
It was brilliant to be back in action once again after the bad weather caused us to miss the whole of our January fixtures. After incredibly heavy rain in Battle on Thursday, even this game was in jeopardy until the pitch was finally passed fit at Saturday lunchtime.
We started freshly with a scintillating start to the game. Ian Rafiti was rampaging down our left flank, and Magham could hardly get in our half. But the visitors came back strongly and could easily have won the game. Magham strikers certainly had their chances - Grant Lewis saved bravely in the first half - an attacker snatched a fantastic chance wide of the post in the second - another Magham player hit the post with another shot.
The winner came in a swift counter attack half way through the second half. A Magham shot struck Paul Ford on the chest in our penalty area and as Magham appealed in vain for handball, Ian Rafiti powered up the left, releasing Tom Frere-Smith. In his usual style Tom beat the last defender and coolly stroked his shot under the body of the approaching keeper.
Five minutes later TFS had a chance to make it 2-0 when Gary Walsh threaded a pass behind the defence but the Battle number 10 was wide of the mark with his strike.
In the final 20 minutes we held up to a barrage of attack from a determined and aggressive Magham Down team. The central defensive partnership of Adam Staplehurst and Max Sztyber was sensational. Playing on a heavy pitch Battle defenders threw themselves in front of every Magham Down shot to prevent an equaliser. The final whistle brought relief and joy as the Baptists were rewarded for their endurance and perseverance in this stonking game of football.
Filled with encouragement and belief, we go to Eastbourne next week to take on White Knight in the semi-final of the super Stitch 86 Challenge Cup.