Vs. Northiam (A)
Starting XI	Substitutes:
Grant Lewis
Owen Davies
Alan Cowley
Max Sztyber
Darrell Hartley	(45 Josh Howe)
Seb Elliott
Dale Scowen (c)
Paul Rook
Ian Rafiti
Aaron Dreeling
Joe O’Neill
Referee:
HT Score: 0-1
FT Score: 0-4

It was a much changed Battle side that were set the task of recording the first points of the season, and with so many inexperienced faces the odds were always in favour of the home side. The scoreline however, is a bit harsh, and had Battle not squandered two great first half chances things may well have been very different. In truth though it was Battle’s inability, once again, to match the opposition for the full 90 minutes that cost them.

The match started fairly brightly for both teams and the quick feet and high work rate of Ian Rafiti down the left along with the two young strikers provided problems for the slow Northiam defence. Chances however came and went and it was Northiam who got their noses in front with a good finish from a tight angle after the striker had slightly fortuitously received the ball from a throw in.

Spirits were still high at half-time however and Battle knew the next goal would be crucial. Alan Cowley saw a good free kick tipped wide by a keeper who had previously thwarted Rafiti in the first half and soon after a toe poke from the Northiam striker found its way under the gloves of the Battle keeper. Heads visibly dropped and two goals in the next fifteen minutes ended the encounter.