Vs. White Knight (H)

 

 

 

Starting XI

Substitutes:

 

 

Grant Lewis

 

Paul Rook

 

Alan Cowley

 

Max Sztyber

 

Paul Ford

 

Ollie Jeffs

 

Peter Cooper

 

Dale Scowen (c)

(5 Dave Sitch, 70 Dave Mills)

Owen Davies

(80 Josh Howe)

Tom Frere-Smith

 

Gary Walsh

 

 

 

Referee: S Ralph

 

 

HT Score: 0-0

 

FT Score: 0-0

 

 

 

Following last week’s great win against league leaders Catsfield, Battle welcomed 2nd placed White Knight to the Battle Recreation Ground, knowing that they had to keep building on that great result. With skipper Andy Mills missing from the middle of the park following a knee operation things quickly got worse as Dale Scowen was carried off following a reckless White Knight tackle.

Five minutes in, and the home side missed a great chance to open the scoring when Frere-Smith danced onto a Walsh pass but his goalbound shot brought a reflex save from Leon Morris.

 

Although White Knight enjoyed more possession the churchmen created the better chances. A zig-zag dribble by Frere-Smith down the right opened up the Knight defence and his back-post cross was well met by Walsh but again the keeper made a great stop.

 

A White Knight free kick, which was guided round the post by the forward, was all the visitors could muster from their greater possession, as the Battle defence held strongly to see out the half.

 

The second half began with great promise as both teams came out with greater adventure at first, but the pattern of the first half was soon established with White Knight enjoying more ball, but Battle having clear chances.

 

The Baptists came close to scoring when a right wing shot from talisman Frere-Smith was clumsily deflected towards goal, and Morris had to quickly adjust his position to flick it onto the post before a defender cleared the danger.

The home fans cheered for a penalty as Frere-Smith was brought down inside the box but the referee waved play on.

 

On another day Battle could have been comfortable winners but in the end neither team will be fully satisfied, but with the teams at either end of the Division, neither will be too disappointed either.