Mon 6th September 2010
MANAGERS LEAD THE WAY
Our two managers led the way yesterday in the Battle 10K by finishing 1st and 2nd in the old git ugly managers' catagory.
Well done Gary and Gary - keep up the good work.
Posted by: bbfcmanager
Sat 4th September 2010
BAPTISTS BATTLE BACK
I usually try to write the report in the style of a football report but today I just want to share how I feel.
It's such a long time since I've enjoyed a day of football like the one I've had today that I can't remember.
It didn't start well. Cranbrook had to change the venue to a field in Cranbrook where it was difficult to park and there were no chnaging facilities. Getting the squad to the pitch for 3pm proved awkward to say the least and preparation wasn't good. Expecting a cameo appearance from the subs bench, Pete Cooper found himself playing the whole game when Rhys arrived late. With two players cropping out on Friday, Matt Lee was thrust into the starting lineup and Natt Nunn had a very late call-up as stand-by sub.
On arrival, in contrast to our disorganised and tardy state, the Cranbrook team sat calmly by a goal listening attentively to their team talk. They started well and it became apparent that they are a strong team with several good players. We competed well for 5 minutes and then a few of our players began to feel the strain of the afternoon sun and Cranbrook took control, passing well and using their target men effectively.
So it wasn't a surprise when they took the lead though the nature of the goal was frustrating - a scramble in front of the line leading to a tap in for the attacker. Adam Gooch clipped the outside of the post and Rob jordan's free kicks from wide threatened Cranbrook but when their second goal came after a mix up at the back it looked like we might be down and out.
Last season that may have been the case, but we're a stronger team now and Pete Cooper pegged back a goal just before half time from the penalty spot. Andy Mills knocked a pass behind their defence and I sprinted onto it (well, as fast as I could anyway) managing to get my toe to the ball just before the centre half wiped me out with his tackle. It was like scoring for me and it just reminded me of my youthful football days when I could do that sort of thing with much more ease. We were all grateful to Pete who stepped up for the pressure kick and cooly sent the keeper the wrong way, giving us all a massive lift.
Cranbrook faded in the second half, mainly because we tightened up and kept up our competitive. I hit the post with a guided volley from 12 yards when Rob Jordan lobbed a high ball into the area and then Rhys Bennett came on in a change that probably won us the match. Adam Gooch was sent into attack and pretty soon he danced past defenders on the left wing, attacked the by-line and cut the ball back to the penalty spot where Tim Walsh met it with perfect timing and thundered in a thrilling equaliser. I know I'm biassed but Tim has always worked hard for the team and deserves to score more goals. I had as much pleasure in watching him score this one as I'd have had scoring it myself.
Although Cranbrook sent another player into thier attack, it was thier defence that now needed the extra support, with our defensive team of Paul Rook, Nic Gooch, Rob Jordan and Ollie Jeffs showing great strength and determination to cope with the extra workload.
Having joined the squad late we were fortunate to have the services of Natt Nunn when the hardworking Tim Walsh unfortunately went over on his ankle and needed to be replaced. Natt didn't look out of place, doing the right things holding the ball on the front line and bringing other players into the game.
By now the jaded Cranbrook defence were being taunted by the energetic movement and nippy runs of Adam Gooch who had preserved some energy having had a quiet game on the right side of midfield. His winner 5 minutes from time was a great goal. He jinxed through the defence and blasted the ball into a bulging net, sending his team into joyous rapture (not literally). What a goal!
In the final five minutes, having got our noses ahead, we took the liberty of blasting the ball anywhere just to waste a few more second without wasting energy - just the right methods in the circumstances where we had battled through the afternoon and come out on top.
There was contrast again in the moods of the squads after the game. I felt a tadge sorry for Cranbrook who played well and were on top for periods of the game, especially in the first half. But the attitude and commitment of my team was fantastic and as a team we never gave up. I feel so proud of our performance today and I'm revelling in the short term pleasure of this day. Thank You God for this day!
Posted by: Gary Walsh
Tues 31st August 2010
CHECK THE WEBSITE
Mainly for all the new players, I want to highlight the procedures for picking the teams as the week goes by. If everyone is supportive and understands what's expected of them, this procedure works efficiently.
BY SATURDAY (a week before match day) players will know their availability and will have told one of the two managers.
BY MONDAY EVENING - a squad is announced on the website detailing who is available and who can't play... Players are expected to check that we've got it right and tell us if it's wrong.
WEDNESDAY - the teams are (usually) picked following discussion between managers.
BY THURSDAY EVENING - the teams/squad for the 2 games are posted on the BBFC website. Players are expected to check the website, taking note of the details of the match ... meeting times etc.
If circumstances change betweeen Thursday and the match on Saturday, players must contact thier manager asap to allowing as much time as possible react. Players can do this by email, text or telephone call, but a common sense approach needs be taken...often emails are not checked or texts are not appropriate. However bad the news is, a phone call is usually the most appropriate and reliable way to communicate.
THANKS in advance for your helpfulness in assiting with the smooth running of our club. I sense it's going to be another great season!
Posted by: Gary Walsh
Sun 22nd August 2010
BAPTISTS' CONTINUE IN GOAL VEIN
PEASMARSH & IDEN 1-3 BBFC I
Goals from Ollie Jeffs, Gary Walsh and Adam Gooch won the game for the Baptists in this hastily arranged pre-season friendly.
Jeffs opened the scoring with a firmly placed header after determined work from Tim Walsh had won a corner.
Kicking uphill at The Maltings the visitors defended strongly with Adam Staplehurst and Rob Jordan solid in the centre and Ollie Jeffs and Paul Rook giving great support down the flanks. The Baptists created further chances in the first half but Peasmarsh levelled on the stroke of half time when a great cross created mayhem and an unfortunate clash of players favoured the attacker who tapped into an open goal.
Making his debut for the first team, keeper Ray Pennells commanded his area and his long drop kick landed over the top of the Peasmarsh defense for gary Walsh to run on and lob the outcoming goalkeeper for 2-1.
Shortly afterwards Adam Gooch ran through from midfield and cooly rounded the helpless keeper to seal the win.
The season starts proper next weekend when the 1st team travel to Cranbrook and the 2nds entertain Sandhurst II at The Rec (Claverham isn't available yet).
Posted by: Gary Walsh
Wed 25th August 2010
SAT 25TH FIXTURE ARRANGED
A fixture has been arranged this weekend (Sat 28th) for the 1st team to play Peasmarsh & Iden - away - 3pm KO.
Posted by: Gary Walsh
Sun 22nd August 2010
BAPTIST HIT 5 IN DERBY GAME
BBFC I 5-3 BATTLE RANGERS
Two goals apiece from Alan Cowley and Gary Walsh and one from Adam Gooch gave Battle Baptist a win yesterday against Battle Rangers.
The first half was a goal fest with Gooch opening the scoring within a few moments of the start and Walsh lobbing the keeper for 2-0 before Rangers mounted a comeback taking a 3-2 lead. Cowley equalised with a cooly taken one-on-one and Walsh tapped in his second to give the Baptists a 4-3 half time lead.
Things calmed down in the second half and Cowley vollied in at a corner to make the margin more comfortable by the end of the game.
BBFC II 1-1 GUESTLING RANGERS
Earlier the seconds shared the spoils, having led for a large part of their game, Luke Barnes scoring from close range in the first half. Guestling equalised in the second half.
Posted by: Gary Walsh
Wed 18th August 2010
CRAZY CRICKET
20-20 cricket became 16-16 cricket last night in a match severely restricted by poor light and slippery footings.
The footballers won the toss and chose to bat, aiming to use the fast fading light at the end of a merky day to post a reasonable target. A promising start saw Mark Sztyber twice lamping the ball out of the ground, and supporting-opener Gary Walsh scoring through extra cover, before the innings fizzled out like a damp firework on a November evening, leaving a total of 77 for the visitors to defend.
The cricketers started their innings well and looked like they would reach the target easily until Andy Garlick took a fine catch that came down out of thick cloud off the bowling of Adam Staplehurst. Tighter bowling slowed the run rate and by the time Doug Cox trapped a second Battle cricketer lbw, the home side needed 12 runs from the last 2 overs.
Unfortunately no-one has yet invented a flashing, luminous ball so both batsmen and fielders struggled to guage the speed and direction of the slimey ball as it flew in all dierctions, at times resembling baseball rather than cricket.
It was left to ex-Battle Baptist captain and current cricket club first-teamer Dale Scowen, who seemed to combine X-Ray, ultra-sonic and infra red senses to stroke the three boundaries needed to guide the cricketers home to an 8 wicket victory.
At the end of the game, there was just about enough light for the fielding side to find their way back to the pavilion, where BBFC reflected on it's first exploration into cricket. Andy Mills was joyful not to quack with 2 runs in his first ever cricket match, Jamie Crouch was delighted to hit a four off his very first ball, Rich Ahsam realised that his bat has shrunk by the 6-inch margin that he was run-out, and Andy Poulter was pleased he didn't break another rib as the invisible ball peppered his rib cage without bouncing.
So the cricketers came out on top and the footballers learnt many things - not least of which was that these were excellent conditions for a game of footy.
Posted by: Gary Walsh
Sun 15th August 2010
GOOD DAY AT THE REC
Pre-season friendlies kicked off yesterday with both teams in action on the Rec.
BBFC I 2-2 EASTBOURNE DYNAMOS
The first team started strongly with a 2-2 draw against last season's Division 3 Champions.
Alan Cowley showed great determination under pressure to lob the Dynamos keeper and give his side a well-earned half time lead, before Adam Staplehurst stretched the advantage blasting in from close range. Eastbourne came back half way through the second half with 2 goals in 2 minutes and would have stolen a win if not for a brilliant save by Battle keeper Tim Nunn.
BBFC II 2-1 HERSTMONCEUX
The second team fielded several new players but it was the ever-dependable goalscorer Rob Usherwood who scored the opener only for Herstmonceux to equalise before half time. Newcomer Lee Boyd stole the show with a cooly taken winner, slipping the ball between keeper and post with just 2 minutes left on the clock.
Posted by: Gary Walsh
Friday 13th August 2010
CRICKET THIS TUESDAY
There are still one or two places left in the cricket team to play a Battle Cricket Club Midweek XI next Tuesday evening (17th Aug).
We start at St Georges's Meadow (behind the High Street in Battle) at 6pm.
Contact me immediately if you are interested in playing.
This is our first exploration into cricket and survival rather than victory is the aim, but it should be a great evening and hopefully we'll have plenty to talk about afterwards. Spectators welcome, though I wouldn't arrive late if I were you.
Posted by: Gary Walsh
Sun 25th July 2010
PRE-SEASON FIXTURES ARRANGED
We have arranged pre-season fixtures for both the 1st and 2nd teams on the 14th and 21st August. The 1st team play Eastbourne Dynamos on the 14th and Battle Rangers on the 21st. The second team play Herstmonceux on the 14th and Guestling Rangers on the 21st. All fixtures will be at home.
We will be asking you to confirm your availability for these two important week ends so that we can prepare two full squads.
Its also that time of year when we need to get you all signed up with the league and BBFC. I'll be chasing you over the next two weeks at training with signing on forms.
This is always an exciting time of year. We start with a clean sheet of paper, and both Gary Walsh and myself will be looking for everyone to impress and try to earn a starting slot in the first two squads of the season.
Posted by: Gary Wenham
Mon 12th July 2010
BBFC GOLF DAY
The 2nd annual BBFC GOLF DAY will take place on Saturday 24th July at Beauport Park Golf Club. Breakfast at 8.15am, first group off at 9.00am.
Cost is £25 to include breakfast and an 18 hole stableford competition. Prizes for longest drive, nearest the pin and best overall stableford score. Plenty of places still available and if the Beauport terrain puts you off, buggies are available to hire.
To sign up, please e-mail or txt Gary wenham.
Posted by: Gary Wenham
Thur 8th July 2010
BLEEP TEST - A 'BLEEPING' SUCCESS
Thank you to all who took part in the bleep test so enthusiastically last night at training. Its a good test of endurance and we averaged a score of 9.4 for the 19 players who took part.....not bad for 2 weeks into pre-season. Kieron came out on top with a fantastic score of 13.6, closely followed by Adam Gooch at 12.9 and Timm Smith at 12.10.
My plan is to run the test again in 4 weeks time to see by how much you have improved. I'll also have it set up and ready to go next week for any of you that missed training this week and would like to give it a go. See you Wednesday.
Posted by: Gary Wenham
Sun 27th June 2010
CRICKET V BATTLE CC
Not wanting to distract from football during the week when pre-season starts but I've fixed us a game of cricket with Battle Cricket Club at George Meadow, Battle on Tuesday the 17th August.
My only problem is that I don't have a team yet!...slight snag.
If you are a cricketer and fancy agame let me know if you bat, bowl stump or like me just field, and i'll add your name to the squad.
Should be a great social night out!
Posted by: gARY wALSH
Wed 23rd June 2010
PRE-SEASON TRAINING
Pre-Season training starts next Wednesday 30th June 6.30pm at Claverham.
With only 8 weeks to the start of the new season, both teams will be looking to bounce back from the last seasons dissapointment. It's important we have a good pre-season where everyone has the opportunity to work on stamina and fitness levels, so that we 'hit the ground running'!!
New players are always welcome. If you have friends, family or colleagues that are interested in trying out, please bring them along.
With the new Under 14 team joining us for training on the same night, these are exciting times for BBFC....I can't wait!!
Posted by: Gary Wenham