Vs. Old Centmodians (A)
Starting XI	Substitutes:
Simon Cutler
Owen Davies
Doug Morris
Gary Wenham
Darrell Hartley	(78 Paul Ford)
Pete Cooper
Andy Mills (c)
Dave Mills
Steve Chapman	(45 Adrian Gaylon)
Gary Walsh
Dom Fowler	(81 Luke Miller)
Referee: G Good
Goals: D Mills (51), Cooper (68).
HT Score: 0-0
FT Score: 2-0

Battle Baptists were back in good form this weekend with a gritty and efficient performance that leaves them requiring just one point for promotion in this East Sussex League Division 4 encounter.

Second half goals from Dave Mills and Pete Cooper ensured victory against a physically tough host team, but the score could have been much more comfortable for the church outfit had they converted more of their clear opportunities.

Unusually, the Baptists were slow off the mark and were pinned in their own half for the first quarter of the game by a more experienced Old Cents team who were benefiting from midfield superiority. As the visitors struggled to overcome the difficulties of the strong wind and bobbly surface, Old Cents pressed hard and should have scored when a mix up in the Battle defence left an open goal for the Old Cents attacker, who failed to hit the target, steering his shot wide when it looked easier to score.

Battle responded to the wake-up call and gradually began to claw their way into the game. Neat interplay on the edge of the box left Steve Chapman with space to score but the ball wouldn’t settle on the bouncy surface and retreating defenders pounced upon the experienced utility player before he could get his shot away.

The deadlock was crucially broken 5 minutes into the second half when Pete Cooper lobbed a left wing cross into the box. As Dominic Fowler competed strongly to win the ball in the air, the ball fell kindly to Dave Mills who fired a low 12-yard shot through the defenders into the net.

Ten minutes later, Cooper made it two, playing a one-two with striker Gary Walsh whose accurately weighted return was inch-perfect for the midfielder to run through and coolly guide his shot under the body of the diving keeper.

In a 15-minute period, Battle could easily have scored 3 more goals. Firstly, captain and midfield talisman Andy Mills made a clever penetrating run but couldn’t convert when clean through on goal. Then, in a fluid passing move in which the Baptists switched play quickly from right to left, the overlapping Cooper created clear space for his second, only to be denied by a good save from Old Cents’ keeper John Harrigan.

Finally, as the home team’s energy faded, a drop kick from Battle’s Simon Cutler in goal, went route one downfield, clearing the Old Cents defence, and leaving Walsh to lob just wide from 25 yards.

Battle’s experienced defence is the meanest in the Division and it worked industriously for the clean sheet, restricting Old Cents to speculative long-range shots that were easily gathered by Cutler. Youngsters Paul Ford and Luke Miller gave freshness and energy to the team, coming on in the latter stages to secure the victory with enthusiasm and flair, before referee Graham Good’s final whistle brought the afternoon to a satisfactory end for the Baptists.

Red Lion’s draw at Punnetts Town was followed by further news that the points from last week’s non-encounter with St Helens had been awarded to the church team. Battle’s home fixture with Northiam next week now gives them an opportunity to finish securely in second spot.