Vs. Punnetts Town (A)

Starting XI

Gary Williams

Andy Mills

Owen Davies

Andy Frere-Smith (c)

Darrell Hartley

Pat Mammone

Stuart Batchelor

Dale Scowen

Dave Mills

Tom Frere-Smith

Gary Walsh

Referee: P Cook

Goals: D Mills (25),

T Frere-Smith (31).

HT Score: 2-1

FT Score: 2-4

Booking: Batchelor

Makeshift goalie Gary Williams couldn’t believe his luck when his first action was to pick the ball out of his net after just 1 minute of this crucial East Sussex Division 5 game.

Playing without their mainstream keeper for the third consecutive match, the Battle team were uncomfortable in the opening quarter but after 24 minutes, Pat Mammone made an express-train run down the right wing and fired in a cross which Dave Mills met in front of his marker to knock the ball in for the equaliser.

Having lost to the Baptists 3-1 a week ago, Punnetts Town fielded several stronger players this week, including their 1^st Team keeper, Catty. Their upgraded team played with flare and confidence especially in attack where Joe Walker who had already driven in the first goal of the game caused difficulties with his darting runs and sharp shooting.

However the away defence stood up defiantly to the onslaught and Battle found themselves ahead after half an hour when the superb Tom Frere-Smith collected the ball on the edge of the area and thundered an exorcet rocket into the top corner of the goal, singeing the palms of the Premier Division goalkeeper as he valiantly attempted to stop the ball from burning through the netting.

Unfortunately the lead was reversed shortly after the interval when firstly a Salik Abu headed goal, followed closely by a goalmouth error unconsciously converted by Steve Ives (his first goal in 3 years for Punnetts Town) knocked the wind out of the away sails. When Joe Walker blasted in an unstoppable shot, the scoring was complete and the home team had won 4-2.

With honours even and points shared in this ‘European’ style double fixture, at least Battle Baptists can claim to have won on away goals!