Vs. Red Lion (A)
Starting XI	Substitutes:
Gary Walsh
Owen Davies
Gary Williams
Doug Morris
Darrell Hartley
Pete Cooper
Andy Mills (c)
Loksan Harley	(56 Paul Ford)
Dave Mills
Luke Graham
Dom Fowler
Referee: N Chatfield
Goals: Cooper (69)
HT Score: 0-1
FT Score: 1-1

In fine but breezy conditions at Sports Park in Eastbourne, the Baptists battled out a thrilling draw in this East Sussex League Division 4 fixture. A fierce volley by Peter Cooper from an Owen Davies corner on 69 minutes gave the Battle team a well-deserved share of the spoils, leaving the Eastbourne team rueing missed opportunities.

In unfamiliar territory at the top of the table, the Baptists looked unsettled at first as Red Lion enjoyed much the better of the first half. Playing in attack for Red Lion, a year after a horrendous car crash threatened his life; Valentino Cheang continually presented problems for the away team with his dribbling skills and tricky runs. After 10 minutes, he unleashed a shot from 30 yards that flew into the top left corner of the net. Cheang then missed a golden opportunity to increase the score when he spotted a niche in the compact defence and craftily slid through, only to overrun the ball when confronted with just the keeper to beat.

Moments later Red Lion felt they had a claim for a second goal in a bizarre goalmouth scramble that turned the course of the game. Firstly Gary Williams spectacularly stopped a deflected shot on the Battle goal line and as Gary Walsh, the Baptist keeper, smashed the ball clear, it struck the chest of his team-mate, Darrell Hartley and rebounded back towards goal, causing Walsh to make a fine reflex save, clawing the ball off the line to safety.

This empowered the Baptists who had weathered the storm.

Following the break the well-organised Baptist defensive cordon snuffed out Red Lion attacks, frustrating their opponents with disciplined tackling and industrious marking. When openings began to appear in the Lion’s defence, Dominic Fowler and Luke Graham each looked dangerous in attack. With 20 minutes still to play, Peter Cooper’s equalising goal uplifted the travelling faithful and revitalised Battle, who now looked likely to snatch the victory. On 85 minutes, Zion Man of the Match Cooper almost poked in a winner, just failing to hit the target after clever passing in midfield had penetrated the tiring home defence.

Battle left the field joyfully, having worked tirelessly to earn a point. Red Lion left in lower spirits, thinking that there may have been larger forces at play.