Vs. Travaux (H)

 

 

 

Starting XI

Substitutes:

 

 

Simon Cutler

 

Owen Davies

 

Doug Morris

(45 Darrell Hartley)

Steve Chapman

 

Paul Ford

 

Pete Cooper

(68 Pat Mammone)

Andy Mills (c)

 

Dave Mills

 

Adrian Gaylon

(73 Dom Fowler)

Tom Frere-Smith

 

Gary Walsh

 

 

 

Referee: A Brampton

Goals: Morris (3,21),

Frere-Smith (10,61),

Fowler (73).

 

HT Score: 3-1

 

FT Score: 5-2

 

 

 

Battle Baptists played their best football of the season and won this East Sussex League Division encounter easily with a superb display on a very sticky Battle pitch.

 

From the moment central defender Doug Morris headed home the first goal from a far post corner in the 3rd minute, the home team were in control and when Tom Frere-Smith’s piercing run and precise finish made it two after just 10 minutes, it looked like the Baptists would feast on goals.

 

Following two more great opportunities to extend the lead when only last ditch defending by Travaux prevented attackers from scoring, Morris notched again when the ball was partially cleared from a corner. As the defence pressed out, Pete Cooper on the left flank beat the efficient Travaux offside trap and squared the ball for a tap in.

 

With Andy Mills and Adrian Gaylon winning possession at will in midfield, and the home defence looking like a stronghold, Dave Mills then squandered a goal after beating two players down the right wing only to shoot wide when a pass to brother Andy would have left an gaping goal.

 

Travaux have not failed to score in their League fixtures and to their credit their perseverance was rewarded when a 30 yard thunderbolt dashed the home team’s hopes of keeping a clean sheet.

 

This enlivened the away team, who started the second half the strongest and lightning struck twice for Battle when the same Travaux player made it 3-2 by stroking in a 20 yard effort that went in off the post, again leaving keeper Simon Cutler without a chance.

 

The shock brought the home team to life and in the very next attack, the familiar partnership of Walsh and Frere-Smith combined to put Frere-Smith through for his second goal which he took with style, beating the last defender and taking the ball around the advancing goalkeeper before sliding the ball into an empty net.

 

Battle’s squad strength was illustrated for the last goal of the afternoon, when a free-kick by Owen Davies found Walsh, now playing in central midfield. His accurate pass to substitute Pat Mammone on the left wing encouraged the energetic youngster to run on and fire in a clever shot which beat the keeper and rebounded off the post into the path of substitute Dominic Fowler who gratefully netted with his first touch of the match.

 

The last significant action saw Frere-Smith carelessly knocked down in the box with the resultant penalty smashed over the bar by the usually dependent right back Davies.

 

This was great preparation for Battle’s Lower Division Cup Quarter final tie against Icklesham next Saturday. KO 1:30pm at Battle Rec.