Vs. Victoria Baptists (H)
Starting XI	Substitutes:
Simon Cutler
Owen Davies
Doug Morris
Gary Wenham
Darrell Hartley
Paul Ford	(90 Gary Williams)
Andy Mills (c)
Dave Mills	(62 Chris Mammone)
Mike Gould
Dom Fowler	(72 Luke Graham)
Gary Walsh
Referee:
Goals: Fowler (13), Davies (83), Mammone (94).
HT Score: 1-1
FT Score: 3-1

Battle triumphed thanks to two late goals in a home tie played at Victoria’s ground after the overnight snow rendered Battle Rec unplayable.

On a cold day a slow start was almost inevitable, but both sides tried to get the ball forward quickly early on. With both defences quick to clear, chances were few are far between with the first effort towards goal was registered by Mike Gould when he turned inside a defender and struck the ball just over the bar from the edge of the box.

The Battle left was proving a good outlet and on thirteen minutes Paul Ford skipped down the wing and crossed the ball into the box. Showing great instinct, Dom Fowler nipped in before the keeper could claim it and knocked the ball goalwards. The keeper recovered and attempted to smother the ball, but Dom managed to stick out a leg and ensure the ball crossed the line.

Victoria then started to enjoy some possession and while they did not force and clear-cut chances, they did find the space and time to have a couple of efforts from the edge of the box that flew comfortably over. On thirty-four minutes they drew level. The number nine was allowed too much time as the ball fell in the box and he calmly picked his spot and curled the ball past the despairing dive of Simon Cutler.

Each side had a chance to go into half time with a lead. Victoria had theirs first, when their striker found himself with the goal at his mercy after a cross from the left fell kindly for him eight yards out. He failed to connect properly and could only hit a tame shot straight at the keeper. At the other end, right on half-time Battle Manager Gary Walsh got on the end of an Owen Davies free kick but could only put his header wide.

The second half started as the first ended, with Victoria enjoying the lion’s share of possession without creating many clear cut chances. While the Eastbourne side got in the area on numerous occasions, committed defending ensured keeper Cutler had few worries. Just past the hour mark, Chris Mammone came on on the right-hand side for Dave Mills. The Battle defence then survived two incidents that nearly put the hosts in the lead. First a well-hit long shot hit the bar, then an in-direct free kick was given in the area against Davies for obstruction, but this was charged down well by those in orange.

Luke Graham came on for Fowler before Battle won a free kick just outside the Victoria box. Davies curled the ball towards the far post and though a Battle player failed to get a touch, the ball had enough on it to creep into the bottom corner.

Though it was Victoria that now needed a goal, Battle enjoyed a good attacking spell following their goal. An almighty scramble on the Victoria goal-line nearly lead to a third for Battle, before the referee decided a handball offence occurred just outside the area and gave a free-kick rather than the appealed-for penalty.

With the game entering injury time, Gary Williams came on for Ford to help repel any late Victoria attacks before Mammone made the game safe. A long ball forward from Davies was flicked on by Walsh and Mammone met it with a stunning left-foot half-volley that flew into the roof of the net from twenty-yards.

While a two goal margin flattered the Battle side, the victory was well-earned with a committed and battling performance.