St Francis Rangers v Peacehaven

- and will have been delighted at the response after seeing his side twice come from behind today, and eventually claim 3 points in style.

There were 2 changes to Wednesday's side, with Ashley Rees and Tom Levitt both returning to replace the unavailable Wes Millis and Craig Bunch, but Peacehaven's afternoon got off to the worse possible start. Picking up a loose ball on the edge of the box, Greg Archer drilled the ball into the bottom corner to give St Francis a 2nd minute lead.

The early set back seemed to kick start Peacehaven, and they were nearly level straight away when Carl Dunk's teasing free-kick was glanced agonisingly wide by Ashley Rees. Jake Buss had to be on top form to keep out Rob Cooper's effort soon after, but as the half progressed, so Peacehaven began to take control.

Ashley Rees went close again when Martin O'Rourke in the home goal managed to claw away his close range effort, but midway through the half Peacehaven where back on level terms. Scott Marshall's cross was dummied by Rees in the 6 yard box, and Tom Levitt was on hand for the equaliser.
Peacehaven would have been the happier of the two sides at the break, but St Francis where back infront within 5 minutes of the restart with Peter Martin's low cross being met by Kieran Pamment who fired home from 10 yards.

If Peacehaven ever needed spirit and character it was now - and they rose to the challenge. They seemed un-phased by the setback, and where level within 15 minutes when Carl Dunk's low corner was hammered home by Adam Kneller. Soon Peacehaven where playing with their old flair, and took the lead when Dave Altendorff's header put Ashley Rees clear, and he calmly fired past O'Rourke.

As the game moved towards the final stages, Peacehaven went further ahead with what was certainly the goal of the day. Matt Hill's long cross-field ball fell to Owen Callaghan on the right wing, and he centred for Tom Levitt who powerfully headed home.

The was one more chance for St Francis, when Buss tipped over a good effort from Pamment, but Peacehaven where rampant for the last 15 minutes, and could easily have won by a much greater margin.

Tom Levitt missed two glorious chances for his hat-trick, a Dave Altendorff free-kick was steered in for an own goal but ruled out for offside, and with the last attack of the game, substitute Matt Nuttman's effort hit the post and rebounded to Ashley Rees, but his shot was somehow blocked on the line.

"That was a great performance", said Shaun Saunders after the game, "Their heads didn't drop when we went behind, and we worked really hard as a team to turn things around"