MATCH REPORT: FIRST VS PUNNETTS TOWN

Captain Sam Saunders was awarded Man of the Match on Saturday. Image credit Will Hugall.

Rotherfield FC returned to winning ways this weekend with a resounding away victory against Punnetts Town. Goals from Mike Peevor, George Fyffe, James Dunn and Jack Turner rewarded the Green and Whites with a much-needed three points.

The side made the short journey to Punnetts Town in determined mood, looking to bounce back after a disappointing home defeat to Cuckfield Rangers last time out. Rotherfield were buoyed by the returns of Callum Ridley, John Sinclair, George Fyffe and Sam Saunders and started the game in strong fashion. The new attacking trio of Peevor, Fyffe and Jack Spampanato looked dangerous in the early exchanges, with James Dunn providing a probing threat from midfield.

The deadlock was broken inside fifteen minutes with Peevor, restored to the number nine position, scoring a trademark backwards header from an expert Ridley cross after a well-worked throw on the left-hand side.

Spampanato continued to cause problems for the home side’s defence and, having found space in front of the back four, released Cameron Routledge out wide to find George Fyffe inside the box, who powered home a thunderous strike.

The home side were not without their chances, and a great delivery and header from a corner forced Kieran Sumner into a strong point-blank save. That said, it was the Greens who were enjoying the majority of the play and would make it three-nil before half-time. A customary late run into the box from Dunn saw him gamble at the back post and get to the ball first before the onrushing keeper.

In poor weather and with a difficult surface, the call at half-time was for sensible heads defensively and even more intent in the opposition’s half. The Greens picked up where they left off with good chances falling to Peevor, Fyffe and Spampanato but they found the Punnetts Town goalkeeper in good form.

The fourth goal would come, however, owing to another excellent set-piece delivery from Saunders, whose corner was met powerfully by Turner to head home and extend the away side’s lead. A fifth almost soon followed with Dunn and Routledge combining excellently down the right, leading Routledge to unleash a ferocious shot which cannoned back off the crossbar.

Changes followed as Gaffer, Wayne Clarke, took the opportunity to get some rest into the legs of Sinclair, Turner, Ridley and Peevor with the youthful legs of Gray, Prince and Russell impressing as they emerged from the bench.

In truth, Punnetts Town’s best spell of the game came in the closing exchanges but a combination of good handling from Sumner and the highest of standards from skipper Saunders in midfield ensured Rotherfield collected their first clean sheet of the season and a well-deserved three points.

Lineup: Sumner; Routledge, Turner (Russell, 70), Ridley (Teague, 60), Kerslake; Saunders, Sinclair (Gray, 65), Dunn; Spampanato, Peevor (Prince, 70), Fyffe (Watts, 85)

Man of the Match - Sam Saunders