After the heavy midweek defeat against Hailsham Town the Anvils faced another difficult task against mid table St Francis Rangers as the homesters continued their rebuild.

Anvils were first into action with Josh Alcock firing a warning shot just over the SFR goal, just after came Geo Wallis testing keeper Rob Gordon with the first free kick of the game, come 15 mins and Tom Frankland playing at right back broke down the flank to set up Wallis but the midfielders shot was safely taken by Gordon.

On 12 the visitors made the first bench change with Aaron Walsh replacing Josh Hawkes, the first attempt on the Anvil goal came from a James Westlake free kick that found Stephen Smith in space but he fired well over, on 17 came the nearest SFR opener with two further chances, the second which struck the upright and had Anvil keeper Sam Jackson clawing hold of the rebound, still they came forward with next a Luke Leppard shot that Jackson handled well.

For the Anvils it was becoming a struggle to mount anything threatening on the visitors goal, with first a Jacob Wrights charge that was blocked off, and then Grant Rigler finding space to test Gordon, on the half hour both Stuart Cameron and Charlie Dodds had chances but both were nullified by the keeper yet again.

For SFR it was business as usual with Weston shooting wide, then a corner from the same player finding Tom Saunders who in turn could only find the defiant Jackson, as the half ended all square. HT 0-0

2nd Half’s are something of an achilles heel for the Anvils, but they made the first opening with a Wallis shot that caused the Gordon to flip over, on 53 James Day was booked as the Anvils continued to push forward, striker Rigler not getting much joy then found an opening but put the ball wide.

By the hour mark the visitors were beginning to take up squatters rights in the Anvil half as we defended deeper and deeper, with Weston again being thwarted by Jackson, followed by Saunders heading over and then the same player shooting wide when thro on goal.

Changes on the Anvil bench with Mikey Kseniuk and Tim Strong making their debut’s from the U18’s, but the visitors continued to pour forward and come 70 the valiant Anvil defence was finally breached with Westlake at last getting the better of Jackson. 0-1 SFR. The same player Westlake then went near again driving past the post, it was one way traffic by now with all hands to the pumps, with just Rigler left upfront, come 85 and visitors Smith found a chink in the Anvil armour to notch number two. 0-2 SFR. Further change on the Anvil bench came with Mark Aldred coming on, but Weston for the visitors finished off a one sided 2nd half with a brace in the final four minutes to nail the points. FT 0-4 SFR.

Team: Sam Jackson, Tom Frankland (Mikey Kseniuk), Jacob Wright, George Wallis (Tim Strong), Charlie Dodd, James Day (Mark Aldred), Stuart Cameron, Sam Cane, Grant Rigler, Steve Major, Josh Alcock.

MOM: Sam Jackson. Attn: 48