A very wet week prior to this fixture and an equally grim morning and lunchtime on the day threatened far worse than the slippery but otherwise firm conditions the players encountered at start of play. The wind and continuing rain did however in large part hinder both team's attempts at playing the precision game required as any ball over the top slid speedily to safety well before any threat could be realised.

The referee was kept as busy as anyone in the early stages having to repeatedly remind members of the opposition to call a name when requesting a pass, or otherwise keep their questionable taste in music to themselves. Unpiterbed the regular shouts of "Yes!" or more irritatingly even "Yes, Yes!" finally got the better of the official's patience and landed one of the men in green with a yellow card for his trouble.

The first half progressed with Buxted taking control of the game as expectations were raised with a number of free kicks and corners presenting themselves to the returning dead ball specialist Gareth Houkes, who's dangerous deliveries eluded a static defence and unfortunately Buxted's poorly positioned forward line. After a rare incisive move however, Tom Harding received the ball on the left and cut inside to release a shot only to be belatedly upended by a defenders desperate lunge to concede a penalty. Houkes stepped up to place the ball calmly to the 'keepers right to take the Stags into the break with a 1:0 lead.

As the second half got under way conditions improved markedly and both sides were able to create openings with Michel 'Tinker' Tampkin in particular wasting a couple of good opportunities much to his frustration before unleashing an unstoppable pile driver from a difficult angle on the right edge of the area as the ball arrived at his feet following a weak goal mouth clearence. The goal, which arrived after a timely re-shuffle of the forward line with Alex Christie replacing the impressive and much improved Cliff Starkey, knocked the stuffing out of the visitors as much by the manner of it's taking as by it's timing as Rotherfield might well have equalised on a couple of occasions beforehand.
With Buxted's attack receiving more fresh legs with the introduction of Joe Harland for the lively Tom Harding and Bertie Hudson for the hard working Alex Marks Rotherfields defence began to crumble and Joe Harland added a third as he deftly slipped the ball beneath the onrushing 'keeper after Alex Christie's incisive through ball.

Buxted's dominance was only briefly interrupted as Rotherfield broke through with what appeared to be an unstoppable attempt on goal. The ball was seemingly destined for the top corner over the left shoulder of Buxted 'keeper Jörn Kröger only for the veteran custodian to leap salmon like in the air, hanging in mid-flight for what seemed like an age to claw the twenty yard shot round the post, much to the amazement of all those in attendance, not least himself. As the game neared it's end Buxted were to compound Rotherfield's misery with a fourth goal via a gap between the legs of Allan Curtis at the near post direct from Houkes' corner kick on the left.

A welcome return to winning form after three straight defeats, strengthening the view that a correct balance needs to be maintained in all areas between the talented and spritely youth introduced at the season's start and the older and wiser if slightly less mobile heads. A combination that promises much as the season approaches the half way stage.

Man of the Match goes to Gareth Houkes, who marshalled the back line expertly and also managed to chip in with two goals.

Starting XI: 1. Jórn Króger, 2. Lewis Reilly, 3. Cliff Starky, 4. Gareth Houkes (c), 5. Nigel Fox, 6. Alan Curtis, 7. Jack Evans, 8. Michael Tampkin, 9. Shane Bills, 10. Alex Marks, 11. Tom Harding

Subs: 12. Robert Hudson, 14. Joe Harland, 15. Alex Christie