Crowborough Athletic

After the joy of beating our neighbours on Wednesday evening it was a tough test against a Crowborough Athletic side who look like they will be battling with Newhaven for top spot and guaranteed promotion. The far from ideal conditions with a strong wind blowing from goal to goal and the dugout side of the pitch heavy going made it tough for the players. The lads fought back from conceding a very early goal to go in level at half-time but with five minutes remaining and a deserved point in sight Crowborough Athletic produced a good move to take a 2-1 win.

The game had yet to form a pattern as the players got used to the wind when Crowborough got a free kick on the left midway between touch and the penalty area. An extremely soft decision, the consequence of which was a cross to the right side of the box and a shot into the top left corner of our net after just two minutes. It would have been nice to say that this was just a refereeing blip. Crowborough had first use of the wind and were floating the ball long requiring Jack Webb-Olley to patrol the edge of the box to collect anything overhit. On 13mins Crowborough had a free kick to the left of the D. The shot was direct and clipped the wall drawing a good tip over by Webb-Olley. The corner came to nothing and another corner on 21mins was cleared by Stephen Hodge. Our first chance came on 25mins when Jay Simpson had a shot from the left side but straight at the keeper.

Crowborough had a free kick from the right that was driven into the wall and then cleared away. On 29mins they had a better chance from a cross but headed over. Our defence was holding firm and this was typified by Tyrone Magala-Bryan making a great challenge on our right and then earning a free kick defending possession. Louis Gates broke clear down the right on 31mins and crossed to Simpson. He kept possession and tried to create an opening but then passed to Josh McArthur Nolan whose shot was deflected onto the left post and behind for a corner. The corner was delivered into the box and from the resulting scramble Magala-Bryan poked the ball home to equalise on 32mins. Cue outrage from Crowborough players who, to be fair, had a case but then their goal also came from a poor decision so honours even. In the ensuing discussions Crowborough had a player receive a sin bin penalty. Crowborough had a chance to regain the lead a couple of minutes later but blazed the chance way over the bar. On 36mins Simpson nearly set up a chance for Richie Wetton and although the rebound fell to Gates, he was flagged offside. All square at half-time.

With the wind behind us for the second half, Wetton had a shot from the left in the opening minute. A minute later he had possession in the box but with no opening for a shot he played it out to Gates but the ball went out for a goal kick. The resulting kick came to Wetton who controlled it well and fed the ball out to Gates but once again the wind took his cross out. It takes a short while to recalibrate to the change of wind direction. Crowborough had a few chances starting with a break on 49mins but the final shot was woeful and flew well over the bar. On 52mins they had a free kick that was well held by Webb-Olley. Much closer was a shot from left to right two minutes later that went wide of the right post. Time for change on 57mins as Wetton was replaced by Dennis Asante and Phil Page came on for Toby Hill. A couple of minutes later Crowborough had a free kick from the bye line on the right that was cleared and then became a free kick for us as Magala-Bryan’s shirt was pulled as he tried to break away.

The teams traded corners and then on 74mins Webb-Olley was caught while playing out and in winning the ball back brought down their player. Confusion reigned as to whether it should be a penalty and if not, then was it denying a clear goalscoring opportunity and so a red card. The referee decided it was not a penalty, nor did the challenge warrant a red card and so a yellow card and a free kick. Most people doubted that this was correct and you would hope that the referee has better games than this. The resulting free kick was saved and gathered by Webb-Olley. On 76mins Crowborough had a corner that was cleared by Webb-Olley and then again on the follow up shot. A couple of minutes later, Page took the ball into their box, turned the defender, and was then penalised with yet another soft free kick. Another change on 80mins as Jimmy Williams came on for George Branton, playing a midfield role today. Into the last five minutes and from possession on the right Crowborough crossed to the left side of the box and delivered a header across into the right side of our net to take a 2-1 lead. Frustrating and even more so when a couple of minutes later Luke Richardson received a second yellow card. In the last minute of normal time, Simpson had a shot that went wide of the right hand post. Jamal Robinson-Davids replaced Gates for the four added minutes but our winning streak was over.

This was always going to be a tough match against a team that has only lost twice in the League this season. That we got as close as five minutes from taking a point reflects well on the lads. The result does not change our position in the table as we remain in 10th place but the gap to Eastbourne United has extended to seven points following their draw at Bexhill United. A shame that our last game in 2023 ended in defeat so let us hope that we can have a successful start 2024 with matches against Bexhill United followed by the rearranged trip to AFC Varndeanians.