Crowborough AFC faced AFC Varndeanians on a sunny neutral surface at Cardinal Newman School, Hove, in what proved to be an exciting pre-season fixture. More so, because in recent years we havent faced this team in pre season because we shared a league.

The venue itself was impressive, with a beautiful, high-quality surface, though its slightly narrow width later posed challenges, particularly for the Crows, being their first visit. Spectators had the option of either watching through the holes of a 20ft tall hatched fence, or standing in front of it, backed up to ensure enough room on the outer of the sidelines. Despite these limitations, the atmosphere remained positive with a warm welcome from the Varndeanians and we were more than pleased to be there.

The match kicked off with both teams getting their bearings on the artificial surface. Varndeanians struck first in the 18th minute, but Crowborough responded well, leveling the score at 25 minutes thanks to Marcus Goldsmith. The remainder of the first half saw both sides going back and forth, with neither team gaining a clear upper hand.

The Crows remained on the pitch during halftime for team talk and water break in the shade at the far end. Rotations started in the second half and it was good to see a high number of trialists getting valuable play time in both halves of the game.
Into the second half, the Varndeanians regained the lead in the 50th minute. Crowborough dug deep, and in claiming more possession from that moment, eventually equalised in the 75th minute through Steve Smith, who had a standout performance throughout.
Despite a few near-misses and some excellent saves, the game finished in a 2-2 draw, a fair result for both teams given the opportunities and challenges.

While the Crows narrowly missed on 3 or 4 solid chances, the effort was undeniable, and Steve Smith's performance was a highlight for this author.

It was a lovely evening out for the Crows in the sun, and it was good to see that the spirit of last season is only growing amongst the first team and their management.
AFC Varndeanians gave us a highly competitive match and we thank them for an enjoyable evening and being wonderful hosts. Good luck in the season ahead AFCV!