On arrival there was a lively backdrop of tennis, cricket, and weekend activity, but walking into the actual ground was something else entirely. It was a genuine pleasure to see such a beautifully presented, well maintained pitch. From a distance you could almost question whether it was 3G. There was an air of optimism, a sense of friendly competition, and the feeling that this would be a good contest. Sadly, that mood would not last.

The game kicked off and it quickly became apparent that VCD Athletic were showing a level of strength that seemed to catch Crowborough AFC off guard. Whether that was purely VCD’s sharpness or simply the result of a long period without competitive action is open for debate, but the visitors certainly looked the more settled side early on.

VCD began knocking at the door almost immediately, forcing Grant into action. One disappointing moment came when shouts from the opposition bench urged a player to go down in search of a penalty. To his credit, the player chose not to simulate, and play continued. Both sides looked slightly wobbly, understandable given the circumstances of recent schedule interuptions, yet VCD clearly held the edge.

In the 18th minute that pressure paid off. There were appeals for offside, but in truth the goal felt legitimate and, more importantly, deserved. VCD were playing the better football and Crowborough needed the wake up call. A series of missed fouls in the build up to chances added to the frustration, and the scoreline could easily have worsened while the Crows were still finding their rhythm.
The 23rd minute briefly offered hope as Crowborough found the net, only for the equaliser to be ruled out for offside. The remainder of the first half largely became a defensive effort, with Crowborough working tirelessly to regain control and bring the ball forward. Credit must be given here, the defensive unit truly stepped up under sustained pressure.
Then came the second half.

Right from the restart there was a change, beginning with Pearson making way for Ayoola. Momentum began to shift. Crowborough looked sharper, more composed, more like themselves. Early attempts in the 47th and 49th minutes signalled intent, and in the 54th minute Duncan delivered.
Calm, composed, and clinical, he brought Crowborough level. The finish was excellent, the celebration understated yet full of meaning. It is simply good to see a player of his quality back where he belongs.

Just four minutes later, Forster produced another moment of quality. You could sense it building, his movement, his energy, his determination. When the chance came, he took it. Elation followed. From a first half deficit, Crowborough now led 1–2. A scoreline that felt both hard earned and fully deserved.

To say Crowborough controlled much of the second half would not be exaggeration. The team looked transformed. The desire, the intensity, the commitment to the badge, it was all there. Even VCD supporters could be overheard acknowledging they were facing a different side.

That said, the half was not without controversy. VCD collected bookings in the 53rd and 68th minutes for kicking the ball away, yet numerous other incidents seemed to pass without consequence. In the 72nd minute Forster took a boot to the face directly in front of the referee, somehow deemed not to be dangerous play. A free kick followed another foul, but the sense of frustration was growing.

Changes continued. Reed made way for Turner in the 69th minute, while Lyons was replaced by new signing Malachi Morris in the 80th. The game’s tempo increased, but so did the tension. VCD’s agitation was becoming increasingly visible.
The turning point came in the 79th minute when VCD’s number 6 received a second yellow for an arm around the neck, reducing the hosts to ten men. Another booking for number 12 followed, though events soon overshadowed it.

By the 85th minute, the simmering tension on the pitch finally boiled over. An off-the-ball kick on Paye inside the penalty area sparked a mass confrontation. Players from both sides squared up as emotions spilled over, making it difficult for the officials to restore order. Despite the apparent clarity and intent of the incident, no disciplinary consequence was issued for what appeared to be a deliberate act of aggression.

During this period, and while play had not yet resumed from the earlier stoppage Crowborough remained within their technical area and signalling an intended substitution. With emotions still high the VCD bench entered the Crowborough technical area with clear aggression and intimidation.
Amid the chaos, Crowborough’s request to substitute somehow resulted in a yellow card, a decision that raised more than a few eyebrows. No comparable punishment was issued to the home side dug out for the aggression and intimidation shown.

Five minutes of added time were indicated, but this was never going to end quietly. The match extended to 90+7despute appeals, where VCD found an equaliser. The whistle followed almost immediately after the restart.

A difficult end to a match that had seen Crowborough show resilience, quality, and significant improvement after the break. While the result may feel like an opportunity missed, the second half performance offered plenty of positives, the kind that matter over the course of a season and after such a long break without matches.