Crowborough Athletic FC (1) 2-3 (0) Eastbourne Town FC
Saturday 01 August ‘09
Pre-Season Friendly 2:00pm Kick Off

Crows: R Gordon (B Head 67), J Trotter, C Smith (I Meek 78), D Dunford, S Whibley (capt), T Boddy, T Smith, T Nowell, T Saunders, S Treleaven (J Buckett 60), A Shade (S Carrington 53).
Subs Not Used: S Reid.

Crowborough Athletic’s performance was nothing less than fantastic against Ryman South opponents Eastbourne Town in their final pre-season match before the Sussex County kick’s off Saturday, despite conceding two goals in the final ten minutes.

In an even first 10 minutes, Eastbourne had the first effort on goal, as Adam Davison’s drive was well saved by the diving Rob Gordon.
Crowborough then went on top, and deservedly broke the deadlock after 13 minutes. Tom Saunders found the ball at his feet on the edge of the area, before driving the ball low with his right foot beyond the glove of the scrambling Russ Tanner and into the bottom corner.
Boro then nearly doubled their lead as Aaron Shade did well to burst down the right, before his shot found the side netting of the near post, under pressure from Lloyd Antony.
On the brink of half-time, Thom Nowell’s curling free-kick was nervously claimed by the advancing Tanner, to keep the score 1-0 to the Crows at half-time.

In a much more eventful second period, Crowborough started on the front foot, as Shade played the ball inside to Dan Dunford, whose drive was unconfidently pushed over by Tanner. Nowell swung in the corner to the unmarked Shade, but he directed his header over the bar.
Town equalised against the run of play on 49. Antony played the ball down the line to Simon Catt who, one on one with Gordon, drove the ball away from the advancing keeper and into the near corner.
Crowborough made amends as they went back in front on 53 in spectacular fashion. Shade’s long ball upfield was aiming for the pacey Scott Treleaven, but Ben Putland seemed to have dealt with it, until a lack of communication between him and Tanner meant that the centre-back bizarrely lobbed the ball over the clueless Tanner and into the net from the edge of the area.
Boro then made a sub, as Sam Carrington replaced the impressive Shade, and moments later Jamie Buckett came on for his debut in place of Treleaven.
After the hour, Nowell’s inswinging free-kick from the left found the unmarked Carrington at the back post, but the striker’s diving header went wide of the far corner.
Boro’s new County Youth keeper Ben Head then came on for the last 20 minutes, replacing Gordon in goal.
Crowborough then pulled off easily the move of the match, as Chris Smith’s through ball played in Buckett, who did well to hold up the ball, before laying the ball across Carrington, who teed off Tom Smith, whose well hit strike was held by Tanner.
On 73, Nowell again whipped the ball in from a set-piece, and picked out Jonny Trotter, whose glancing header at the near post went just wide of the far corner, with Tanner well beaten.
Iain Meek then replaced Chris Smith at full-back, before Town somehow drew level on 80.
Catt played in substitute Callum Holles down the right, to go one on one with Head, and he drove the ball beyond the advancing keeper and into the near corner.
Then in the dying moments, Davison whipped the ball in, and Paul Richardson powerfully rose to head away from Head and into the near corner for a unfortunate end to a brilliant display for Crowborough Athletic.

Boro now travel to Pagham Saturday, before hosting Lingfield in their first home match back in Sussex County Division One on Tuesday.