Crowborough Athletic FC (0) 0-0 (0) Hassocks FC
Saturday 29th August ‘09
Sussex County League Division One
3:00pm Kick Off

Crows: R Gordon, L Leppard, C Smith (C Ransome 30), D Adams (capt), S Whibley, T Boddy, J Risby (P Wilkins 51), J Pallett, T Saunders, S Treleaven, N Millroy (S Carrington 61).
Subs Not Used: K Everest, B Head (GK).
CRO HASS
4 Shots On Target 3
4 Shots Off Target 2
7 Corners 1
4 Fouls Committed 8
4 Offside 3

Attendance: 60.
Half-Time: 0-0.
Goals: None.
Man of the Match: Tom SAUNDERS.

By Anthony Scott

Crowborough Athletic will feel robbed on the back of this agonizing draw at home to Hassocks, as they were denied by the crossbar twice and missed their second penalty of the season so far.

“We really aren’t making it easy for ourselves. For the third time in only seven games we had to play a large part of the game with only 10 men due to a sending off, and missed our 2nd penalty of the season so far. However, despite that our performance was fantastic,” commented Stuart Nowell, “We hit the bar twice and in the second half pushed forward at every opportunity, the pace of our front men was awesome. We created several chances and looked the only side likely to break the deadlock. It was a fantastic performance on which we must now build. Our first win is not far away and from there we will push on.”

Crowborough started the better side first half, as Nathan Millroy laid the ball to James Pallett, whose sliced shot found Tom Saunders, but he drove the ball narrowly wide of the near post early on.
Hassocks then had a spell of pressure. Spencer Slaughter found the ball to Daley Clark, who was through on goal, but Chris Smith came back and made a fantastic sliding challenge to deny the striker.
On 26, Clark repaid the favour, as he found Slaughter on the edge, but his volley was kept out by a good diving save by Rob Gordon.
Crowborough then regained momentum, and came close as substitute Chris Ransome’s cross-shot was held by the scrambling Joel Harding.
Five minutes from half-time, the Crows came very close to breaking the deadlock, as Luke Leppard’s long range strike looped beyond the beaten Harding, but only to rebound off the crossbar and go over.
However, the visitors nearly took the lead themselves in stoppage time, as Niel Kane latched onto a ball over the defence, and his lob over the advancing Gordon went narrowly wide of the far post.

Boro were soon down to 10 men at the start of the second half, as sub Ransome was shown the red card for a tackle on Stuart Faith.
Hassocks were soon on the attack, and on the hour came close. Kane played the ball across to substitute James Laing, whose looping header was brilliantly tipped over the bar by the diving Gordon.
Crowborough then came incredibly close to taking the lead, as Scott Treleaven played a good ball through to Dave Adams on the right, who unleashed a perfectly-hit strike from 30 yards, beating the diving Harding, but only to rattle the upright.
On 74, Saunders volleyed the ball in to substitute Sam Carrington, who laid the ball to defender Tom Boddy, whose drive was comfortably saved by the keeper.
Eleven minutes from time, Peter Loar challenged Carrington in the area, and James Slaney pointed to the spot. Adams, captain of the Crows, stepped up, and his strike to Harding’s left was well saved by the diving keeper.
Crowborough continued to dominate late on, but failed to break through a stubborn Harding in the Hassocks goal.

Boro now travel to Oakwood in the RUR Charity Cup on Tuesday, before travelling to Arundel on Saturday.