Crowborough Athletic (0) 0-1 (0) Crawley Town FC
Wednesday 30th September ‘09
SCFA Sussex Senior Cup Round Two
Crowborough Community Stadium 7:45pm kick off

Crows: R Gordon, L Leppard, C Ransome (capt), J Hampson, J Trotter, S Whibley, R Campbell, S Reid, J Buckett (T Saunders 59), S Treleaven, J Risby (S Saunders 72).
Subs Not Used: M Newbould (GK)
CROW CRAW
4 Shots On Target 5
3 Shots Off Target 3
1 Corners 4
13 Fouls Committed 9
1 Offside 3

Attendance: 132.
Half-Time: 0-0
Goals: None
Man of the Match: John Hampson

By Anthony Scott

Crowborough Athletic were unlucky not to enforce extra time after a creditable performance against an under-strength Crawley Town side, where if the Crows took their chances, it might have been a totally different outcome at the Crowborough Community Stadium.

Crowborough started positively early on, and were not afraid to attack their higher league opposition.
Scott Treleaven’s cross picked out Jamie Buckett, whose header was saved at the far post by Andrew Osei.
However, Crawley bounced back as Byron Napper crossed to Brannon O’Neill, whose left foot half-volley whistled narrowly wide of the far post, with Rob Gordon motionless.
The visitors then came very close to breaking the deadlock. Josh Huggins’ corner picked out Tommy Brewer, whose header was excellently tipped onto the bar by the diving Gordon, before Luke Leppard scrambled the ball away off the line, but only as far as Paul Raynor, whose low drive was well held by Gordon.
Crowborough then should’ve gone a goal up. Scott Whibley’s great long ball played in Buckett, who beat the offside trap to go one on one with Osei, who was off his line in time to block Buckett, but the ball fell to Scott Treleaven, but he fired over the empty net from 25 yards.
Just before the interval, Boro again came close. Joe Risby’s drive from 25 yards was tipped around the post by the scrambling keeper.

Crawley then pulled out the first team players, using all three substitutions within 15 minutes of the restart.
Tom Saunders then came on for Buckett before the hour.
Then Crawley broke the deadlock as their first team players’ quality shone through.
Ben Smith played in Danny Forrest, who one on one with Gordon, drove the ball beyond the keeper and into the roof of the net.
On 72, Sam Saunders replaced Risby for the Crows.
Moments later, Tom Saunders skipped past Raynor down the right, but his low drive was saved by Osei at his near post.
Gordon then did well in goal, as Forrest twisted his way through, and his shot from close range was well saved at the keeper’s near post.
Crowborough then had a great moment to equalize. Tom Saunders’ great ball pierced the visiting defence, and played in Ross Campbell, who one on one with Osei, had his shot saved by the advancing keeper.
Two minutes from time, Sam Saunders whipped the ball in, and picked out the unmarked Sam Reid at the far post, but his volley went over the bar.

Crowborough now hope to continue their progress under Scott Osbourne Saturday, when they travel to local rivals Ringmer in the FA Vase First Round.