St Francis Rangers (2) 3-0 (0) Crowborough Athletic
Tuesday 15th September ‘09
Sussex County Football League Division One
Colwell Ground 7:45pm kick off

Crows: R Gordon, L Leppard, C Ransome, D Adams (capt), S Whibley, K Everest (J Pallett 78), S Reid, T Nowell, A Shade (N Millroy 45), S Carrington (T Saunders 31), S Treleaven.
Subs Not Used: B Head (GK)
ST FR CRO
5 Shots On Target 1
1 Shots Off Target 1
3 Corners 7
15 Fouls Committed 14
6 Offside 5

Attendance: N/A
Half-Time: 2-0
Goals: none.
Man of the Match: Sam Reid.

By Anthony Scott

Crowborough Athletic came back from St Francis Rangers pointless after numerous decisions failed to give the side a route back into the match.

“When confidence is low after a run of poor results things tend not to go your way and this was no exception,” commented Stuart Nowell, “An excellent early chance squandered to take the lead followed almost immediately by a dubious linesman’s decision to give a free-kick against Rob Gordon and as a result, a scramble was put in by a St Francis player looking a good 5 yards offside.
After that we were always chasing the game and the final result was probably a fair reflection over the 90 minutes.
We must go away and continue to work hard to make the breaks turn in our favour. Character is crucial right now and our young squad have to dig deep to find all they have.”

Crowborough started well, but a lack of communication between Sam Reid and Scott Treleaven meant they squandered an early chance to go a goal up.
They were made to pay on 13. Geoff Pitcher’s free-kick was parried by the diving Rob Gordon, and fell to James Westlake, who despite being 5 yards offside, headed in without the linesman raising his flag.
Boro however came back, as Dave Adams dragged a low strike wide after being set up by Thom Nowell.
Rangers doubled their lead before the half-hour. Jamie Weston drove the ball across the area to Pitcher, who struck back across the wrongfooted Gordon and into the far corner.
Sam Carrington then came off injured for the Crows, as he slipped and awkwardly twisted on his right ankle. Tom Saunders came on in his place.
On the brink of half-time, Sam Palmer latched onto a ball over the Boro defence, but his drive was well saved by the legs of Gordon.

At half-time, Nathan Millroy came on for Aaron Shade.
St Francis didn’t take long to add to their lead. Glen Charker played in Westlake, who volleyed the ball away from the advancing Gordon and into the far corner.
Before the hour, Crowborough put pressure on the hosts, as good link up play from Thom Nowell and Treleaven lead to the latter’s effort being saved by Simon Lehkyj at his near post.
Then another moment of controversy struck the luckless Crows, as Millroy latched onto a ball over the defence to drive away from Lehkyj and into the net, only to see the linesman raise his flag. This happened again moments later, as Millroy was through on goal again, only to see the flag again, despite him running past a defender.

Crowborough now turn away from the league to host Storrington in the John O’Hara Cup on Saturday.