Shoreham FC (3) 7-0 (0) Crowborough Athletic FC
Saturday 24th October 2009
Sussex County Football League, Division One.
Middle Road (3:00pm)

Crows: Gordon, Leppard, Ransome (capt), John-Baptiste, Trotter, Hampson, Crowhurst (Campbell 50), Reid (S. Saunders 76), Carrington, Treleaven (T. Saunders 63), Risby.
Subs Not Used: None.
SHOR CROW
13 Shots 4
9 On Target 1
3 Corners 1
9 Fouls Committed 16
2 Offside 0

Attendance: 50.
Half-Time: 3-0.
Goals: None.
Man of the Match: Ashley JOHN-BAPTISTE

By Anthony Scott

After a brilliant performance the week before, Crowborough Athletic failed to really get a foothold on the game, as they were destroyed by an impressive Shoreham side at Middle Road.

Crowborough were immediately on the back foot, and went behind just 3 minutes in. Richard Hudson’s free-kick was well saved by the diving Rob Gordon, but the ball fell to Liam O’Brien, who played across to the unmarked Dean Smith who drove in from close range.
Then Smith found Hudson, whose strike bent narrowly wide, before Shoreham should’ve doubled their lead on 26. James Rhodes’ cross from the left picked out the towering O’Brien who somehow headed wide from 4 yards.
Crowborough then troubled Michael Hunter for the first, and only, time when Joe Risby’s powerful effort from 30 yards was well held by the keeper.
Shoreham then scored two in a matter of minutes before the interval. Firstly, Hudson’s free-kick from the right flank picked out Dan Jordan, who rose unchallenged to powerfully head away from Gordon and into the net. Hudson was provider again for the hosts’ third, as his low cross into the area found the run of Smith, who got infront of deputising Ashley John-Baptiste to bundle the ball in at the near post.

Crowborough had a 10 minute spell at the start of the second half. Risby delivered a good corner from the left, and it picked out the towering Jon Trotter, whose header fell to the feet of Sam Carrington, and his shot ricocheted over the bar from close range.
On the hour, the impressive John-Baptiste won the ball well from Nick Fogden, before his excellent burst forward ended with a strike bouncing narrowly wide of the far corner.
Shoreham then destroyed any hopes for the Crows on 62. Hudson’s free-kick from 30 yards bent beyond the helpless Gordon and found the far top corner. Hudson doubled his tally seconds later, when Cam Johnson found the midfielder, whose ambitious strike floated over the standing Gordon and into the far corner for 5-0.
8 minutes from time, Rhodes’ ball in the box was handled by Risby for the referee to point to the spot. Smith stepped up to send Gordon the wrong way and complete his hat-trick.
Shoreham weren’t finished there, as in stoppage time Rhodes played a good ball through to substitute Sam Blundell who took the ball around Gordon before driving into the net from 12 yards.

Crowborough now need to keep their heads up for a trip to Eastbourne United Saturday, before the much anticipated match against East Grinstead Town on Tuesday at the Crowborough Community Stadium.