Eastbourne United Association FC (2) 4-1 (1) Crowborough Athletic FC
Saturday 31st October 2009
Sussex County Football League, Division One.
The Oval (3:00pm)

Crows: Head, Leppard, Smith (Trotter 70), Reid (Risby 70), Hampson, Everest, Ransome (capt) (Campbell 70), John-Baptiste, Treleaven, Saunders, Millroy.
Subs Not Used: None.
EUA CROW
7 Shots 8
5 On Target 5
6 Corners 1
5 Fouls Committed 5
5 Offside 4

Attendance: 75.
Half-Time: 2-1.
Goals: N Millroy 34’ (assist: C Ransome)
Man of the Match: Tom SAUNDERS.

By Anthony Scott

Although losing 4-1, Crowborough Athletic provided a much improved performance from the week before, and the score line at the final whistle flattered reigning champions Eastbourne United.

Eastbourne started on the front foot, as Carl Harris’ free-kick forward ran to Steve Morris, who missed a sitter from inside six yards.
On five minutes, Ben Billings drove the ball across to Morris, whose header beat Ben Head, but only to rebound off the bar.
After that, United took the lead. Danny Andrews’ corner picked out the unmarked Lucas Mann, who dived low to head the ball away from Head and into the net. Billings then came close, but his drive was well saved by the diving Head.
Crowborough then had a 10 minute spell where they dominated the game.
On 25, Scott Treleaven laid the ball to Chris Ransome, whose ball in found Nathan Millroy, but he volleyed narrowly over.
Boro then deservedly equalised on 34. Ransome’s great ball across found Millroy at the far post, and the midfielder came back to haunt his old club as he excellently drilled the ball beyond Adam Sargent and into the roof of the net from 12 yards.
However, Eastbourne dealt the fatal blow in stoppage time, when Andrews crossed in to Morris, whose headed bounced back off the near post, and he laid the ball across to Joe Haffenden and he drove in from close range.

The hosts extended the lead after the break, when Harris’ cross found the unmarked Mann, who headed past the helpless Head and into the far corner.
Crowborough then applied pressure, as Treleaven saw his powerful drive whistle narrowly over.
Sam Reid then found Millroy out wide, but his scuffed effort was held by the diving Sargent. Treleaven was then again denied, as Sargent did well to push the ball wide.
Eastbourne then broke, and wrapped up the points ten minutes from time. Billings’ strike picked up a deflection which looped beyond the diving Head and into the net.
In stoppage time, substitute Ross Campbell had his low effort saved by the scrambling Sargent.

Crowborough now face an important match against East Grinstead Town on Tuesday at the Crowborough Community Stadium, before travelling to Wick Saturday.