Crowborough Athletic FC (1) 2-3 (2) St Francis Rangers FC
Saturday 2nd January 2010
Sussex County Football League Division One

Crows: B. Head, D. Tear, T. Wood, D. Adams (capt), J. Trotter, J. Hampson, J. Crellin, S. Reid, S. Carrington, S. Treleaven (C. Ottway 70), N. Millroy (E. Kelly 70 (D. Poulton 78)).
Goals: Sam Carrington 21’, Charlie Ottway 85’.
Man of the Match: Dave Adams.

CRO SFR
9 Shots 7
7 Shots On Target 5
3 Corners 8
12 Fouls Committed 14
2 Offside 6
Crowborough Athletic were desperately unlucky not to pick up at least a point at home to St Francis Rangers, where many will feel that the hosts deserved all three.

Crowborough put Rangers under pressure in the early stages, and should’ve broken the deadlock when Scott Treleaven’s ball across found debutant Jamie Crellin, who one on one with Simon Lehkyj, saw his side-footed effort comfortably saved by the diving keeper.
Boro then deservedly took the lead on 21. Nathan Millroy’s delicate lob over his marker played in Sam Carrington, who stroked the ball away from the advancing Lehkyj and into the far bottom corner.
However, Crowborough switched off from the restart and St Francis equalized within moments. James Westlake played the ball in to Geoff Pitcher, whose effort was blocked, and the ball eventually fell back to the striker who placed the ball away from the scrambling Ben Head and into the far bottom corner from 12 yards.
Rangers took the lead ten minutes later, as Matt Carruthers’ ball forward found Jamie Weston, whose volley from 20 yards dipped over Head and into the net.
Crowborough came straight back and came close to levelling before the interval, when Treleaven drove the ball into the area, and it found Tom Wood at the back post, but he bundled the ball wide of the near post.
Moments before half-time, the Crows came even closer to equalizing. Millroy’s free-kick from the right wing avoided everyone to find Treleaven at the far post, and he drilled the ball low beyond Lehkyj, but only to rebound off the near post.

They started the second half on top, before the hour, Dave Adams delivered an excellent cross-field ball to Carrington, but he sliced wide of the near post.
The hosts then had goalkeeper Head to thank as Luke Akehurst’s free-kick picked out the unmarked Pitcher, who from close range, saw his effort excellently saved by the scrambling Head.
On 63, Adams’ drilled free-kick in from the left was flicked on by Jon Trotter, but only to loop off the bar. The rebound fell to Sam Reid, but he somehow volleyed wide of the far post from close range.
On 74, a soft back pass from Trotter was picked up by Pitcher, who took the ball around Head, but only for John Hampson to get back and clear off the line.
Minutes later, Rangers extended their lead. Brannon O’Neill found substitute Josh Hawkes, whose ambitious effort from range swung away from the unsighted Head and into the far top corner.
However, Crowborough were soon back into the match with 5 minutes to go. Adams’ well struck free-kick found substitute Charlie Ottway, who first effort was blocked, and fell back to the young striker, who hammered the ball into the roof of the net, away from the motionless Lehkyj.
Seconds later, Adams lauched the ball forward, and Reid flicked the ball on to Dan Tear at the far post, but he fired wide of the near post.

Crowborough Athletic FC now host Arundel on Saturday then Ringmer are the visitors to the Crowborough Community Stadium on Tuesday night.