Best team lost.
The Crows lost their first friendly of the season on Saturday when they were beaten 2-1 away from home at Tunbridge Wells FC. Sinden scored the winner after a Beecroft corner was headed goal wards by Benner and the ball fell to him so he could fire the ball home with 5 minutes remaining.
Unlike most friendlies, this was a bit more feisty than most but that was to be expected as both teams are now in the same league and given the geographical location of both towns. However, the result of this game will have no bearing on what happens when they play each other in the league but the management team of the Crows, Muggeridge and Colbran, will be feeling a lot happier than the manager of Tunbridge Wells, Martin Larkin one would feel.
Both clubs will point to positives which they can take from the game, such as the Wells look like they are going to be a tough side to beat but don't yet look that good going forward as there seems to be a marked lack of cohesion and sharpness.
Maybe that's due to the high number of players which have been drafted in this summer who have Ryman League, or higher, experience and have yet not had time to settle down. The Crows though look a far more together squad and even though they had 9 first team regular players missing, were not overshadowed by one of the favourites for the league and if anything, played the more entertaining and attacking football throughout.
As to be expected, the home side started on the front foot and took the game to the Crows with new boy Aaron Lacy in the thick of things. The former Faversham player used his long throw to good effect on a number of occasions, which the Crows dealt with, even if it was with some difficulty at times.
The tackles were soon flying in and Crows captain, Jason Barton, was furious with Wells’ Perry Spackman after the defender flew in on Ryan Waterman whilst going after a 50-50 ball. Both players could have been hurt, which in a friendly is rather rash, but it was Waterman who came out worse. The incident appeared to upset Waterman to the extent that he took control of the match and was the Crows best player for the rest of the game.
On 28 minutes the Wells took the lead when a Bourne cross was headed back by Tom Boddy, under no pressure to his goalkeeper, Czanner, however, he rather misjudged it and the ball went in to the net for a rather unfortunate own goal and a fortuitous lead for the home side.
This gave the Wells a lift for a short period with Lawson, in a rare foray down the left, escaping into the box but choosing to shoot instead of crossing. Spackman then headed a Powell cross wide and then Powell himself fired into the side netting.
At the other end the Crows improved as the half went on and Waterman twice went close from distance. A fine counter-attack led to their best chance, Waterman played in James Pinnock but the home goalkeeper saved well.
The second half saw fewer chances, probably due to the plethora of substitutions, but those that were created went to the Crows and it was no surprise when Barton equalised on 70 minutes. A corner for the Crows was cleared to Cunningham on the edge of the Wells area and he fired in a shot which fell at Barton's feet and whilst the defence appealed for offside, in vain, Barton cooly finished to make it 1-1.
From then on it was basically one-way traffic as the Crows went in search of a winner. Emmanuel, a player the Crows have taken on trial, raced down the right-hand side and played in young Aaron Leadbetter but Lawrence, the home goalkeeper, stood tall to deny him.
Emmanuel and Leadbetter combined again on 80 minutes as Emmanuel's deflected cross fell at the feet of Leadbetter, some six yards out but somehow he managed to put the ball over the home sides crossbar.
You wondered if these missed chances would come back to haunt the Crows and unfortunately for them, they did when Sinden scored the winner totally against the run of play. However, the Crows seem to have improved on last season's squad whilst the Wells seem to have problems which need to be solved quickly if they want to be considered as one of the title favourites.
Looking at the social media the Crows fans are a happier bunch than the Wells supporters it would seem and Larkin well may pay a heavy price himself eventually if the large influx of players he has brought in to the club do not work out and they are not near the top from the off.
As for Muggeridge and Colbran, they have a lot to be pleased with, especially when the established first team players are available for selection but if they do have any problems on the horizon it will be trying to keep everyone happy.
It will help many are still young and the club have an U21 squad this season but they definitely have the quality and seem to what to progress at a rapid pace in to the first team. It looks like happy days for the Crows who seem to be reaping the benefit of going down the youth route as opposed to bringing in supposed talent.

Crowborough Athletic FC

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