An old cliche, but it was a game of two halves.
With the Crows playing old foes from the Sussex County Football League and with East Grinstead Town taking the advantage of East Preston's ground not meeting the grading requirements for promotion to the Ryman Isthmian League and therefore preparing themselves for life at a higher level, this was always going to be a tough game.
In the first half the away side had the benefit of quite a strong wind blowing towards the dressing room end but it was the Crows who had the better of the first half, football and possession wise, without there being too many clear cut chances for either side. The home side perhaps showed a more neat and composed pattern of play but the Wasps defence held out well and had to play to their maximum it seemed to prevent the Crows opening the scoring.
For the first 15 minutes it was more a case of effort over substance, however, Roberts for the Crows was always looking to shoot at every opportunity and he went very close on a couple of occasions with long range efforts which seemed to take the Wasps goalkeeper, Christie, by surprise but went either over or wide of the intended target.
On 23 minutes it seemed certain that the Crows were going to take the lead as neat build up play put Treleaven away down on the right hand side and his excellent cross was about to be put in to the net by Roberts, however, a great tackle by the Wasps centre half just managed to clear the ball and the score remained at 0-0.
Only a few minutes later the Crows had another good chance to score after good hold up play by Roberts but Ridley's shot lack some power and Christie was able to get down and smother the shot.
Overall, the home side had the majority of play but didn't create too many chances and it is evident that the Crows look very good defensively and productive in midfield but it is up front the Crows are struggling to find a replacement for the injured Sam Carrington, who is still some way off being fully fit.
Therefore, we reached half time with the score at 0-0 but the Crows would have been the happier of the two clubs due to their domination of the possession and their ability to create one or two good chances against a well drilled and old defensive unit.
The away side started the second half in a more business like fashion and penned the home side back in to it's own home and made it a very uncomfortable first 15 minutes for the Crows. The referee was more fussy in the second half and a succession of free kicks resulted in the disruption in any play either team was able to produce and it became a rather dull affair.
On 60 minutes, one of the many free kicks awarded throughout the half, found it's right target and a neat near post header was deflected in to the net, rather to the annoyance of the startled Czanner. It was looked like a game which would be decided by the first goal and so it proved.
The Crows put in a good shift and I expect the Wasps players will know they have been in a game today as well. They definitely upped the tempo in the second half and had the better chances, however, that's not to say the was a great gulf in quality on show.