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First Team
Matches
Sat 10 Sep 2016
Broadbridge Heath
J Sultan (11'), S Chester (45')
2
4
Crowborough Athletic FC
First Team
Z Attwood (6'), (58'), H Muggeridge (16'), I Olutade (87')
STILL THE RED KIT REMAINS UNBEATEN.

STILL THE RED KIT REMAINS UNBEATEN.

Malcolm Boyes11 Sep 2016 - 12:31

They say it's better to be in the black rather than in the red however, in our case, being in the red has proved useful.

Olutade puts the icing on the cake.
For the second match on the trot the Crows had to play on a pitch with a running track around it, although it has to be said that the Broadbridge Heath pitch was considerably better than the one at the Croydon Sports Arena on Wednesday night, and they had to wear the away red shirt, white shorts and red socks kit again.
The main thought for the Crow's fans was that the red kit is so far unbeaten and if the team could put in the same type of performance, or a better performance, than they showed on Wednesday night, then it should be a good match to watch and it should mean the red kit remains unbowed and the Crows will be in to a Buildbase FA Vase Second Round Qualifying tie against Gravesham Borough at home.
There had to be a couple of changes to the squad of course, Ellis was back in goal following the injury Burbridge was inflicted with against Croydon FC. Butler and Biddlecombe have departed to our neighbours down the road since Wednesday and with Baitup not being fit enough to be considered even for the bench now, a reshuffle was needed.
Carrington was moved forward from the position he occupied against the Trams to partner Attwood up front, with Muggeridge coming off the bench to take the position just behind the front two. Dan Smith came on to the bench as back up goalkeeper to replace Ellis and a young reserve team player, Ibrahim Olutade, 18, a striker who has been playing well in the Suburban Football League, was drafted in for a place on the bench.
As for the match, the Crows started in the same mode as they did on Wednesday, on the front foot, playing with pace and tempo after we kicked off and the home side was put under constant pressure right from the off.
Following a couple of great team moves inside the first 5 minutes the Crows were only denied a couple of goals by last ditched tackles by the desperate home defence. However, with only 6 minutes on the clock the Crows went 1-0 up, Carrington flicked the ball on to Attwood who out paced and out muscled his marker to slip the ball past the Bears' goalie, Taylor, who really should have done better, and the ball hits the back of the net.
The Crows kept the pressure on, with the Bears using the long ball to clear their lines more often than not in desperation but the Crows contributed to the home side getting an equaliser in the 11th minute, losing the ball from their throw-in and Sultan was able to put the ball in the net past Ellis to make it 1-1.
The players carried on playing their football though and it only took 5 minutes for the Crows to go back in front again, Muggeridge firing the ball in from 20 yards out, albeit with the aid of a slight deflection which did not help goalie Taylor too much.
Not everything went the Crows way though, Crabb had to come off in the 31st minute suffering with what looked like a groin injury, and he was replaced by Slocombe who is more than capable replacement.
With half time approaching and with the Crows 2-1 up and still dominant, the home side scored a surprise equaliser to make it 2-2. The Crows rather carelessly lost the ball on the edge of the home side's penalty and the Bears were able to break on to the Crows defence and have an effort on goal which is cleared for a corner.
Despite clearing the first corner, a second corner was given away and Chester was able to tap the ball home from close range after the Crows failed to clear the ball properly. Therefore, as the half time whistle blew it was 2-2 with the Bears definitely happy to have gone in at the break with the scores even.
If the Crows were affected by their late goal it never showed and in the 49th minute Carrington was hauled down in the Bears area, penalty awarded and the offender, Howard, sees a yellow card. Attwood stepped up to take the penalty however, Taylor, who had up to that point had not had the best of games, dived well to his left and produced a very good save, still 2-2 then.
Still the Crows went forward and in the 58th minute 2-2 became 3-2 to the Crows, Tear taking a throw-in near the Bears penalty area and Attwood was able to control the ball in their area whilst turning his marker and his was able to put the ball past the 'keeper.
Hunter who was the only person who seemed to think something was wrong with the goal decided to have a word with the assistant referee, which he did not take to very much and as a consequence, he saw a yellow card flash before his eyes.
With 64 minutes on the clock Turner had a header saved for a corner which came to nothing in the end but Turner will probably feel he should have scored as the effort was unchallenged and from some six yards out.
Heath then decided to make some substitutions, Hunter goes off still moaning to himself and he was replaced by Sandell in the 64th minute and in the 72nd minute and with nothing happening for them, they make a double substitution, Andrade and Weller go off, Holmes and Moore coming on.
Muggeridge had four shots in quick succession, all wide or over, before he was replaced by Olutade, making his debut, in the 86th minute. Little did anyone know that a minute later he was going to score the Crows fourth of the day, breaking clear of the defence to round the 'keeper and fire the ball in to the net from some 18 yards out.
Just before the end, Carrington had to be replaced by Clarke due to an injury but the Crows held out for a 4-2 win, much deserved and now there's a home game against Gravesham Borough to look forward to in the next round.

Match details

Match date

Sat 10 Sep 2016

Kickoff

15:00

Meet time

13:30
Further reading