A great penalty save by Ellis.
Our good Cup form continued on Saturday as a decent performance away at Banstead Athletic saw the Crows win 3-1 and progress to the second round of the Buildbase FA Vase. Two goals by Ross Treleaven, sandwiched by one from Carrington, proved too much for the home side in the end and it's our name that gets put in to the bag, ready for the draw.
Having never personally been to the A's ground before in Tadworth I was pleasantly surprised by the overall ease of travel from Crowborough to the ground and that it's a good little set up they have there.
The pitch, though undulating, is in pretty good nick and it was very wide, so it seemed to me anyway, so for a footballing side like we have, it should suit us down to a tee. There were also three stands, one main stand with seats on the far side from the entrance, one stand behind the clubhouse end of the ground and one down the touchline, again near the clubhouse end. The last two stands not having any seats though, unless that is you take one of a few kitchen type chairs that were available in various locations.
Another unusual feature compared to most grounds was the number of mobile phone masts down one side of the pitch, four of them in total and the only other ground I can think of that I've visited when the Crows have been playing that have nearly as many is Hassocks FC.
There's no doubt that clubs can earn significant sums of money by allowing them to be erected at their facilities for a fixed term, the contract can then be renewed and renegotiated for a further fixed term.
The Banstead Athletic FC Chairman did give me an idea as to how much they get and with their clubhouse being open seven nights a week, they have quite a nice set up in Merland Rise. They also have Sky Sports as well and they pay nothing like the price Sky quoted us when we recently ask how much it would be for us to have it.
As for the match itself, Stone was out with a heavy cold, Walder was still struggling with his knee and Jack Turner wasn't fit to play following his injury sustained against Bearsted on the previous Tuesday night. Barton was, of course, cup tied and therefore, couldn't play.
Appiah, Treleaven and Trotter came in to the side, as did Dan Tear following his most recent injury problems.
The Crows started slowly again and the home side had the first shot at goal inside the first minute, Maddock firing wide of Ellis' goal. Carrington had an effort for the Crows before Treleaven put the Crows 1-0 up after 9 minutes. The Crows were awarded a disputed free kick, by the home side at least, Carey took it and the ball was swept in to the net, past the curiously spelt name of goalkeeper, Jhonson-Freeman, on 9 minutes.
The Crows started to dominate then and shots started to rain down on the Banstead goal as they pinned the home side in their own half for long periods at a time. Carey hit the top of the crossbar with a pile driver in the 16th minute and as the pressure intensified Drewett earned himself a yellow card in the 36th minute for a late tackle.
The watching Crows faithful were happy with what they were watching but felt that a second goal was needed if the team were to capitalise on their domination. In the 41st minute that goal finally arrived, Attwood hit a great shot at goal but his effort hit the goalies right hand post and rebounded out however, Carrington was in the right place at the right time to bury the rebound in to the Banstead net for 2-0.
After the break the home side came out with renewed effort and vigour, they were on the pitch a good 4 or 5 minutes before the Crows were and for the first 10 minutes of the half they had the far greater possession around the Crows penalty-area.
The match referee, Mr. Gregory, didn't have such a great game and in the 53rd minute he awarded Banstead a penalty for what he adjudged to be a foul by Trotter on one of their players inside our area. Even the Banstead players were surprised and bemused as to why it was awarded but awarded it was and up stepped Hill to take it.
Now anyone who has stood by Dan Ellis will know how big he looks and it must have looked to Hill that Dan is even bigger when standing inside a goal and about to take a spot kick. Hill hit the ball to Dan's left and he got down low very quickly to knock the ball away for a corner, still 2-0 to the Crows then.
This escaped seem to galvanise the Crows again and the match became very much and end to end affair without either side looking likely to change the current 2-0 scoreline.
The home side took off King in the 70th minute, Webbe coming on in his place and only a minute later they got the next goal, Morrison tucking the ball away from inside the six yard box as a low hard cross was put in to the area down the Crows left hand side, 2-1 then and the next goal, if there was going to be one, became ever more important for both sides.
The Crows didn't panic though and if any side looked the more likely to score again it was the Crows therefore, the home club decided to make a further substitution in the 76th minute, Regan going off, Ayres coming on. Crabb then suffered an impact injury in the 82nd minute so had to go off and he was replaced by the ever reliable Charlie Slocombe.
As time began to tick on to the final whistle, Appiah was replaced by Clarke in the 89th minute but with time to be added for Sam's injury and the substitutions there was at least another 6 minutes of play left as Clarke entered the fray.
In the 91+1 minute a piece of magic by Muggeridge gave Treleaven the easiest of chances to grab his second and Crows third of the afternoon and he didn't miss, 3-1 to the Crows. With time drifting away, Shea came on for my Man of the Match, Sam Carrington, in the 90+3 minute, and eventually referee Gregory blew the final whistle and the Crows march on to the FA Vase 2nd Round.