Great to be back home.
With this being the Crows first game back at the Crowborough Community Stadium after their three month stint at Maidstone United, they couldn't have asked for a better fixture than an FA Vase 2nd Round Proper tie as their first match and the fact that it was against a fellow SCEFL Premier Division side in Croydon FC, only added extra spice to the occasion.
Also, with the majority of Crowborough fans being denied the opportunity of seeing their side play for a while there was an expectation that those fans would turn up in numbers to welcome the team back and no one was disappointed to see 205 people turn up to watch a sparkling performance from their heroes.
From the very first minute to the very last minute the Crows were in total control of the match and dominated possession and chances throughout and as in most cases an early goal helps settle any nerves the Crows may have had about playing at home again in front of many more fans than at the Gallagher Stadium.
The Croydon cause was not helped by one of their players, Feizi, picking up a yellow card for not retreating ten yards at a free kick after only 4 minutes, stopping the Crows from taking a quick free kick and the player was under pressure from thereon in not to offend again.
That early goal previously mentioned arrived in the 8th minute when Clarke was brought down on the edge of the Trams penalty area, slightly to the right of centre, therefore suitable for a left-footed strike. With Muggeridge, Phipp and Attwood standing around the ball, it was Attwood who fired the ball around the wall and in to the net to the 'keepers right hand side, giving Hewitt in the Trams goal no chance.
The Crows then scored again in the 10th minute, Attwood getting his second with a rasping drive from just inside the area after the Croydon defence failed to clear the ball properly. Two great finishes to put the Crows in control, much to the delight of most of the watching public.
With the Trams having to defend for long periods whilst the home side probed away at their goal the next significant even in the match occurred in the 32nd minute when a Croydon player, Armstrong, inexplicably punched Walder in the back of the head and referee Conn, who had a good game throughout, had no option but to show him a straight red card and he had the long walk back to the dressing room.
Now, everyone knows we don't normally fare that well against 10 men, Rusthall away only seven days earlier being an example, however, the difference was that we were 2-0 up and not drawing 2-2 as against the Rustics. This meant that Croydon still had to try and get back in to the game rather than put up a defensive wall as Rusthall did.
The away side managed to get to the break without any further damage but many home supporters were hoping that the team would carry on playing they way they had been and if they did, surely more goals would come.
When the Crows started the second half it was obvious that the intent was to attack and score more goals, Phipp had a great effort after a piece of neat skill just go over the bar from the edge of the area, Crabb then hit a volley from just outside the box that rattled the post and rebounded to safety.
In the 55th minute Treleaven had to go off injured and he was replaced by Carrington who had an immediate impact by scoring the third goal in the 56th minute. After a great through ball by Muggeridge, Carrington took the ball around the diving Hewitt and was brought down, with everyone screaming penalty, the referee waived play on as Carrington got back on to his feet to slot the ball home.
Turner was the next Crow to get his name on the scoresheet with a bullet like header from a Crabb cross following a corner, rising high above his marker and giving Hewitt no chance, so 3-0 was now 4-0 in the 64th minute.
As time went on Tear and Carrington received yellow cards, Attwood and Walder went off to be replaced by Pearson and Barton respectively but it was still one-way traffic towards the Trams goal and the fifth and final goal arrived in the 81st minute, Crabb curling a superb effort past Hewitt from the left corner of the box as the Crows attacked. A fitting goal to end any match.
The Man of the Match sponsors, Nevill Crest and Gun, voted Tom Phipp as their Crowborough Athletic top performer and the home supporters selected Wayne Clarke as their choice, both had very good games.
The club would also like to thank The Whistlestop Cafe for sponsoring the Match Ball for the game and we hope both sponsors enjoyed their day with us.