Crowborough got back to winning ways on Saturday in this John O Hara 2nd Round cup tie. Rustington had two very interesting players in their line up: in goal was 19 year old Jack Bonetti; grandson of the great Chelsea stopper Peter ‘the cat’ Bonetti and up front was 28 year old Lee Farrell who famously scored twice against Swansea for Horsham in their FA Cup run four years ago.

The Crows made two changes: debutant Ross Bromley coming in at left back and Nathan Millroy joining Tom Saunders up front in a 4-4-2 formation with Tom Boddy and Scott Taylor dropping to the bench. Crowborough made their usual slow start with their second division opponents handling the windy conditions better but as the half went on Crowborough were looking the more likely. Both Jack Turner and Mikey Culverhouse found the back of the net but were ruled offside. A minute before the break Sammy Saunders took a speculative shot from a full 30 yards out that looked like Bonetti would save comfortably however the wind seemed to catch the ball and it slipped through the Rustington’s stoppers hands and into the back of the net. A few of the non Chelsea supporting spectators chortled comparisons to the 1970 World Cup where the country blamed the Cat for England ’s exit to Germany .

It looked as though the young cat’s blushes would be saved as Rustington came out strongly for the second half and found themselves 2-1 up within 4 minutes! Firstly a penalty was awarded against Jon Trotter when he went through Farrell when heading clear which full back James Bennett comfortably converted and then Sayers put the West Sussex outfit in front with a screamer from the edge of the box that curled into the top corner.

This woke the Crows up and the response was immediate when Nathan Millroy scored from a near post header from a cross from Turner. In a fairly open game chances were being created both ends but on the hour mark Harry ‘boy’ Thompson put the crows 3-2 from the rebound after his fierce drive was initially brilliantly saved by Bonetti.

There seems to be plenty of goals in all of the Crows matches this season and theres sure to be more fireworks when they revert back to league action away to Ringmer (1pm KO) on Saturday.

MOTM: Sam Saunders

Crows: Head, Hampson(cap), Bromley, S Saunders, Turner, Trotter (Boddy), Thompson, Forward, T Saunders, Millroy(Ottway), Culverhouse. Subs not used Taylor, Poulton