Great boost to confidence.
The Crows started their new adventure within the Southern Counties East Football League when they entertained Canterbury City at the Crowborough Community Stadium on Saturday for their first league game of the season.
As at the start of every season, at every club, there is plenty of enthusiasm and optimism that the season ahead will be one that will see plenty of entertainment, more than a fair share of victories, especially at home, and that an above mid-table finish is more than within the reach of the squad assembled by the management team.
That would have been a good way of looking at the upcoming season had we still been involved with the Sussex County Football League, however, we are not and the club have entered into unknown territory, therefore, prior to kick-off, there seemed an air of confidence amongst the club officials, players and management, but perhaps it was more of a nervous confidence and the smiles which abounded hid more than a tint of apprehension behind them.
The visitors, some of which were late arriving after a nightmare journey, something we will not have to worry too much about when we play them away, as they play at the home of Ashford United, and therefore, we will not have to travel to Canterbury, were an unknown force to the Crows and all they could go by was last season's league table.
That can only be a guide of course as changes in personnel at football clubs is quite common and who knows if they are the same side this season as last, therefore, at best you can only judge them on their arrival and, perhaps, their warm-up routine, to judge what they may be like when the game starts.
Canterbury City kicked the game off and immediately went on the front foot, earning a free kick near the Crows goal after only 30 seconds, however, this came to nothing. The visitors kept up the pressure for the first 15 minutes and were more alert and quicker to the ball than the Crows as they pressurised the home players at every opportunity.
During this period perhaps the apprehension everyone else was feeling was getting to the players, however, the Crows held the opposition at bay by being organised and the only real threat the visitors posed came from set pieces such as corners and free kicks.
Gradually, the Crows got involved in the game with McMath, Ridley, Treleaven and Waterman coming to the fore and gradually getting a grip on the midfield thus enabling the forwards to get more involved and subsequently start to put pressure on the City defence.
First Treleaven and Funnell combined well, then Ridley and Treleaven worked the ball down the right hand side which ended up with Waterman shooting just wide. Then Treleaven was set free by a superb through ball by McMath but his shot went narrowly wide of the post, therefore, the score remained 0-0 but the Crows were now starting to dominate.
After 25 minutes, City made Czanner in the Crows goal make his only real save of the half when he tipped over a header by a City defender. Normal service was soon restored though when Waterman, my Man of the Match, just in front of captain, Jason Barton, put Jack Funnell through for a one on one with the City goalkeeper but his effort goes inches wide.
One was beginning to think these missed chances for the Crows may prove costly but there was no need to worry, as Waterman in the 32 minute, set McMath free following one of his many runs from midfield and as the goalkeeper advanced, the midfielder cooly lobbed the ball over his head and into the net from 25 yards out. 1-0 to the Crows and it was no more than they deserved.
The rest of the half was attack against defence, with Treleaven having a shot saved well by the visiting goalkeeper, a dangerous Tear cross having to be cleared by a defender off the line however, the Crows went in at half time 1-0 up but would have wished to have scored a second whilst on top to ease any lingering nerves.
With the Crows starting the second half they were able to resume where they left off and it was not long before they scored the all important second goal as Captain Marvel, Barton, fired a bullet header into the roof of the net from an in swinging Rich corner which gave the goalkeeper no chance to gather.
Now 2-0 up, the Crows started to play with real confidence and further good chances came and went. McMath fired just over following one of his surging runs, Trotter headed over when he really should have scored and Funnell went very close with an audacious lob from distance.
City did have the odd chance but Barton and Czanner kept them fairly well at arms length and apart from a dangerous free kick on the edge of the Crows area, which went inches wide after 78 minutes, the away side never really looked like scoring.
Crows then made their first change of the afternoon, Treleaven coming off and Mark Roberts coming on and it was Roberts who nearly made it 3-0 as he took on the City defence and once through on goal his effort was superbly saved by the visiting goalkeeper.
With time rapidly running out, Tear went off after 88 minutes to be replaced by Cunningham and the Crows saw the game out for a good win, three points in the bag and a clean sheet to boot, therefore a good all round performance by all concerned.
There were many fine performances put in by the Crow players, especially Barton who had to leave his favoured midfield position for team needs, Connor Charlton who stepped in to cover Barton in midfield and Funnell up front making his debut, amongst others on the day.
In conclusion, what has been learnt following this first game? Nothing really, as each game will be different and it will only be after 10 games will we really know where we are as a squad. However, our players don't lack confidence, skill or pace and they are all attributes which will give you a good chance in any league.
Plus, if the three match officials in charge of this game are anything to go by, they are going to be fitter than those in the SCFL, the pace of the game is slightly higher and probably will be a bit more physical than we have been used to in the past.
A good three points, a competent performance from a squad missing at least four players who would have normally been considered for selection and the club has shown the decisions made over the last months in preparation for our move were the right decisions to enable us to hopefully be competitive in this league.