Heartache in the mist and gloom of an early Crowborough evening.
On a misty day at the Community Stadium the Crows lost out in a five goal thriller and will consider themselves unlucky to have done so after having the upper hand for quite a few periods of the game.
Neither side could complain about the pitch surface which was in great condition considering the amount of rain which had fallen during the previous days, a true testament to the groundsman and his band of helpers who work extremely hard throughout the whole season.
The home side went on the offensive from the off, Funnell putting a lob just wide of the away 'keeper's far post and Clarke also fired a cross shot just past the post as well.
It was somewhat against the run of play when, on 9 minutes, Lordswood took the lead, Hooper firing the ball home, despite the valiant efforts of Collick in the home goal. Perhaps the Crows could have prevented the goal as they seemed to have been caught short at the back but from a defensive view points, most goals are preventable.
This gave the visitors a lift and the pace of the game was unrelenting but the Crows got on level terms after 14 minutes when the away side gave away a needless free kick which is taken by Funnell. The faintest of touches by Treleaven gives him his 19th goal of the season as the away goalie inexplicably lets the ball roll under his body and into the net, much to the delight of everyone connected with the Crows.
It became end to end stuff, Ridley setting Funnell away but his shot from distance was saved by Byott and Funnell, the Lordswood version, hit a tremendous shot against the Crow's crossbar which rebounded into the area and during the ensuing scramble referee, Mr. Horne, adjudged that Trotter had impeded Huggens and awarded the away side a penalty.
To say it was not a popular decision, in the eyes of the home players and fans anyway, is a bit of an understatement and Barton was cautioned for his protestations but a penalty it was and Wells, after a delay, was the Lordswood man who had the chance to restore their lead after 22 minutes.
However, perhaps justice was served, when his well hit shot was superbly saved by Collick, one handed and this seemed to give the Crows a shot in the arm and they stormed forward, Rich putting a free kick into the area and following a period of pin ball, the Crows appealed for a penalty but the referee awarded the Lordswood team a free kick in their area.
It did become 2-1 to the visitors in the 26th minute when Collick's goal kick fell at the feet of Funnell who kept his nerve to coolly put the ball in the net despite the efforts of the on-rushing home goalie.
Rather than feel sorry for themselves the Crows surged forward once again, Barton tested Byott from distance and then, in the 31st minute, Clarke got the Crows back on level terms, firing high into the corner of the net from an angle, 2-2 and all to play for again.
The end to end play continued until half time, Treleaven's shot being deflected for a corner and Hallett shooting wide for Lordswood when well placed.
As the half time break was looming Trotter received a caution for a challenge on Huggens but the whistle blew with the score at 2-2 and everyone watching was looking forward to the second half.
No one guessed though that they would have to wait longer for the second half than normal, referee Horne suffering an injury which meant he couldn't continue and therefore, a replacement assistant referee had to be found and given time to arrive at the ground.
Once started, the half carried on in the same vein as the first, you have a go, we have a go and vice versa with Clarke, Waterman and Treleaven being at the forefront of the Crows efforts. Whilst Englefield and Kane being at the vanguard of the Lordswood attacking play.
In an effort to win the game both teams made substitutions, Carrington coming on for Ridley in the 58th minute and Hallett making way for Brady Lillis for Lordswood.
The chances kept coming and going with neither side being clinical enough when it mattered, Treleaven shooting wide and an Englefield cross just alluding the waiting Huggens and Funnell.
Crows were awarded a couple of free kicks in dangerous areas, one foul earning Cook a caution but both kicks, one from Rich, the other by Funnell, failed to hit the target or work the 'keeper.
Further substitutions were made, Maguire replacing McIlheron for Lordswood, Ademiluyi replacing Clarke for the Crows and he was almost the hero straight away as he met an excellent cross from Barton but headed fractionally wide.
Wells was then cautioned for a foul on Carrington, in the referee's opinion anyway, however, the quickly taken free kick was well saved and put out for a corner by Byott.
The third and final substitutions for each side were made at the same time, in the 82nd minute, Munn replacing Wooldridge for Lordswood and Morrison replacing Treleaven for the Crows.
By now visibility was causing the fans difficulty in seeing the action but two interceptions by Wells and Englefield denied both Morrison and Carrington respectively and Kane was cautioned for a foul on the half way line as the Crows pushed forward for the winner.
However, deep into stoppage time it was heartache for the Crows as an excellent cross was headed in by Funnell for the winning goal. It capped a fine individual display by him throughout the game but the Crows didn't deserve to suffer such a fate on a rather cloudy, misty afternoon.
It just goes to show what a game of football can do to one's emotions, the high of seeing Carrington score a late winner at home recently to the low of conceding such a late goal on Saturday. Still, it's onwards and upwards and onto our visit to Croydon FC on Saturday.