First double in the SCEFL.
The Crows travelled to the Croydon Sports Arena looking to secure, hopefully, their first league double in the SCEFL, having beaten the hosts 3-1 at home back in September on a Tuesday evening.
However, the omens were not particularly good prior to kick-off as Trotter was already out through suspension and regular right back, Tom Cameron, was unavailable for selection. Also, Dan Tear, who had hoped to be available for selection suffered a set back as his knee injury flared up again and thus, he was out through injury.
There was a bonus though as Paul Butler was available for selection again following his week off due to a suspension for racking up too many yellow cards, which meant he missed the home game against Lordswood last week.
Further good news came in the striking department as Sam Carrington was fit enough to be included in the starting line up and therefore, able to form a potentially lethal strike force with in-form Scott Treleaven, right from the start.
With Dave Adams also not available, the usual back four had to be altered somewhat and the management decided to switch to a back three, formed by the ever reliable Tom Boddy playing on the right, Alex Rich on the left and captain, Jason Barton occupying the centre of the three, something he is accustomed too and can do with ease it seems.
This meant the team started with a midfield five, comprising of Clarke on the right, Ridley, Butler and Waterman occupying the centre and Funnell wide left. Carrington and Treleaven played as a pair up front.
These changes and recent defeats didn't seem to worry the Crows too much as they started like the trams which run beside the ground, quietly and efficiently getting on with the task in hand whilst ferrying the ball from one end to the other.
The home side had fifteen free kicks awarded against them throughout the whole game and from one of these free kicks, awarded after only 4 minutes, the Crows should have been 1-0 up, Ridley's kick being headed by Barton straight at the 'keeper who made a good save but he really should have been picking the ball out of the net.
The resulting corner heaped further pressure on the home side and another corner was earned and was eventually cleared by the hosts with some difficulty.
However, it was not long before the pressure finally told on the home defence as neat work between Carrington and Ridley saw the latter fire a shot into the top corner of the net from some twenty yards out after 18 minutes, giving the goalie, Ameyaw, no chance, therefore 1-0 to the Crows and fully deserved.
Further free kicks were earned in and around the Trams penalty area and further shots rained towards the home sides goal from Funnell, Ridley and Butler before the home side had, what proved to be their only shot of the game, in the 26th minute, an effort which was easily saved by Nick Collick.
If there was something which could have been improved on in the first half performance perhaps was the final ball which was not quite good enough for the Crows to score their second goal, which their pressure and further shots from Funnell (2), Boddy and Butler deserved.
However, the team worked incredibly hard to keep their shape at all times when the opposition had the ball, with Carrington and Treleaven working the wide areas to stop the Tram's full backs getting forward and our wide players, Clarke and Funnell, constantly working up and down their respective wings to support the defence or forwards as required.
Consequently, half time was reached with the Crow's having a 1-0 lead, looking very comfortable but mindful of the fact that may be they should have been further in front and at only one goal down, the home side have everything to play for.
The Crows started the second half exactly as they finished the first, forcing the Trams back into their own half and earning a corner after only 2 minutes which was taken by my man-of-the-match, Callum Ridley, this led to Barton rising superbly at the back post and planting his header into the back of the net, 2-0 up we all thought as the referee pointed to the centre circle, the players and fans celebrated and the Croydon players trudged reluctantly from their penalty area.
But to everyone's amazement and surprise our joy and celebrations were cut short quicker than a tram's door shuts in your face when you've rushed to get on it, as the assistant referee makes a rather strange and late decision in deciding that there had been some infringement in the home sides penalty area.
So a free kick is given and 2-0 went back to 1-0 quicker that a station master can raise his green flag to waive a train from the station. The Crows also suffered further bad news only 3 minutes later, Ryan Waterman, who had an outstanding game, having to leave the field of play due to an ankle injury and being replaced by Connor Charlton, in a like for like move.
The game then went a bit flat for a period with the referee, Wally James, seemingly giving free kick after free kick and this seemed to disturb our rhythm and give the home side some hope they may get back in to the game.
However, the impressive Boddy, Barton and Rich at the back made the 18 yard line of the Crow's penalty area a "do not cross" line and Collick really only had to gather a few crosses which came his way.
Whilst the Trans had more possession in this half, compared to the first, they met a red brick wall when they got anywhere near our area and Clarke, helping out in defence, earned himself a yellow card after 68 minutes for one of his tackles, the free kick coming to nothing.
On 70 minutes Treleaven, who had worked hard throughout the game was replaced by Ransome and this change seemed to give the Crows extra energy as further shots were aimed at the Trams goal by Carrington, Ridley and Clarke.
After 78 minutes, the tiring Carrington was replaced by Michael Ademiluyi and after 83 minutes he should have made it 2-0 when clear on goal but his lobbed effort was easily gathered by the home goalie.
The Trams captain, Allen, then got a yellow card for a tackle on Funnell and Ridley brought out an excellent save from Ameyaw who turned the ball around the post for a corner, which eventually came to nothing.
It was not long after this though that it did become 2-0, Ademiluyi receiving the ball on the half way line by the dugouts and encouraged by his management team he raced towards the home defence, as he entered the area he took on Allen on the outside, beat him for pace and slotted the ball past the goalie at his near post.
At 90+2 minutes gone there was never going to be enough time for the Trams to hardly get back on the correct track, let alone score and the final whistle blew, much to the joy of all involved with the Crows, with the players leaving the pitch to rounds of applause from the ever faithful followers.