Players missing but youngsters step up to the mark.
A depleted Crows squad earned all the points on a sunny afternoon at the Community Stadium against Rochester United as they came back from a 1-0 deficit at half time to eventually win 2-1, with striker Sam Carrington bagging himself a brace with superb finishes past the visiting 'keeper, Phil Lewis.
With Rochester United having something to play for, because of their league position, they were always going to be stern opposition, however, the Crows had their unbeaten run to protect and the young players added to the squad had their own desire to show everyone what they could do.
This is why, perhaps, the first 45 minutes was a battle of nutrition for all concerned, not helped by a firm pitch as well probably and a total of seventeen free kicks being awarded by referee Idris meant that any fluidity was snuffed out by each team's defence, with Boddy and Trotter in imperious form for the Crows.
Whilst the huff and puff in effort terms meant that attempts on goal during the first half were at a premium, it was the Crows who had the upper hand in this respect with Ridley, Carrington and Ross Treleaven to the fore and on more than one occasion only some last ditch tackles or interceptions by Rochester United defenders prevented the Crows breaking through.
The visitors though did apply pressure to the Crows goal on a few occasions and could have taken the lead mid-way through the half but the ball just evaded the on rushing forward who was unmarked in the centre of the goal, some six yards out.
Harrison, the visitors righ back, who was finding Baitup a handful, was booked, in the 32nd minute, for a rash challenge on Butler and was eventually substituted by Alderman in the 43rd minute in a move by the Rochester United management team to prevent him being sent off and they going down to ten men.
Disaster then struck for the Crows in first half stoppage time when one of the many free kicks awarded led to the away side breaking clear of the defence and the ball was squared across the area and was gleefully put into the net by Payne, Weller in the Crows goal having no chance.
Therefore, the Crows went in for the half time break 1-0 down, against the run of play many thought and definitely having it all to do in the second half if they want to get the points.
The home side started the second period in more determined fashion and forced a succession of early corners and free kicks and from one of these Lewis had to make a great save but it could have been 2-0 to the visitors in the 57th minute when a visiting forward, who looked offside, raced clear and crossed the ball for an on rushing player to shoot at the Crows goal, with Weller beaten, the ball was blocked on the line by the excellent Tom Boddy.
Penalty shouted the visitors and whilst this was going on the ball rebounded to another visiting player whose shot hit Boddy again, then the post and out for a corner. The away side were unhappy that a penalty was not awarded and Trotter was yellow carded for the Crows due to his polite but vociferous protestations to the assistant referee about the offside, who then signalled to referee Idris that he had over stepped the mark.
However, after 64 minutes, it was 1-1, Carrington latching on to a ball over the top of the defenders and he was able to reach the ball before the goalkeeper, round him and put the ball into the net despite the efforts of a covering Rochester United player.
The visitors now made a further substitution, Rowland being replaced by Earle, who went on to receive a yellow card in the 87th minute as his frustration got the better of him.
With parity now secured, Death was also replaced by Bayley Colbran, in the 69th minute and only two minutes later, Colbran slid an inch perfect pass through the visiting defence for Carrington to use his strength and pace to break clear once again and as Lewis came out to close him down, he coolly slotted the ball past him, therefore, 2-1 to the Crows, much to the delight of the home faithful.
This stirred the visitors in to making their third and final substitution, Rothery being replaced by Bradshaw and for a short while the Crows were put under some pressure but they weathered the storm well and in the 83rd minute Baitup, who did very well throughout the game, was replaced by another young player, Jason Hinkson.
Both teams had further chances and eventually, after six minutes of stoppage time, referee Idris blew his whistle and the Crows had won 2-1, a satisfying victory on a day where the Crows had at least six starting players missing but credit must go to those who stepped up to the mark and my Man-of-the-Match went to stand-in captain, Paul Butler, with Boddy, Trotter and Carrington running him very close.