Too many senior players missing on the day.
On the day this fixture had very much an end of season feel about it for the Crows, whilst the visitors, unrecognisable from the side we played at the Badgers Sports Ground back in October, had everything to play for, as a win would guarantee them survival in the SCEFL, whatever the FA League Restructuring Committee decide and irrespective of what happens with the folding of Woodstock Sports and Lingfield wanting to be demoted to Level 6.
The fans knew it might be a hard game for the Crows with so many regular players not being able to play for various reasons, Collick, Rich, Trotter, Cameron, Butler, Barton, Scott Treleaven, Clarke and Ross Treleaven were missing and therefore, goalkeeper, Joe Cullip, made his debut for the first team as he replaced Collick between the sticks.
However, this is not to deny the Dockers did what they had to do and on chances, they deserved the three points they required to move them off the bottom of the table and the players representing the Crows did their best, even though there were six players representing the club who were eighteen or under.
Things could have been different though after 8 minutes, Carrington had a shot, goalie Hagan fumbled and Funnell tapped home the rebound, thinking he had scored his second goal in two games, however, a raised assistant referee's flag soon stopped any celebration.
Up to very nearly the 30th minute the game was very even but in the 28th minute, the away side scored the goal they wanted, Willis rising above everyone else from a corner and his header from around six yards out flew passed Cullip, who was left stranded as he tried to battle his way through a mass of defenders and attackers, therefore, the Dockers went 1-0 up.
Three minutes later things got worse for the Crows as they failed to defend yet another corner and Willis' fellow centre back, CJ Williams was allowed to power his header into the net from some ten yards out, his jump and physical presence proved too much for the Crows to deal with.
The home side were now looking to get to half time at 2-0 down so they could regroup and perhaps get back in the game, especially if they could score an early goal in the second period and start the nerves jangling in the away side. Unfortunately, that thought was removed right on half time as debutant goalkeeper, Cullip, was sent off by referee, Elad Amir, for what he deemed to be a tackle using excessive force.
Cullip raced to the edge of his area, towards the right angle of the area and whilst it seemed to most spectators that he won the ball and his follow through is what brought the player down outside the box, the referee made his mind up immediately that Cullip had to go and was duly shown the red card.
With no substitute goalkeeper on the bench, Funnell took the shirt and gloves and placed himself between the sticks, ready for the free kick to be taken but it came to nothing in the end and the half time whistle blew with the Crows 2-0 down and playing with ten men.
The second period was very even, mainly because Erith Town decided to hold on to what they had and the Crows attacking options were obviously hampered by being down to ten players and one of their forwards being in goal now.
Referee Amir was now in the mood to give out cards left, right and centre, Kedz was the only player booked in the first half for a shirt pull in the 15th minute but Death was next in the 50th minute to see yellow for a late tackle. He was eventually replaced by Bayley Colbran in the 59th minute as the Crows tried to up the tempo.
Williams then became the next victim for the referee as he saw yellow, as did Botswa and Willis and a flurry of substitutions took and sting out of the game and therefore, the match was drifting towards full time without Funnell or Hagan really having to make any save of note in reality.
However, as the game entered stoppage time, Ola Kukoyi tried his luck from the edge of the Crows area and it beat Funnell and nestled in the corner of the net for a 3-0 score line to the away side and this proved to be the final result.
In the end, you have to look at the positives from the season as a whole, plenty of young players have been integrated in to the senior squad, bodes well for the future, to finish tenth was the aim before the season kicked off, that was achieved and as the season went on, the squad grew in confidence and showed they could more than hold their own, after a shaky start.
Time now for a period of reflection and to move forward as a club and players as we prepare for the 2015/16 season, August will soon come around and we'll start all over again.