Good game, experience told in the end.
I don’t know if any of you reading this do what I do when the fixtures come out and that is go through game by game and see where I think we can get points from the home and away games.
Whilst the relative strengths of each team can’t be judged at this level as easily as they can in the professional game, the various social media outlets which club’s and supporters have, can in most cases, give one a fair reflection on the relative merits of a particular team.
Therefore, with the title of favourites to win the SCEFL being bestowed upon our visitors before a ball having been even kicked this season, Saturday’s game was always going to be a tough one for the Crows to get anything from and one I had discounted personally when it came to my pre-season ritual of seeing where our points would come from.
It is common knowledge and a fact they as a club do not hide from, that they have probably the highest playing budget within the division and that they have players within their squad that have played at football league level, Conference (now named National League) and Ryman League level.
Therefore, the quality and experience that they have to select from is greater than any other club in the SCEFL Premier Division, including us, so it’s no surprise that most pundits and spectators would have said that the Crows would have to play well and have a bit of luck on their side to get anything from this fixture.
There’s one thing you can always guarantee with our squad though and that is they will give 100% effort throughout the game and we do have players who can give as good as they get when it comes to technique, skill and competitive spirit and so it proved on Saturday.
The match throughout was an entertaining affair, especially the first half which was probably the better half for the Crows and the football flowed from one end to the other with both sides having chances to score at various times.
The Crows broke the deadlock after only 18 minutes, Ridley playing a one-two with Carrington and when his initial effort was blocked, he was quickest to react and hit the ball past the Boro’ ‘keeper, Hollaway and into the roof of the net.
Greenwich Borough always looked menacing when going forward and with the two players up front that they have, Alexander and Power, both tall and physically strong, any cross into the penalty area from a free-kick or a corner, will be a threat to the defending team.
This proved to be the case after 25 minutes when a deep corner-kick to the Crows back post was headed into the net by Power, who used his experience and strength to rise early and get above Dan Tear, thus preventing the defender getting off the ground and so it became 1-1.
Some felt that Tear was impeded by the centre-forward and that it should have been a free-kick to the home side. You do get these decisions some times as the defending team however, on this occasion, referee D E Quincey-Bailey decided there was no infringement and the goal stood.
He also didn’t see what looked like a clear push on a Greenwich player by Tear in our penalty area during the first-half and no penalty was awarded when many were expecting one to be, therefore, sometimes you get the decisions and other times you don’t.
After 31 minutes it became 2-1 to the visitors, central defender and captain Young, up for a corner, once again proved to be too strong for the Crows defenders when another deep corner-kick reached him at the back post and he headed goal wards.
Tear did his best to clear the ball off the line and his actions led to some confusion amongst players and spectators alike as it was unclear if the referee had awarded a goal or not. It seemed initially he had, then the assistant referee raised his flag for some reason and it was only after the two officials had had a chat that a goal was eventually given.
Still the Crows were not out of it and had chances of their own however, it was the visitors who looked more dangerous when attacking and with half-time fast approaching the Crows were looking to go into the break only 2-1 down, however, it became 3-1 right on half-time, Power scoring his second of the game with a powerful drive from just inside the area.
This goal out of all the goals scored by the visitors was probably the one that upset the Crows the most, not only was it a disappointing time to concede right on half-time, it was a goal which came about because the Crows did not clear their defensive line well enough when they had the chance to do so.
The second-half did not start well for the Crows as Butler, who had been having an effective game sitting in front of the back four, had to be replaced by Hinkson during the break, as he suffered a recurrence of his recent hamstring injury and couldn’t continue anymore.
However, 3-1 became 3-2 after only 48 minutes, left back Rich putting a superb ball through to Carrington who then raced clear of the defence before putting the ball over the diving Hollaway and into the Greenwich net. This made our visitors a bit jumpy and they started to argue with the referee quite a bit, they did in the end have six players booked, five for dissent I believe, so it does show that we were getting to them.
Unfortunately, the shape of the Crows formation had to change due to injury and illness during the game and whilst the substitutions had to be made, the end result was that Ridley, who was our star performer on the day, was starved of the ball during the second period as he was pushed further back from his more attacking role and therefore, became less effective.
However, injuries and illness are part of the game and this was highlighted even more in the 60th minute when substitute Hinkson, feeling unwell, had to be substituted himself only 15 minutes after coming on. His replacement, Boddy, slotted in at right-back and this allowed Dan Tear to be pushed forward into a right wing position.
A further change was required in the 76th minute when Everest had to leave the field injured, Clarke coming on to replace him, with Boddy now going to centre-half and Tear reverting back to his full-back role once again.
These changes though cannot be blamed for the fact that Greenwich scored a fourth goal in-between these changes, a piece of individual skill by Phillips after 63 minutes allowing him the opportunity to curl the ball past Hampson and off the far post and into the net for 4-2 to Greenwich.
In the end they deserved the win, whilst our substitutions were made out of necessity, theirs were made as and when they wanted to, thus maintaining their shape and any momentum they had. If they carry on as they are, they’ll definitely be there or thereabout come the end of the season, as for us, the players gave everything, put up a very credible performance and we’ll play worse and win in future games.