Not a match to live long in the memory.
Whilst the game was not a classic and had very much an end of season feel about it, earning three points in the end is the most important thing, as finishing the 2015/16 season on a good run bodes well for the next campaign.
The Crows were very slow to start in the first half and Lordswood were by far the better side, quicker, stronger and more determined all over the pitch, however, if there was one area that let them down, it was upfront where chances which should have been taken were not.
They could have been one or two up inside the first 3 minutes but their shots were both off target when it looked easier to score and the Crows collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
Chances for either side then became few and far between, the Crows not having their first effort at goal until the 20th minute, Salter's effort going wide but it was still Lordswood who were dominating possession, even if not creating that much with it.
The half became very scrappy and with too many free kicks being awarded, 21 in total during the first 45 minutes, free flowing football was not something the crowd witnessed from either side.
Carey received the first yellow card of the day in the 15th minute for a rather innocuous tackle and thus every similar challenge thereafter resulted in a free kick at least, if not a yellow card.
Biddlecombe then had the Crows first real chance of the match in the 31st minute, however, his shot from inside the area is straight at visiting 'keeper Hyde who was able to hold onto the ball with ease before setting Lordswood on the attack again.
Biddlecombe then received a yellow card only seconds later as he tackled a visiting player and the match referee had probably decided that he had committed one foul too many after a couple of warnings and therefore, the relevant card was raised aloft.
Eventually, the visitors took the lead in the 38th minute, a goal kick by Smith was headed back over our defence and Jeffery was able to run behind the back four and slip the ball past Smith as he came out to narrow the angle, 1-0 to the visitors.
It took the Crows only 5 minutes to get, what seemed at the time, to be an unlikely equaliser. Ridley took a deep free kick into the Lordswood area which eventually leads to Biddlecombe winning a tussle with a visiting defender, the ball bounces to Rich who squares it across goal for Mici to slip home, much to the delight of everyone involved with the Crows.
Whatever was said at half time definitely awoke the Crows and they were a different side in the second half, much quicker, much more competitive and took greater care of the ball when in possession.
After only 3 minutes Rich had a great chance to put the Crows in front but his shot is well saved by Hyde and from the resulting corner, Boddy heads wide.
Still there were too many free kicks awarded, 20 in the second half in total, and one of these free kicks sees the Lordswood scorer, Jeffery booked, little did anyone know that this would have an impact on the game only 3 minutes later.
Jeffery then made a rash tackle on Carey and the referee decided, quite rightly, that it warranted a yellow card, therefore, a red then had to be shown, although Jeffery was already heading towards the dressing room before it was raised in the air.
From previous experience this season the Crows have learned that playing against ten men does not mean the match will be any easier and thus it proved again against Lordswood. They raised their work rate and defended quite deep but the Crows started to pass and move the ball better and they looked the more likely team to win the game.
On 68 minutes Biddlecombe goes off to be replaced by Carrington and then in the 71st minute Hamill goes off to be replaced by Mounter and Salter leaves the field to be replaced by Olabi-Royall.
Another booking followed in the 75th minute, McDowell seeing the card for a late challenge on Tear as he cleared the ball from his own half.
The eventual winner came in the 78th minute, good work on the edge and inside the Lordswood area by Mici sees his cross find the diving head of Rich who puts the ball in the back of the net like a seasoned centre-forward, 2-1 to the Crows.
After 82 minutes, the outstanding Tear left the field to be replaced by Hollick and as time was running out, Anidugbe saw a yellow card eventually, in the 86th minute, after numerous free kicks had been awarded against him during the game and at the same time Ouani was taken off and Daramy came on as the visiting team tried to get back in the game.
The match ended after 5 minutes of stoppage time and with no further incidents and the Crows took all the points against a disappointed Lordswood side who had hoped to carry on their good run and secure a top four finish.
Whilst the Crows may not have been at their best, the players gave their all during the game and with five players who were under the age of 18 in the squad, the performance in the second half definitely showed there's good things to come in the future.
Tear and Boddy were immense for the Crows at the back, Ridley worked hard in the midfield area and Biddlecombe ran himself ragged up front, however, the player who held everything together for the Crows was captain Paul Butler and he was duly awarded the Man of the Match award for the Crows, a deserved award for the performance he put in.