Could have been different.
3-0 is always a nice score for the winning team and most people who see that score will, in most cases, think that it was a fairly easy game for the victors and normally, that is a fairly accurate assumption.
However, whilst the home side deserved their win, they did play very well, the Crows were not as bad as the scoreline indicates. In fact, during the first half, the Crows did most of the attacking, had the lions share of possession but didn't take what chances came their way.
The early performance was better than most Crow fans thought they may see, bearing in mind the injuries we received against Fisher FC and with others being unavailable, it was a patched up side that took the field.
The match overall was an entertaining one, both teams playing the game in a competitive way, although with 42 free kicks, 6 yellow cards and 1 red card, anyone would think that may be it was a feisty affair, however, it wasn't.
Players, management and spectators of both sides it seemed felt referee Alexander was rather fussy, as any physical challenge was deemed a foul in his eyes and some of the yellow cards dished out did seem to be for trivial infringements, such as Biddlecombe getting book after the half time whistle had blown for kicking the ball away in frustration.
That frustration came about as a goal by Boddy, a header from a Rich free kick, right on half time, was ruled out by referee Alexander for a foul by a Crow player inside the penalty area. Therefore, instead of going in at the break 1-1, the Crows left the field 1-0 down which was hard to take bearing in mind they looked the more dangerous side in the first half.
The only real controversy in the whole 90+7 minutes was the sending off of the Corinthian centre half Bath, in the 36th minute, for kicking out at Biddlecombe as he lay on the ground near the away side dugout. It didn't look good from where I was sitting and I don't think the player could have any complaints about being sent off.
The home side broke the deadlock in the 24th minute, a hopeful cross into the Crow's area should really have been dealt with but the ball was allowed to reach Campbell, unmarked and he was able to shoot the ball past Faith for the lead.
However, the Crows were still giving as good as they were getting and after the sending off of Bath, the away side took control even more, as the home side settled themselves down and reorganised to get them to the break with their 1-0 lead intact.
This they did, thanks to referee Alexander denying Crows the equaliser they thought they'd scored and so it was all to play for in the second half.
Corinthian made their substitution at half time, Jamie Billings coming on Hagan and from this point on the home side took the advantage away from the Crows as they doubled their effort and passed the ball better and moved around off of it better than the Crows did.
Referee Alexander carried on in the second half as he refereed the first half, at least he was consistent, therefore, free kick and yellow cards abounded, Minter getting a yellow in the 52nd minute for pulling Baitup back and then Sinclair saw yellow for a late tackle in the 59th minute.
Seconds later, following a good attack by the Crows, they got caught on the break with a long ball to Campbell, who raced clear before passing the ball square to James who calmly made it 2-0 to Corinthian.
In an effort to get back into the game, Hyslop goes off and Boamah went on in the 67th minute and he really should have made it 2-1 only three minutes later, unfortunately, he knocked the ball over the bar from six yards out.
75 minutes on the clock and O. Muggeridge replaces the injured Butler and for the home side, James goes off and is replaced by Cooper.
The home side were still largely in control and there's no doubt the sending off gave them a target to work towards to and therefore, you have to admire how they went about their task in the second half.
After 82 minutes, Campbell goes off, Johnson coming off and after 87 minutes, J. Hampson gets booked and is immediately replaced by substitute, J. Bowen. From the resulting free kick, Minter fires the ball past the wall and Faith to make it 3-0 to the home side.
There was still time left for the referee to issue two more yellow cards, Evans getting his in the 95th and then our Man of the Match, Boddy, gets his yellow card in the 96th minute.
After 97 minutes, the final whistle blew, a deserved win for the home side, clear cut chances were few and far between in reality but there was plenty of attacking flair on show from both teams but the night belonged to Corinthian in the end.