Perry, the hat trick hero.
If you were someone in the 204 crowd who had not seen the Crows this season, then at half time you would have been asking yourself how the Crows had remained unbeaten in 22 games and had won 20 of them, as they were losing 2-0 and had not created that much, even though they had the lions share of possession.
By the end of the second half, the team would have given you the answer, they just don't know when they are beaten and never give up until the final whistle goes. They created numerous chances, upped the tempo and intensity by a big margin, passed the ball better and the movement all over the pitch was far better in the second period.
The new supporter may have asked why there was a such a difference in the two halves by the Crows and in truth, even the players probably can't answer that, it happens sometimes in football. You try things and they just don't work out, other times they do, that's just the way it goes and yesterday, whilst the half time break can sometimes ruin a performance, ask our visitors, it definitely came at the right time for the Crows and it gave the home side a chance to regroup.
The team could not blame the first half display on the side having to be altered due to suspensions, illness and injuries, after all, it has happened before in this fantastic run and they've still played very well and overcame those odds. We've said many times that the squad has strength in depth and with the number of games already played, and with those about to be played, that strength in depth is definitely needed.
Therefore, the changes due to Boddy and Walder not being available through suspension and having Muggeridge and Treleaven on the bench after Wednesday's FA Vase heroics, cannot be used as a reason for a lack-lustre performance from the Crows. However, having played 23 games since the first week in September 2016 does give the players the right to have an off-day now and then.
Before kick off the Crows knew that it would be hard to get the three points, as Canterbury City do not concede many goals, 14 from their 16 games but then they don't score that many either, 18 in those 16 games. Everything pointed to them being resilient at the back and set up to counter attack whenever they have the chance to do so.
Crows got the game underway and straightaway the visitors only played one up front which showed their attacking intent and whilst the home side might see a lot of the ball, getting near the opposition goal would not be easy.
Imagine how difficult the task became then when Pulman tapped the ball in from close range from a Pilcher corner after the ball wasn't dealt with when it came into the area. Still, the home side had the ball most of the time and were camped inside the City have but found themselves 2-0 down in the 15th minute when Pilcher was allowed time and space on the edge of the Crows area to fire the ball past Ellis, albeit, with a deflection that gave the home stopper no chance.
Therefore, the task to breakdown an already strong defensive side made the thought of the Crows getting something out of this game a very tough one to comprehend but the belief was still there, even though it may have been a flicker rather than a bright flame.
The Crows still went forward, more often than not battering their heads against a thick maroon wall, but forward they went, Carrington having an effort saved by Wood in the City goal after 22 minutes. A succession of corners came and went for the Crows, none of which really threatened the City goal, but possession is always handy as without it, you stand no chance of getting back in to the game.
Both teams had to make first half substitutions, Harvey off, Hassan on for City in the 34th minute and 4 minutes later, Shea went off injured to be replaced by Clarke. It was Clarke who had the last talking point of the half when he received a yellow card for a late tackle on a City player in the 47th minute. It probably looked worse than what it was but one did wonder how close he was to getting a straight red.
So, half time was reached with the visitors 2-0 up and the Crows having to work out pretty quickly how they're going to get back in to this game in the second half. Obviously, an improved performance would help, as would an early goal for the home side, this would lift the players and crowd and put doubts in the minds of the City players.
I guess our management might have expressed the same view in the home dressing room at the break and one other change happened there as well, Carrington, who had received some rough treatment from the City number 4, Wisker, who was lucky to stay on the pitch for the number of fouls he committed, had to be replaced by Muggeridge, who himself was suffering with a stomach bug.
The Crows started the second period in a far better way than they ended the first and got the early goal they needed after 48 minutes, Carey took a corner and the unmarked Perry headed the ball home, the Crows were back in the game, much to the delight of the players and fans, could the comeback of the season be on we all wondered?
The goal lifted the side and they started to dominate the key areas of the pitch, winning balls in midfield that we were losing in the first half and holding the ball upfront more than in the first 45 minutes. A succession of free kicks and corners followed and eventually it led to McCallum getting a yellow card as the City side struggled to hold on to their lead.
Attwood and Barton tried their luck before, in the 71st minute, parity was restored by Perry, as he rifled the ball home from an Attwood flicked header had found him in space around the edge of the area, queue wild celebrations on the pitch and terraces.
The Crows were now flapping the wings with even greater force and took the lead only 4 minutes later, Attwood got the ball down the left hand side of the City defence and picked out Muggeridge with a pin-point cross and he despatched the ball into the net with a fierce header from 6 yards out and it was 3-2 to the Crows, comeback complete, or so we thought.
To expect anymore goals than three from the Crows within 30 minutes seemed to be being greedy however, the players had different ideas and carried on applying the pressure. Appiah and Pulman then got involved in a silly spat over a free kick, both seeing yellow and then in the 80th minute City replaced Wisker, who had trod a fine line with the referee for most of the game, with Rothe as they now needed to get an equaliser.
With Crows still on top, City replaced Lawrence with Yome in the 84th minute but it did not really change anything and a minute later, Vickers came on for Appiah, as the Crows looked to cement the win.
In the 90+2nd minute the comeback was well and truly sealed, Perry firing home after creating the chance for himself just inside the City area. 2-0 down to a 4-2 win by the time the final whistle blew, what a second half performance the players put in and as they went to leave the field, an invasion of 30 odd U6 boys and girls who had been mascots for the day showed their delight by running up to the players and doing numerous high fives.
Man of the Match award went to Dan Perry, the hat trick hero, however, every single player who pulled on the Crows shirt deserved praised for their second half efforts and at the end of the day, who'll remember the first 45 minutes when you have the second half to think about.