Crows make it 27 unbeaten.
Personally, there's no better day to watch football than on a Boxing Day, even if it might be a "pseudo" one and at the Community Stadium there were plenty of people who obviously felt the same.
Whether it be the Wells v the Crows at the Culverden or, as it was this time, Crows v Wells, the matches are always looked forward to and attract good sized crowds whenever they're played, especially since we were moved to the SCEFL for the 2014/15 season.
Our neighbours are definitely well supported and tend to hold sway in that area however, in the five league meetings since our move, the Crows have the upper hand with two wins, only one defeat and two draws from five of the six matches prior to yesterday, when it comes to the football on the pitch.
And so it proved yesterday as the Crows ran out 3-0 winners, deservedly so overall as they had the greater possession, better chances and looked the stronger outfit throughout. Credit to the visitors though, they did try to make a game of it, especially in the opening 15 minutes but once they went behind to a Sam Carrington goal after only 4 minutes, it looked like there would only be one winner in truth and so it proved.
Perry could have put the Crows 1-0 up inside the 1st minute when clean through on goal and with only Lawrence to beat however, his effort was well saved by the Wells' stopper and
the rebound fell to Muggeridge who blazed the ball over the bar when well placed.
Wells then went up the other end and forced a corner which was followed by two quick efforts at goal, both well saved by Ellis in the Crows goal and from the second save the Crows broke away and scored. Muggeridge picked the ball up in midfield and put Carrington in on goal with a slide rule pass, the striker took his time before sliding the ball passed the advancing Lawrence and into to the bottom corner of the net after 4 minutes, 1-0 Crows.
Crows then had a couple of good chances to increase their lead, an Attwood cross was just cleared before Perry could tap it home and then another effort, from Perry I think, hit the post before being hacked away to safety.
In the 17th minute Biddlecombe, Wells' most threatening striker, received a yellow card, not sure what for though and then in the 19th minute Pring had a pop at the goal from distance and Ellis was able to save easily.
From then on it was mostly the Crows going forward, Perry and Carey had efforts which were either saved or just missed their target however, it became 2-0 in the 38th minute, Attwood scoring from the penalty spot after a Wells defender handled inside the penalty area.
Just before half time, in the 44th minute, Muggeridge and Crandley both received yellow cards after having a heated discussion about a tackle made by the latter on Crows number 8, Jack Walder, a tackle which meant he had to be replaced at half time by Vickers as he was unfit to carry on.
Crows kicked the second half off in buoyant mood, leading 2-0 and the chat at half time by those around me in the stand came down to the old saying that "the next goal is crucial", a rather obvious statement but one we all know to be true when you're either 2-0 up or 2-0 down at the interval.
That "crucial" goal arrived in the 50th minute for the Crows, Attwood put the ball across the area, low and hard and it seemed Perry got his foot to the ball before it hit the post and rebounded out towards the back post where Crabb was waiting, he controlled the ball, dummied the defender before firing the ball into the net past Lawrence and a defender on the line, 3-0 Crows.
From here on in the heads seemed to drop of the Wells players and the pressure increased more on their over-worked defence, Crabb had another effort which went inches wide, Muggeridge had a volley which also went close before Perry had a good effort saved by Lawrence.
In the 64th minute Crandley went off for Wells and was replaced by Large and a minute later, Carrington who had a good game for the Crows, was replaced by Appiah as the Crows looked to rest players ahead of a crucial league game away at Cray Valley PM on New Year's Eve.
Appiah was soon in the action, although it's fair to say he didn't have his shooting boots on as a couple of efforts from distance threatened the crowd more than Lawrence's goal. Crows had to make their final substitution in the 74th minute, Carey going off with a slight groin problem, Boddy coming on in his place.
By now the game had become a bit sterile, the Crows 3-0 up having done enough and the Wells looking a bit demoralised and lacking inspiration and in the 76th minute, Wells made their last change, Pilbeam going off, Sadiku coming on.
Vickers picked up a yellow card in the 82nd minute for delaying the taking of a free kick, a rather needless booking if truth be told before Perry had the last chance in the 90+2 minute, hitting his effort just wide after a great piece of control.
The final whistle blew a couple of minutes later and the Crows were now second in the table, a point behind the leaders with a game in hand, not a bad Christmas present for their fans and an FA Vase game to look forward to in the New Year.