Crabb, with a brace and a Barton header secure the win.
If our last two matches the Crows have had to show their character, determination and skill in different ways. Against Whitstable Town on Saturday they had to keep cool under tremendous provocation, be patient and take their chances when they came along, something they did with great skill.
Against Beckenham Town, they just had to show how resilient they are as a team, how they all work so hard for one another and what skill and energy this team and squad possess. The two matches were as different as chalk and cheese, Saturday's was a game easy to forget and the only good thing for the Crows fans perspective was that we secured the three points and none of our players were seriously injured.
Whereas the Beckenham Town game was an absolute pleasure to watch, both teams wanting to play expansive, open football at a very high tempo with plenty of skill on display from individual players and the teams. Whilst the personnel who played for the home side last night may not have been playing in their previous games, there is no way they will remain in the relegation zone if they carry on putting on displays like they showed against us in their remaining eleven league games.
Many people prior to the game would have seen it as an easy three points for the Crows, after all, it was second bottom playing at home against second in the league, however, football isn't like that and the Crows knew they couldn't take the home side lightly as that would have led to a disaster for their title hopes.
Due to the nature of the game, both goalkeepers, Prall for the home side and Ellis in the Crows goal, both had tremendous games, making some outstanding saves to keep the eventual goal count down to a sensible result. That's not to say either defence was poor but down to both sides having attackers who were at the top of their game, creating chances galore throughout the 90+4 minutes the match lasted.
The Town coach commented that up until they played Sevenoaks Town on Saturday that he had never spoken to Prall, who is currently on loan to them from the Charlton Athletic academy and at 18 he seems to be a very good prospect for the future. If things do not work out for the goalie at the Addicks then Town have the option to have him with them permanently next season apparently.
We, of course, have our own outstanding goalie and he, along with the defenders in front of him, proved what a valuable asset he is to the team with some outstanding saves and is one of the reasons we have the best defensive record in the league, after all, if you don't have a good defence, you'll never stand a chance of winning the league or a cup.
The match itself was competitive from the start and the 94 minutes passed very quickly due to the pace the game was played at throughout.
It was more akin to a basketball match than the average football game as it seemed to be a case of "you have an attack" and then "we'll take our turn" as the ball moved from one end of the pitch to the other at lightening speed.
Both sides had chances to score first however, in the 22nd minute the Crows took a 1-0 lead as Carey took a free kick on the Crows right, in line with the area, curling the ball outwards in to the home penalty area, a flick on by Attwood saw the ball eventually arrive to Barton at the back post and he made no mistakes from close range, giving Prall no chance.
The home side didn't let their heads drop and tried to strike back straight away but Ellis was in imperious form and kept them at bay with some excellent goalkeeping.
Vickers then saw yellow for kicking the ball away after a free kick had been awarded to the home side in the 38th minute.
The home side would have been fairly satisfied to go in at half time only 1-0 down however, that was not to be the case as the Crows made it 2-0 right on half time.
Town lost the ball in their defensive third and the Crows broke very quickly with Muggeridge running full tilt at their defence before squaring the ball to the unmarked Crabb who calmly put the ball past the on-rushing Prall and in to the corner of the net for 2-0, much to the delight of everyone involved with the Crows.
The only downside of the first half for CAFC was the injury suffered by Vickers who had to be replaced by Pring at half time due to an Achilles injury.
2-0 became 3-0 in the 62nd minute as once again a quick move forward involving Muggeridge and Pring set Crabb free near the area, good control and a calm head saw him pass the ball in to the net off the far post, queue applause from all Crow supporters who could relax a bit more now, even if the players couldn't.
The home side responded by replacing Ramsamy and Arif with Whorms and Greenwood. In the 64th minute Pring received a yellow card for seemingly pulling an opponents shirt as he broke free from a tackle.
Greenwood received a yellow card in the 75th minute and in the 79th minute, the Crows made their second substitution, Perry, who had worked very hard throughout was replaced by Pearson.
Still chances were being created by both sides but the score remained at 3-0 to the Crows as time ticked on.
Only 1 minute later the Town hitman, Humphries, who once scored five goals against us at the Community Stadium, was replaced, with Bakare coming on as his replacement.
In the 90th minute the home side scored when a shot by Greenwood from just outside the area took a cruel deflection which wrong-footed Ellis who had no chance to save it, so it became 3-1 with only stoppage time to play.
Eventually, the final whistle blew and the Crows had a 3-1 victory to their name and another three points towards their title challenge.
Those points were hard earned by the whole team and not one Crow in a Navy Blue shirt had let anyone down. The Man of the Match choice for the Crows was definitely a hard one to make as there was so many outstanding performances however, a joint award was made in the end to Sam Crabb and Dan Ellis.
Now we move on to a home game against Deal Town on Saturday and hopefully, another three points will come our way.
Credit must be given to the Beckenham Town players for the way they played throughout and for making it such a great game to watch. That will be of little comfort to them I'm sure but if they carry on playing like they did against then they'll soon be heading up the table.