Muggeridge double not enough to get the points.
Some wayward finishing, clearances off the line and some individual defensive mistakes cost the Crows dear at the Jockey Farm Stadium as ten-man Rusthall FC score an added-on time winner to earn the points and condemn the Crows to their second league defeat of the season.
Anyone who had seen Twitter and Facebook in the week leading up to this fixture will have realised that the home side saw this as an important game for them in their first season in the SCEFL Premier Division and with the distance between the two clubs only being eight miles, they very much saw it as an important derby fixture and one they would need to compete for every ball in.
They also, I'm sure, wanted to avenge the 4-2 defeat they suffered recently at the Gallagher Stadium when we were playing our home games there instead of the Crowborough Community Stadium. A quite natural feeling for any individual player and team and therefore, the Crows knew they would have to match their effort and commitment throughout the 90 minutes if they were to get anything out of the game.
From the first whistle no quarter was asked or given by either side as the challenges and tackles went in from both teams however, it was the Crows who looked the more dangerous side going forward and they took the lead from the penalty spot after 8 minutes, Treleaven being adjudged to have been brought down in the area whilst in the process of trying a shot at goal. Muggeridge took responsibility, even though he had missed one recently, and the ball hit the back of the net despite Lawrence making a great effort to save it, diving full length to his left.
Disappointingly the lead only lasted a minute as an error in the Crows defence saw the ball eventually arrive at the feet of Phillips, beyond the back post of the Crows goal, and on the corner of their 18 yard box, a superb curling shot gave Di Bernado in the Crows goal no chance and 1-0 turned in to 1-1 within the blink of an eye.
Crows went back in front in the 15th minute when Muggeridge scored his second of the game with an exquisite lob from the edge of the area over goalie Lawrence after breaking free from the shackles of the Rusthall midfield and defence when they failed to track his run from deep.
With every ball being challenged for the patience of referee Price started to wear a bit thin and Smith became the first player to see yellow in the 23rd minute, a decision which would later cost him dear just before half time, for a late tackle on Walder in the centre midfield area.
Just three minutes later Crush became the second Rusthall player to get a yellow card after a coming together with Barton, which was probably a bit harsh on him however, a referee can only make the decision he thinks is correct and the card was duly shown.
Throughout the first 45 minutes the play went from end to end, the home side using a slightly more direct approach, using Smith's pace and height whilst the Crows tried to use more of a considered, passing game to achieve the same aim.
Rusthall were the next team to score, making it 2-2 in the 32nd minute, the Crows failing to clear a cross in to their area well enough and a lucky deflection saw the ball rebound towards the Crows goal and Crush was in the right spot at the right time to poke the ball home from near enough on the line.
The home side nearly took the lead in the 39th minute when Smith headed a cross against the post and from the rebound he smacked the ball against the same post when it looked easier to score. Little did he realise that this would be his last action in the game as only five minutes later he would be incurring the displeasure of referee Price and leaving the pitch for an early bath.
The Rusthall forward chased down a ball in to the Crows area and was closed down by Di Baranado just inside the area, both players went to the ground and whilst most of the Rustic players and management appealed for a penalty Smith himself just got up, but referee Price blew his whistle and awarded a free kick to the Crows. The referee was also very quick to show the yellow card and that was followed just as sharply with the red one, one can only assume that referee Price deemed it that Smith was guilty of simulation and thus had to go. Therefore, the home side would have to play the whole of the second half with 10 men.
It was clear right from the start of the second half that Rusthall were determined to hold on to what they had, defend in numbers, restrict the space behind their defence and hopefully, rely on a breakaway goal if they could to snatch the points by leaving one forward at best up front on his own.
The Crows dominated possession throughout the 45 minutes and it became a match of defence against attack which shouldn't have been a surprise to anyone watching and you have to congratulate the Rusthall players for the defensive effort they all put in to the second period.
The Crows never really hit their straps in the second half and rarely got behind the massed ranks of the green and white stripes, thus too many long balls were played up to Attwood and Treleaven making them having to fight for the ball where the odds favoured the defenders every time.
Our most attacking player when it came to efforts on target throughout the second half was Turner and in the 50th minute he had two efforts headed off the Rusthall goal line in quick succession meaning that the score remained at 2-2.
He was also the first Crow to see a yellow card in the match only 5 minutes later, Price objecting to some verbal communication sent his way by the big centre half. Tear then became the second Crow to see yellow only minutes later for a tackle by the goal line beside the home side's box.
Still the Crows went forward, Turner, Treleaven and Attwood all having efforts but the breakthrough just didn't arrive. As time wore on and Rusthall used their substitutions to good effect the frustration grew with the away side's ranks and Walder became the third Crow to incur the rath of the referee and receive a yellow card for a tackle.
The away side made their substitutions as the game ticked by, Carrington, Pearson and Pring all came on as the Crows searched for the vital third goal but the attempts were getting more and more desperate and lacking quality at times, making it easy for the home side to clear their lines.
With the Crows pushing people forward as the match entered added-on time they made another defensive error which allowed one of the Rusthall substitutes, Harper, to score the winning goal by lobbing the ball over Di Bernado and in to the net from some twenty five yards out. The forward having robbed the ball off a defender as our keeper was more than likely expecting the ball to be played back to him.
Therefore, the Rustics had the goal and the result they wanted and if the Crows want to win the Premier Division it's these type of games they must not lose and if they can't win then they must make sure they get at least a point. However, it's not all doom and gloom, it's only the second league defeat this season and on another day we could have won this game, such are the fine margins within this league. There's also the fact that future home games will be played at the Community Stadium and I'm sure that will give everyone a lift.