Not the easiest of conditions.
Following work carried out by volunteers during the morning on the pitch, it looked in pretty good nick when everyone started to arrive around the 1:00/1:30 time slot, a remarkable achievement when you consider the amount of rain which had fallen on it through the week.
However, as soon as preparations got under way for the game, the weather gods decided that more rain was required to fall and it was like a sprinkler valve had been turned on, a fine drizzle aided by a blustery wind started to come down and never ceased for the entire game.
This made the top surface slippery and difficult for both sets of players to stop and turn too quickly, therefore, the spectators were treated to some odd sights of players with limbs flying in all directions at times, looking more like Bambi on ice than footballers.
The game overall though wasn't a bad spectacle and credit must go to both sets of players for trying to play football in such awkward conditions and Hollands & Blair didn't play like a team at the bottom of the league and never gave up at anytime during the match.
The Crows had the "Big D" back between the sticks following his suspension and gave a start to new signing Trevor McCreadie from Haywards Heath Town upfront which gave the side a very attacking look with Treleaven also included with the returning Attwood after injury.
The first 25 minutes of the game were difficult for both sides and whilst the Crows had more of the possession, chances were at a premium and both sides gave away the ball to easily, although the surface didn't help the players much. However, it was debutant McCreadie who scored the first goal of the game in the 29th minute when he poked the ball home from ten yards out, beating the Blair goalie, Lawlor, at his near post.
Blair did have a couple of half chances but both times Ellis was quick off his line to smother the ball just before an onrushing Blair player could get a shot away, therefore, the half time whistle blew with the Crows just about deserving their 1-0 lead.
The only other thing of note to happen before the break was the sight of Blair player, Whibley, seemingly losing the plot after a tackle on Walder and deciding to put the Crow in a head lock, leading to other players becoming involved and seeing him receive a yellow card from the referee.
The second period started in the same vein as the first ended, Crows on top and Blair relying on breakaways. Attwood (twice), Treleaven (twice) and McCreadie all had shots which were either wide, saved or blocked, within the first 5 or 6 minutes, although Ellis did have to make a good save from a Valencia shot in the 50th minute.
Dampier then earnt himself a yellow card for preventing a Crows quick free kick being taken before it became 2-0 in the 57th minute, Attwood shooting at goal after dribbling the ball in to the Blair area, his shot, which was on target, hit a Blair player which prevented Lawlor getting anywhere near to saving it. It was just reward for Attwood who worked the Blair defence hard throughout the whole game.
With the Crows now feeling comfortable at 2-0 they became content to keep the ball more and not so determined to go forward at every opportunity, understandable considering the conditions and the fact that two or three players were coming back from injury.
In the 73rd minute, Carrington replaced Treleaven and in the 76th minute, McCreadie was replaced by Perry. McCreadie had a good debut overall and will get even better once everyone gets used to his runs and positioning as he's definitely a penalty box predator, as is his replacement in this game, Perry.
The Crows did suffer some bad news on the day when Walder, who had controlled and ran the game from his midfield position, had to be helped off the pitch with what looked like a bad knee or leg injury, Vickers coming on in his place in the 82nd minute.
It became 3-0 only a minute later, Muggeridge riding a couple of tackles, remaining on his feet, before slipping a great through ball to Perry inside the area and doing what he normally does, Perry slid the ball past Lawlor and in to the net.
Ellis only had to make a couple of saves in the second period but one of them was definitely a "great" save, tipping a thunderous drive, which looked a goal from the moment it left the Blair players foot, on to the post and safety.
The final whistle blew and the Crows had the points. Everyone played their part, the back three, especially White, were solid throughout, the wing backs and Phipp and Walder controlled the pace of the game whilst Attwood, Treleaven and McCreadie all looked potent upfront. However, until he went off injured, Walder was the man who made the Crows tick on the day, protecting the defence when needed and prompting the forwards at every opportunity.