Chessington & Hook Res (1) Vs Crowborough Athletic Res (4)

[Jack-Hammer]

This was a game made harder by a pitch in a bad way, still same for both sides. Played out in front of a crowd of 15 -20 on a sunny afternoon.
C&H lined up with a conventional 4-4-2 formation whilst Crow opted for 4-3-3.
The game started slowly with the ball pinging around in midfield with players on both sides struggling with the surface. The right winger for C&H looked lively with pace to burn and produced most of the goal threat for them but nothing was converted.
Crow scored first after about 20 mins after breaking down the left side and crow began to take control of the game as they used both wings. A mix up between the goal keeper and defender plus a collision with the oncoming crow left winger left the keeper and said winger on the deck and the crow centre forward an easy chance to pick the free ball up and slot home.
A tasty challenge from the crow left back (he won the ball but went in studs up) earned the games first yellow card although it went to one of crow centre backs for his protestations.
The half ended with crow looking in control.
C&H started the second half like they’d been given either a great pep talk or the hairdryer treatment, which ever it was it had a positive effect as they began to come back into the game.
Crow to be fair had a few chances on the break and failed to kill the game off as C&H started to get some joy down the left hand side with the addition of two subs – a left winger and a centre forward.
Crow were dismayed to see one of the C&H players (not the keeper) actually catch the ball inside the penalty area, quickly realise what he’d done and then drop it and clear – the referee was no more than 15 yards away but decided to wave play on. Crow brought on two pairs of fresh legs and shortly after one of the two found the ball scramble to him on the far post and he toes it in. C&H then went up the other end and finally scored breaking down the left hand side again like they had been all of the second half.
Crow scored from a free kick perhaps 5 mins from time, when a cross evaded everyone in the box including the keeper who had expected his defender to clear. A deserver win for crow.

The referee although made some strange decisions was consistent and fairly professional before and after the game. One of the linesman I think decided before the game that if anyone called offside he would raise his flag even after the crow right winger had taken the ball down put in the net and run halfway back up the pitch….. that decision was actually correct though countless before were not.

[schmicles]

Nice to see the ressies doing well putting a run together keep it up well done.