Match Report
Match Report - 02 Jan 2010, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team beat Crowborough
On a very cold day this was one of the few matches to go ahead. The pitch was frozen in places and as the sun faded so the pitch became more difficult to play.
The first few minutes both teams had a look at each other and tried to master the pitch. Rangers were awarded a free kick which was sliced away for a corner. Matt Carruthers rose at the far post but put his header just wide. Rangers were having the majority of the ball but crowborough have the pace to break and create chances. Crowborough took the lead on 20 minutes when a back header fell short and Sam Carrington got to the ball before Lehkyj to guide it just inside the far post. 1-0.
Within a couple of minutes rangers were level, the ball was played into the box , Geoff Pitcher brought it down and shot this was blocked but his second effort deflected off a defender inside the post .22 minutes 1-1.
Rangers went ahead on 32 minutes after Luke Akehurst fed the ball to Jamie Weston on the edge of the box, one touch and whack the ball flew into the host’s top corner of their goal 1-2. Crowborough went close when Treleaven hit the post when he got on the end of a free kick. Half time 1-2
The second half began evenly with both teams looking to score more. Ben Head in the crowborough goal then made his first of two outstanding saves. James Westlake delivered a pin point cross to Pitcher on the edge of the 6 yard box, the half volley was struck and Head threw himself at the ball and pushed the ball up and over the bar. Crowborough hit the bar from another free kick. Rangers made their first change on 66 minutes replacing Luke Akehurst with Josh Hawkes. Pitcher beat the offside and went round the keeper only for a defender to get back to clear the goal bound effort away. On 74 minutes Josh Hawkes received the ball on the edge of the centre circle took a look up then drove forward and curled the ball home from 25 yards to make it 1-3. Rangers introduced Sam Palmer and Greg Archer in place of James Westlake and Elliott Butler with 10 minutes to go. Crowborough pulled another goal back when Ottway fired home from inside the box after the rangers defence failed to clear on 85 minutes 2-3. With time run out Head made another excellent save to deny Pitcher once again.
Mom: Ben Palmer got on with the job and matched the opponents for pace
Crowborough 2 - 3 St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team