CROWBOROUGH ATHLETIC WOMEN'S FC
Neil Blaber: 56 Forest Dene, Jarvis Brook, Crowborough, East Sussex. TN6 2EX.
Tel: 01892-667760

December 2003 News

Sunday 14th December
Firsts End Year on High Note
The firsts won their third game on the trot with a hard-fought victory over bottom side Haywards Heath, a result which hugely increased their visitors' relegation worries. As usual, we did it the hard way, Laura's deflected pass on five minutes being interpreted as a back pass when Tracey Naden picked it up, and Heath despatching the free kick into the top corner. Six minutes later we were level, Heath keeper Vicki Lank spilling Sam's corner for Liz to amazingly score a non-headed goal from close range. We then created the better chances in the half, Lank pulling off a couple of good saves from Ellie, while Tracey had only a low shot from Sally Bourn to trouble her. Ten minutes into the second half, we were ahead, Lank only being able to parry Ellie's shot across goal where Nat Waller shot home at the far post. Unfortunately we then went off the boil and Heath took control, equalising in similar fashion to our first goal, but their corner was so well placed Tracey had no chance at gathering and it was bundled in as it dropped under the bar. The visitors then piled on thre pressure, and we survived some scary moments before Lady Luck smiled our way with ten minutes to go. A rare break resulted in the ball pinging around in the Heath box, Lank muffed her save and grabbed one of our players' shirts to give us a penalty, which Cha hammered in confidently. A superb glancing header from Nat from a right wing cross five minutes from time made the result safe, and she earned a second successive Player of the Match award in only her third first team start.
 
Monday 8th December
Opportunity For Revenge
The League Cup 3rd Round draw was made tonight and we have got..... Woking at home! This is the chance to put the steaming pile of poo that was our home League performance behind us once and for all, and get rid of one of the favourites at the same time. Bring 'em on!
 
Sunday 7th December
Firsts Notch First Home League Win, 2nds Off Due to Lack of Official

The firsts gained revenge for their defeat at Dover three weeks previously, but made hard work of the win against a physical but ultimately ordinary side. Despite the pre-match talk emphasising workrate, we started at a canter and Dover were soon dominating, taking the lead after 11 minutes as their striker was allowed time to hit a 20-yard shot into the far corner. We struggled to get into the game, often being rushed into giving away possession and playing poor quality passes. Luckily we got back into contention right on half time as a good through ball put Ellie one on one with their keeper and she shot low across goal into the left corner. A minute into the second half and we were ahead, a long ball straight down the middle catching Dover's centre backs asleep and letting Ellie in to grab her second. We then relaxed and were able to raise our game but suffered a scare midway through the half when a high looping shot dropped under the bar and required a superb save from Terri to keep it out. Dover's only other real threat came when Hayley Hollett raced clear of our defence with ten minutes to go, but shot wide with only Terri to beat. As Dover went all-out to get an equaliser, we caught them with a sucker punch right on full time, Sam this time put through on goal to finish superbly under the diving keeper.

The 2nds game v Milford & Witley was called off as there was no referee available to do the game. We managed to find a ref ourselves on Saturday night but the 1st team's ref then had to pull out through injury so he was switched to the Premier Division game.