February 2003 News

Almost a year to the day since the 4-1 League Cup win at Redhill to celebrate Spike's last birthday, the firsts produced another superb performance against a Woking side unbeaten since 6th October, even allowing the visitors to come back from 2-0 down before seeing them off in the second half. The contrast to last week's effort at Whitehawk was astounding considering the only change to the side was Francesca coming for in her full first team debut in place of Lisa. Straight from kick off we moved the ball around well, and closed them down quickly when possession was lost; a quick through ball in the fifteenth minute set Ellie away and she tucked the shot home to give us the lead. A great long pass from Laura set Ellie away again on 25 minutes to make it 2-0, but then we seemed to collectively take a rest and let Woking back into the game. Our defensive alertness was lacking just after the half hour when a quick throw put Emma Constable free in the area, and although Sam was covering she turned brilliantly and clipped a shot past Tracey. That gave them the initiative, and just before half time we were under pressure again and a snap shot close to the by-line from a narrow angle was deflected in to level the scores. So much effort, but now we had to do it all again.... as it happened we were up to the task and started the second half like we did the first, and soon won a corner out on the left. Sam swung it in dangerously and as their keeper missed it, Nat bundled it home at the far post. The game then ebbed and flowed with chances being missed at both ends, although Woking's keeper pulled off three excellent saves in quick succession to keep them in it. The visitors had a further blow when they were reduced to ten players through injury having used their sub at half time, and Ellie wrapped things up fifteen minutes from time when she latched onto another long ball, outpaced the defence and shot low to complete her hat-trick. This was the best Crowborough performance of the season by some distance, and even more impressive considering the players we had missing!

The 2nds travelled to promotion chasing Beeding fielding a full eleven players but finished with only seven due to knocks and strained muscles. Sam was the first to depart at half-time and Nat the last with the final attack of the game. At half-time we were 1-0 down and re-organised for the second half but our gameplan was blown apart with the succession of injuries incurred in the last 45. Beeding seemed unable to deal with the Boro spirit that hit them and never used the space they had to full effect. That was down to the bobbly pitch and our players refusing to give up. All the players supported one another and worked for each other throughout the game and their attutide was nothing short of fantastic. We conceded four second half goals, two coming late on as we tired. We rode our luck defensively at times but always looked capable of creating something going forward. One of our best chances fell to Fran Golby, who ran the length of the pitch, stepping inside the fullback and hitting a cracking shot that fizzed past the post. All who participated in this game should be commended for their brilliant attitude and sheer hard work. When other teams would have collapsed and argued amongst themselves we just got on with the task in hand. Final Score: Beeding 5 Boro 0. (thanks to Darren for 2nds report)

The firsts visited the intimidating East Brighton Park for the first time since our relegation from the Combination League two years ago with Nat pressed into service as an emergency right back, Liz Power playing only her fifth ever game of football and Lisa making her first competitive start in the Premier Division. Unfortunately, Whitehawk were their usual energised selves and were first to pretty much everything, completely dominating the first half and taking the lead on 15 minutes when Deano Carlin got away from the defence, rounded Tracey Naden and tucked the ball into the unguarded net. It should really have been 2-0 a few minutes later when a long range effort was heading for the net but a Whitehawk player unwittingly pulled off a superb defensive header to cannon the shot off the crossbar. Despite all their possession the hosts had not really forced Tracey into a save, and at only 1-0 at half time we still had everything to play for. The first fifteen minutes of the second half saw our best spell, but despite forcing a couple of corners we were unable to create anything dangerous. Midway through the half, Carlin again got free and doubled the score with another clinical finish. Our best chance of salvaging something was when Ellie was set free one-on-one but the Whitehawk keeper made a good save at her feet.

The 2nds took on promotion favourites Hassocks in a double-header fielding five new players, all under 16. With only eight regulars available and three defensive minded players at our disposal it was always going to prove interesting if nothing else! We opened with Shanna & Nat filling in the defensive holes as makeshift defenders allowing Becky and Fran to hold the central midfield together with new signings Fran & Steph starting wide in midfield & Milla upfront with Sam, making her first start of the season. Subs Mel & Lois came on in the second half for their debuts replacing new Fran & Steph. We lost 5-0 which was harsh as the new signings battled well and the experienced players showed their class but were unable to hold back a determined Hassocks team. Two of the five goals were top class, David Seaman would have had a problem stopping them. Fran's performance in central midfield was superb, as was the attitude of Shanna, Nat & Milla all of whom had to play out of position in defence during the course of the afternoon.

The second game saw Claire make her debut in goal and a back four of Tanya, Roby, Terri & Milla. Midfield was re-organised with the two Fran's, Shanna & Becky allowing Nat to play in her strikers role along side Steff. The most entertaining few minutes of the game came when Milla ran shoulder
to shoulder into our penalty box trying to get a challenge on a Hassocks striker. As Milla lost her footing she fell infront of the Hassocks player bringing her down in the process and resulting in a penalty. Claire dived the right way only for the ball to cannon back off the post and hit her on the back and roll into the empty net! Old Fran finally got her goal that her impressive performanace deserved when she took the ball off the goalkeeper and rolled the ball into the empty net. We re-organised at halftime with Terri taking over in goal and playing three at the back with five accross the midfield area. Sam replaced Steph up front. As Hassocks tired in the second half our extra numbers in midfield resulted in many more chances our strikers, Nat finally finding the net after a
quality miss that would rank high on the 'Giggs' scale!!! We finished the game the stronger team and drew the second half 1-1. Hassocks had already won the game in the first half, leading 6-1 at the break, but we should take comfort in our second half performance when we showed our resilience and 'never-say-die' attitude. A bad day for results but the future looks brighter. Final score Hassocks 7 Boro 2. (thanks to Darren for 2nds reports)

A patched up first team missing a number of regulars overcame a determined Dover side and an appalling playing surface to register a convincing victory. Missing Laura, Carly and Liz Waller we gave Liz Power a starting place in only her fourth-ever game, and welcomed a rare appearance from Tracey Chapman, her first since the win at Ringmer in October. On the bench were Lisa (10 mins first team action last week), Fran (20 mins as sub last season) and Tania (half a dozen games for the seconds). However we tore into them straight from the start, and were ahead on 2 minutes, Cha bundling home at the far post as Dover's keeper failed to deal with a cross-shot. Ellie put us 2-0 ahead on 7 mins and only an excellent save from Sam's shot stopped it being 3-0 a minute later. Nat picked up a thigh strain and was replace by Lisa with only ten minutes played; after that we seemed to lose our momentum as the already churned-up pitch became even worse, and a Dover break allowed Ange McLoughlin to reduce the deficit with a good 20-yard shot. As both sides struggled to play any football down the middle of the pitch, chances were missed at either end before Ellie latched onto a square ball across the edge of their box and hammered in a fierce drive to make it 3-1. We were still leaving holes at the back and only a great saving tackle from Michelle prevented Dover pulling another goal back just before the break. TC had chased everything in the first half and looked like she'd never been away, and was rewarded with our fourth goal just after half time, getting on the end of a right wing cross and finishing well from ten yards. We then went off the boil yet again, and a sustained period of Dover possession cuminated in them pulling another goal back midway through the half. At that stage we were rocking, as tiredness had set in and Dover were throwing players forward, but Rachael finally broke through for an excellent individual goal to make it 5-2, although there was some controversy as the Dover linesman was flagging Ellie offside - Rachael had run onto her own ball forward and the flag was overruled. Ellie had the final say, a superb snap shot from 20 yards looping over the keeper to complete her hat-trick.

The 2nds home game with Haywards Heath was washed out by the overnight rain.

The firsts went down 5-3 at Malling in an enthralling match dominated by a series of bizarre refereeing decisions. An indication of what was to come was an early booking for Cha after she was penalised for winning a header (she was airborne and had connected with the ball before the Malling player ran into her), and soon afterwards Malling were ahead, after a free kick was awarded on the edge of the box which even the Malling players were questioning. Lisa Prince's kick was heading for Tracey Naden's hand before a late deflection off Liz Waller took it away into the far corner. Ten minutes later we were caught square as Nicky Penfold's run took her away and she rounded Tracey before tucking the ball home. We struggled with the formation and changed at half time, handing Liz Power her first team debut at left back as we went to 4-4-2. The effect was immediate, our domination getting its just reward as Nat was brought down for Cha to slot away the penalty to bring us back into the game. Unfortunately, our luck was out today as shortly afterwards Penfold got away down the left, and her speculative cross with no other Malling player in support hit the inside of the far post and span in over the line to restore their two-goal cushion. However, we weren't finished yet and the best move of the game involving Carly and Rachael ended with Ellie lashing in a high shot from close range to pull it back to 3-2. Our defence was still looking vulnerable to the counter-attack and Malling found the net again in strange fashion, Liz Power's clearance cannoning back off a Malling player and rolling into the far corner of the net. Just to prove our luck was totally out, Tracey let a low shot through her legs to make it 5-2, and another odd refereeing decision gave us a second penalty which Cha scored ten minutes from time. Further chances were missed at both ends as the clock ran down, and we went down to ten players as Ellie cramped up a few minutes before the end.

The 2nds game at Haywards Heath was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.