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

Pre-Season 2003 News

Sunday 24th August
Five Goal Festival Sees Off Woodstock (sorry, couldn't resist)
A hat-trick from Nat Bungay on her first appearance since a recurring back problem ensured a good final friendly result before the season starts on the 31st. Other goals from Rachael and Cha completed the scoring in a 5-2 victory. Full report to follow when someone who was there provides one!
 
Sunday 17th August
Ellie's Goal Salvages Pride in Scrappy Display
A late goal by Ellie after the best move of the game saw honours shared against a Hassocks side who were playing their football in Division Two last year and who arrived at Jarvis Brook with only nine players. Despite the absence of Michelle, Tina, Kerry and Rachael we fielded a fairly strong side and dominated the opening fifteen minutes. However, we failed to capitalise on our possession and the game degenerated into scrappiness, with the only event of note a stoppage in play after one of their players accidentally nutted referee Dom Lyons. At half time we traded Sam and Laura Butcher who had both done well playing for them in the first half for Liz and Vicky Hanshaw, both of whom had good first halves for us. The game continued in similar fashion with neither side creating too much until Hassocks took the lead twenty minutes from time after some penalty box pinball. Finally we raised our game, and some excellent one touch passing between Fran and Nat Waller played in Ellie who blasted past the Hassocks keeper from close range. Overall another decent run-out for the players but we're running out of time to get the passing game back to its correct level if we expect to challenge for anything this season.
 
Sunday 10th August
Scratch Side Shock Heath
Fielding the only players who were available, including new goalkeeper Tracy Weir who had only contacted us on Wednesday, hadn't played for two years and was probably expecting just to watch, and having to borrow Haywards Heath's Keveena Mosen when Lisa limped off after only 5 minutes, the players exceptional workrate in 90+ degree heat ultimately deserved victory against good opposition. After an even first half in which both sides created a couple of chances but failed to convert, we had the bonus of the Jarvis Brook slope in the second half, and took the lead about 10 minutes after the break when Nat Waller hit a sweet half volley from 15 yards as the ball bounced between Heath's centre backs. Unfortunately we went to sleep for a while and allowed the visitors to dominate for a spell, and they equalised with a powerful 20 yard daisy cutter into the far corner which Tracy saw late, got a hand to but couldn't prevent sneaking in through a cloud of dust. With all credit to our players, a number of whom hadn't played a full game for years (Sarah, Laura B), had been out with injury (Liz, Laura C) or were carrying knocks from Thursday's training (Tina, Michelle), they kept battling and took the lead five minutes from time as good link play between Sam and Nat played in Keveena Mosen whose initial shot was blocked but not held by the Heath keeper but she followed up and tucked in the loose ball from an acute angle. Full credit to Heath for an excellent run-out and for lending us one of their better players when we dropped down to 10. See you all again on the 31st!
 
Monday 4th August
League and Reserves Cup Draws Made
Both sides have been drawn away in the first rounds of their respective cups. The firsts travel down to relegated Hastings, while the 2nds are hosted by new side Dover Reserves. Both games take place on Sunday 12th October.
 
Sunday 3rd August
Honours Shared in Testimonial

Andi's testimonial took the form of three 'mini-games' in the searing Jarvis Brook heat this afternoon. In the first game, the 2nds proved far too pacey for Lewes' reserves to handle, winning 4-0 with a brace each from Shanna and Nat. Every player can be proud of their performance, but it was particularly good to see Kim back in a Crowborough shirt after such a long time out injured.

The firsts slipped up, however, going a goal behind to Shemaine Murtagh in the first half. We started the second half strongly with Ellie shooting narrowly wide from the restart, and Tracey Chapman had what appeared a great equaliser ruled out as the ref blew for a foul on her as she shot. To add insult to injury, Lewes took the ball straight back up the other end and made it 2-0. We switched to three at the back to chase the game, and they countered by pushing up an extra striker, and our gamble failed as Murtagh sped away to add a third goal a few minutes from the end.

In the third game where we fielded a mixed side, Ellie found her shooting boots and hit the first goal in a 2-0 win, the first following great work from Shanna and a through ball from Rachael, who herself got the second when put through by an excellent ball by Lois. Overall a good workout, but certainly some lessons to be learned from the first team performance.
 
Saturday 2nd August
Carly Moves to Stockport
Carly today completed her transfer to Stockport County, for whom she played earlier in the week in a prestige friendly against an almost full-strength Doncaster Belles. Stockport won the Northern Combination last year by some margin, and will be competing in the Northern Division of the Premier League for the first time. Good luck to Carly and her new team for the coming season.