September 2002 News

The firsts progressed to the First Round proper of the FA Cup with a 6-2 win over London Colney but had to play 80 minutes with only 10 players after Nat was taken to hospital with severe ligament damage to her right ankle. After weathering early pressure from the visitors, we took the lead on 6 minutes as a ball over the top set Ellie free and with the keeper hesitating she struck a low shot across her. We were 2-0 ahead soon afterward, again Ellie turning their defence and her square pass allowing Nat to blast home, but a Colney defender sliding in to prevent to shot took her standing foot and the resulting injury lead to an ambulance being called. Colney took advantage of the Crowborough players' lapse in concentration as the ambulance arrived to pull a goal back, and Ellie soon had the ball back in Colney's net but was flagged offside. However, as Coleny pushed forward to press home their numerical advantage they were more vulnerable to the ball over the top and Ellie struck twice more before the break to give us a 4-1 lead. Colney were far from beaten and they pulled another goal back just after half time and had the edge for most of the second half as we tired. However, one last effort in the last few minutes saw as safe, first Rachael firing in from the edge of the box and then Ellie following in to stab home the rebound after the keeper couldn't hold another shot from Rachael.

The 2nds were short again as various players were unavailable and took on last year's Division Three champions Senacre Dolphins with only ten players. The visitors included ex-Crows Angie Sutcliffe and Kate Maryon in their number, as well as a number of ex-Maidstone United and Tonbridge players. However, we made light of the shortage with Amy Neale back from illness bossing the back line and new signings Liz Waller and Tania Ramsden both impressing in their first ever competitive games we won 2-0 with goals from Carly and Nat Waller to move into the top half of the table.

Fielding the same side that won at Chichester last week, the firsts beat Whitehawk for the first time ever in a competitive fixture. They did it the hard way, conceding a goal in the first 90 seconds as Nicky Heffernan's cross-shot caught the breeze and drifted over Tracey Naden to roll agonisingly over the line. We were soon back in it, Nat firing home after good work from Rachael, and Ellie gave us the lead on 13 minutes. However, slack marking allowed Kareema Abdullah a free shot which she put away for the equaliser; 2-2 and only 15 minutes played! Their goalkeeper fluffed a catch to allow Rachael to give us back the lead, but again we let them back in, Heffernan equalising. We then stepped up the game and scored two in three minutes, first Ellie and then Rachael with a sublime lob to give us a 5-3 lead but they pegged us back again just before half time when Jo Blaise was allowed to shoot low and Tracey let the ball slip under her hand. The second half was less frenetic and we were more in control, taking a 3-goal advantage as Nat hammered in a loose ball from a corner and Sam hitting a superb free kick, but they weren't out of it and got two back in the last ten minutes through Heffernan and a Zoe Jackson free kick, making for a rather nervous few minutes of stoppage time.

The 2nds visited table-toppers Redhill Reserves with only nine players again this week. Their performance outweighed the home side's numerical advantage, playing good passing football and digging deep late on to take all three points. Twenty-five minutes in, Carly making a great run on the right played a delightful one-two with Kate before finishing cooly. Redhill equalised 15 minutes into the second half but the players' resolve didn't weaken. The winner came after good work from Lisa on the left sending Nat free who buried her shot low to the keeper's right. The back three worked tirelessly keeping Redhill at bay along with goalkeeper Roby making fine saves when called upon. Carly, Nat & Becky all played out of position in midfield backing up the defence late on secured a stunning victory. (cheers to Darren for 2nds report!)

The firsts battled past a determined Chichester side in the Sussex County Cup today to book a semi-final place against Whitehawk. Showing a vast improvement from the lacklustre start of last week, we took the game to the hosts, who themselves were inifintely better than the team beaten 5-0 at the Alderbrook a fortnight ago. Our dominance paid off 15 minutes into the half when Milla shot home following a corner what was only half-cleared. For the next quarter of an hour we bossed the game but were unable to go any further ahead and gradually Chichester got back into the game, looking increasingly likely to peg us back as half time approached. We held out, but 10 minutes into the second half we allowed Laura Brander a run on goal and she struck a fine shot from 20 yards. After weathering a few more minutes of pressure we raised our game, and after good work from Sam and Ellie, Nat hammered in a cross at the far post to give us back the lead. Sam was again involved as we quickly got our third, her through ball releasing Ellie for a trademark finish. Chichester battled back and only an excellent fingertip save from Tracey Naden prevented Carol Taylor from pulling a goal back. We had the last word, however, as Laura (making her first team debut) took a quick throw to Sam who again released Ellie to take the ball around the keeper and tuck it away.

The 2nds had a full team for the first time this season, and recorded their first League point in a 0-0 draw with Castle Colts. More details to follow.

The firsts survived a pretty dreadful all-round performance to go past lower division opponents London Ladies in the FA Cup. After an incredibly lacklustre first half, in which, despite no real urgency and a habit of giving the ball away under little pressure and getting caught offside about 20 times in the first 25 minutes, we still created the majority of chances, we failed to take any of them and went in 0-0 at half time. After a pep talk at the break we were still half-asleep for the opening ten minutes of the second half and the hosts had their best spell of the game, drawing two good saves from Tracey Naden and putting us under a lot of pressure. However, Cha then gave us the lead with a good right footed strike and headed us further ahead a couple of minutes later from a Sam Shearman corner. The floodgates then really opened, and Ellie bagged two in two minutes, but a late challenge straight through her ankle as she tucked the ball away for her second took us down to ten players for the rest of the game. At 4-0 up we started to play some decent football, although a needless trip from Sam gave them a free kick on the edge of the box which they dinked just under the bar to pull a goal back. A good move from Rachael four minutes later put Tracy Kelly through and she restored the four-goal advantage, and with everyone waiting for the whistle to go Rachael got our sixth deep into stoppage time.

The 2nds again had only nine players for their league game at Buxted, and again the two-player advantage cost us the points. 0-0 at half time, we went down to eight players when Francesca pulled her hamstring, and they took advantage with two quick goals just after half time. We pulled one back through Nat Waller midway through the half, but their advantage was restored via a dubious penalty award shortly afterwards. All in all a very good performance despite the result, and with players coming back next week we should begin to pick up soon.

Crowborough are top of the SE Counties League for the first time since 1996 after a comprehensive opening day win over Chichester. Missing Woody and Amy and only able to field the bare eleven due to lack of players, we started tentatively but TC soon got us on the way, hammering in a close range shot to give us the lead on 10 minutes. A 30-yard wonder strike from Cha doubled the advantage a few minutes later, and then Rachael hit a left wing cross in on the volley to make it 3-0 about mid-way through the half. The Chichester keeper was pulling off some fine saves, but Ellie made it 4-0 just before half time to give us a comfortable second half. Ellie got her second to finish the scoring about 10 minutes after half time, rounding the keeper and tucking the ball home, and as players tired and started to cramp up in the hot conditions we basically coasted the final half hour with Chichester only threatening on the odd occasion.

The 2nds travelled to deepest Surrey with only nine players due to the summer exodus to East Grinstead, but gave their hosts Milford & Witley a great game, eventually going down 5-3. 3-0 down at half time, we actually won the second half with a hat-trick from Nat Waller, her first for the club.