Crowborough Athletic 3 Erith & Belvedere 0

Match 91/21/1955 - Tuesday, 1st February 2022 - SCEFL Challenge Cup 3R

Crowborough Athletic (1) 3 Duncan 33,85 Lambert 74
Erith & Belvedere (0) 0
Attendance: 121

Admission: £4
Programme: £1
Mileage: 44/4,965

Groundhoppers fondly refer to the Thud and Blunder of Step 5 football and this SCEFL Challenge Cup game lived up to its billing in a first half, high on endeavour, low on quality that brought about a niggly encounter. But, one player stood head and shoulders above the mediocrity, Crowborough’s Jacob Lambert, a young man who, if his club isn’t receiving seven-day approaches on a weekly basis, then I’m amazed.

On a blessing of a mild evening, and the recent dry spell, the Crowborough pitch seems to have recovered well from the Christmas encounter with Tunbridge Wells when it was very heavy going.

The opening minutes were a signal of what was to come with some heavy challenges, mostly mistimed and leading to endless free kicks, from one of which Crowborough fashioned the first chance with a header from Lucas Murrain that wasn’t too far wide.

For a side that sits fourth in the league, Erith & Belvedere offered very little up front, Richard Jimoh indicated that he could be a threat but he lacked support and was mostly well shackled by the Crows central defenders, Tom Boddy and Josh Fermor.

Eventually, a little bit of quality emerged and Lambert set up Elliott Duncan to fire into the bottom corner after 33 minutes.

The two combined well again a couple of minutes before the break but Duncan’s effort cleared the bar.

Duncan, who impressed in my last visit, forced the Dere’s goalkeeper, Tom Way, into a good low save within a couple of minutes of the restart, and after five minutes of the period, Erith had their one and only really chance of the game but Cameron Hall smothered well at the feet of Jimoh.

Unfortunately the tetchy nature of the game continued and the referee responded with a couple more yellows.

Crowborough continued to dominate with a drive shot from Ollie Hyland saved before, in the 74th minute, Murrain crossed from the right bye line for Lambert to tuck home at close range.

With five minutes remaining, the spectre of extra time (is this the only competition in which this still exists) was removed when Murrain doubled his assists for Duncan to record his brace.

I used to comment whilst watching Tonbridge Angels Academy games for free that I would pay money to watch Lambert and now I do, albeit the princely sum of £4, and it’s worth every penny.

Crowborough Athletic 3 Tunbridge Wells 2

Match 76/21/1940 - Monday, 27th December 2021 - SCEFL Premier

Crowborough Athletic (1) 3 Murrain 23 Duncan 80,83
Tunbridge Wells (1) 2 Gethin 6 Lightfoot 58
Attendance: 513

Admission: £4 Senior
Programme: £1
Mileage: 50/4,192

What a Christmas Cracker and like a bottle of champagne that has proved difficult to uncork the game exploded into a dramatic finale.

In atrocious conditions, both sides deserve great credit for the entertainment served up for a crowd of over 500 in this festive A26 derby. A pitch that was always going to end up as a mud bath was never going to aid the quality of the game but both sets of players did their best to play football.

Similarly positioned in mid-table, a competitive encounter was to be envisaged and it certainly didn’t disappoint.

Tunbridge Wells started the better and it was no great surprise that they took the lead after just six minutes. Initially, a driving run by Harry Hudson from midfield saw James Nurden sent clear down the left and his low, driven cross was met by Matt Gethin who had a relatively easy tap in.

As the rain pelted down it would be easy to relate to floodgates being opened but Crowborough were having none of that and just a minute later, Elliott Duncan struck a post with the follow-up denied by an instinctive stop from 17-year-old Frankie Leonard.

The home side continued to force the pace and after Leonard had saved from Jacob Lambert and Harry Osborne had fired over they deservedly found an equaliser on 23 minutes through ex-Tunbridge Wells striker Lucas Murrain. An initial shot from Ollie Hyland came back from the crossbar and a second effort was beaten away by Leonard but the goalkeeper was helpless as Murrain fired straight down the middle from the rebound.

The game ebbed and flowed with both goalkeepers called into action. In the Crowborough goal, Cameron Hall saved from Kyron Lightfoot on a trio of occasions whilst Leonard saw efforts from Osbourne and Duncan narrowly fail to find the target.

Tunbridge Wells ended the half firmly on the front foot. A free kick from Lightfoot was saved by Hall and a shot from Hudson was deflected wide by a coat of paint.

The visitors picked up the second half as they finished the first and Hall needed to paw away a cross-cum-shot from Frankie Griffin and save from Lightfoot. But the natural flow of the game meant that Crowborough would have their spell and with it a golden opportunity to take the lead when Lambert broke through to set up Duncan whose shot was saved by Leonard but as the ball was recycled a cross found the head of Ali Mouajal who somehow directed it over the bar.

A minute later, the 58th, the Wells got their noses in front a second time with once more an initial run and pass from Hudson finding Lightfoot on the left side side of the box, his shot appeared to take a deflection and the ball looped over the stranded Hall and into the far corner.

Tunbridge Wells failed to capitalise of their momentum and back came Crowborough. In the 77th minute, the referee was left with a difficult decision as the Wells goalkeeper lay prone on the ground with the game going on around him. A pass through the left channel saw Leonard sliding in at the feet of Murrain, the slippery ball escaping his grasp and taking a knock in the process. The loose ball was sent goalwards and defenders twice cleared from the line before the referee called a halt to give the stricken keeper some attention, much to the annoyance of Crows supporters who felt there had been minimum contact with the goalkeeper.

Their upset turned to joy three minutes later when the ball was picked up from a clearance by the impressive Duncan who, from 20 yards, curled an exquisite shot into the top corner.

The game had turned now into the home side’s favour and three minutes later they found a winner when a cross from the right saw the ball fall to Osborne whose shot was parried but only into the path of Duncan who scored from close range.

So the A26 bragging rights goes the way of the Crows and on balance they just about deserved it. But as the battle weary players trudged to the tunnel, muddied head to toe to a man, they could feel the appreciation of the spectators who had witnessed a traditional no quarters given, none asked Christmas Derby.

Crowborough Athletic 0 Tunbridge Wells 2

Match 107/17/1557 - Tuesday, 27th March 2018 - SCEFL Challenge Cup SF 2nd Leg

Crowborough (0) 0
Tunbridge Wells (0) 2 Harris 9 Mici 90+4
Attendance: 406

Entrance: £4 Senior
Programme: £1
Mileage: 74/7,374

Match Report

Crowborough Athletic’s apparent disinterest in a Cup Final place was Tunbridge Wells’ gain as they fielded a weakened side and rolled up the white flag on a tie that they trailed by three goals from a similarly abject first leg performance.

On a freezing cold night at Erith Town in February, I watched them battle back and through extra time to progress in the competition, but it begs the question why they bothered when they gave up a semi-final so meekly.

All of which gives no credit to Tunbridge Wells who produced a fine defensive performance after effectively putting the tie beyond the home side with an early Jack Harris goal.

My master plan for the Wells entailed getting through the first 15 minutes unscathed but this was bettered when Harris glanced a header from a Tom Davey free kick into the bottom corner with potty-mouthed Crows goalkeeper, Dan Ellis, a motionless spectator.

That Crowborough had given up a free kick in a dangerous position was synonymous with their indiscipline over the two legs. Two sendings-off at Culverden were followed by another six bookings in this game.

Rather than see off any early threat from the Crows the Wells took the game to their neighbours with Jon Pilbeam firing wide before the opening goal and then forcing Ellis into a good, blocking save at his feet following.

In truth, perhaps the heavy pitch was a factor, neither side were particularly good at keeping the ball as passes went astray with regular abandon.

For a side desperate to get themselves back into the game it took Crowborough 33 minutes to ask Cameron Hall to make a meaningful save, pushing away a shot from Sam Carrington, low to his left.

The home side exerted some pressure as the clock ticked past 45 minutes with Dan Perry firing wide and Tom Vickers over. But, it was very comfortable for the Wells.

An electric surge from Alexx Kendal was brought to an end by a cynical foul that earned Jason Barton the Crows their fifth booking of the evening, far in excess of their shots on goal.

Crowborough brought on their bigger hitters in Tom Phipp and Zac Attwood, more in an attempt to salvage some pride rather than save the game it would be guess.

Cameron Hall made a brave blocking save to deny Sean Loft from close range and Tom Davey similarly put his body on the line minutes later.

Despite the home side throwing a number of high balls into the box for Hall to continuously punch away the Wells’ supporters were breathing comfortably knowing that their place at Longmead Stadium was secure.

A clean sheet was the order of the day and when the Crows smacked their best chance against the bar with Loft sending the rebound wide that wish was about to be granted.

But there remained time for the cake to be iced. Pilbeam broke away down the left and his cross left substitute Gianfranco Mici with a tap-in against his old club to the delight of the large Wells’ contingent in a crowd of 406.

Sean Muggeridge can justify his choices to his club's short-changed supporters with a good Easter period that includes the visit of league leaders Sevenoaks. But, in true Barry Davies style, with a cup final to follow against Whitstable Town after at times, a desperately poor season, Wells’ supporters will quite rightly say: “frankly, who cares?”

Crowborough Athletic 3 Bearsted 0

Match 49/17/1499 - Thursday, 26th October 2017 - SCEFL

Crowborough Athletic (1) 3 Barton 7 Treleaven 80 Crabb 82
Bearsted (0) 0
Attendance: 172

Entrance: £4 Senior
Programme: £1
Mileage: 19/3,265

Crowborough signed off their time at Maidstone’s Gallagher Stadium with an ultimately comfortable 3-0 win over Bearsted enabling the stadium announcer to proudly proclaim their departure as league leaders.

They have spent three months on the plastic at Maidstone whilst their own pitch also became a 3G surface but unresolved planning issues see them return to play on the green, green grass of home.

Bearsted took a lot of credit with some attractive football in the opening 20 minutes despite going behind after just eight minutes when Jason Barton powered in a header from a Henry Muggeridge corner. They opened up the Crows on a couple of occasions with shots at the ex-Tonbridge goalkeeper, Anthony Di Bernardo and Matt Garner saw a header clear the bar.

But as Crowborough gained control it was the Bears’ goalkeeper, Scott Andrews that took centre stage with a series of saves that particularly frustrated Zak Attwood.

The second half was similarly one-way traffic and somewhat surprising that it took until nine minutes from time before a turn and shot from the edge of the box by Ross Treleaven gave them breathing space.

Within two minutes the game was wrapped up when a shot from Sam Carrington was only parried into the path of Sam Crabb to tuck in from close range.

Rumours of how much this soirée in Maidstone has cost Crowborough are varied, what it has not cost them is any ground in the race for the title.

Crowborough Athletic 4 Rusthall 2

Match 28/17/1478 - Thursday, 7th September 2017 - SCEFL Premier

Crowborough Athletic (1) 4 Muggeridge 2, Pearson 65, Carrington 72,82
Rusthall (1) 2 Harper 30, Mitchell 85
Attendance: 112
Played at Maidstone United

Entrance: £3 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 20/1,666

Match Report

This was an old school reunion with no less than 13 of the respective squads having played at Tonbridge or Tunbridge Wells and several having played for both Rusthall and Crowborough. It is usually a recipe for a bit of needle but the game was fought out largely on a good spirit and a very good game ensued.

Four years ago, this fixture as a league match was almost unthinkable, add in the East Sussex club playing at Maidstone in Kent, makes it all the more surreal.

Crowborough have made the 4G surface at the Gallagher their temporary home whilst a similar surface is laid at the Alderbrook Recreation Ground.

Rusthall adapted well to the surface to the surface over the 90 minutes but were caught cold going behind after just 90 seconds when Tom Phipp played in Henry Muggeridge to step inside a defender and bury his shot into the bottom corner.

Crowborough threatened to run away with the game in the early stages but the Rustics slowly found their feet with Crows’ goalkeeper Dan Ellis saving from Joe Fuller and also pushing away a 20 yard effort from Danny Powell.

Rusthall’s leveller was fully deserved when it arrived with just past the half-hour mark.

Stewart Gostlow sent a deep free-kick into the penalty area and Dan Mitchell rose at the far post to send a looping header over Ellis with Powell seemingly having the last touch before the ball crossed the line. However, the goal was officially credited to Mitchell.

Powell found his way into the referee’s notebook after steering the ball into the net with his hand and the Crows Connor Pring ended a good first half with a shot from 20 yards that wasn’t too far wide.

The game remained open after the restart with Fuller’s header cleared from the line by James White.

Crowborough finally edged their noses in front after 65 minutes when Pring took a poor clearance from Rusthall keeper Joe Cullip to feed Tom Pearson who fired into the bottom corner.

Rusthall might have fortunately levelled quickly when a miscued cross bounced of the top of the crossbar but they went 3-1 behind when an interchange of passes between Sam’s Crabb and substitute Carrington ended with the latter scoring despite Cullip getting a hand to the ball.

The score took on a flattering look with eight minutes remaining when Carrington doubled his tally with a shot on the turn that Cullip might have done better in saving.

Three minutes later Rusthall gave themselves some hope when Mitchell converted with a header at the far post but Crowborough held on for the points.

Crowborough Athletic 3 Tunbridge Wells 0

Match 70/16/1377 - Tuesday, 27th December 2016 - Southern Counties East

Crowborough Athletic (2) 3 Carrington 5 Attwood 38 (pen) Crabb 50
Tunbridge Wells (0) 0
Attendance: 503

Entrance: £4 Senior
Programme: £1.00
Mileage: 46/5,092

The difference in mood at the final whistle was as stark as the result itself. Whilst Jason Bourne led his side to a sombre warm-down, the exuberant Crowborough matchday announcer was exclaiming that the home side had now gone a club record 27 games without defeat. As the Tunbridge Wells supporters, who had turned up in good numbers, waited patiently for the Crows to disappear into the dressing room he chose to repeat their admirable record rather than rubbing salt in the wound with a comment along the lines of “and we didn’t even break sweat”.

Tunbridge Wells remain a precarious three points clear of the relegation places but their run of consecutive defeats now sits at six and whilst they have three games in hand of Erith Town and Beckenham, their defensive frailty hardly inspires confidence that those games will bear enough points to steer them to the calmer waters of mid-table.

Of course budgets tell the story of what players are available to the respective managers. Whilst Sean Muggeridge can parade the likes of Zak Attwood, Lee Carey and his son Henry, all with experience at Ryman Premier League clubs or higher, Jason Bourne’s cloth is cut from loaned players and youngsters.

When, five minutes in the second half, an Attwood cross was deflected onto his own post by Luke Carpenter with the rebound falling handily at the feet of Sam Crabb, who with time aplenty picked his spot into the bottom corner, it afforded the Crows the opportunity to spend 40 minutes with foot off the pedal, playing at training ground pace with the added indulgence of a little showboating to please the home support.

Perhaps there was the slightest case of what might have been with Crowborough’s opening goal after five minutes. A Tunbridge Wells attack had been thwarted with successive shots by Charlie Cornford and Ryan Crandley parried away by goalkeeper, Dan Ellis. The subsequent clearance sent Sam Carrington clear to tuck the ball past the advancing Steve Lawrence. It was a case of stretching Ellis at one end to conceding in a matter of 10 seconds.

Crowborough gathered momentum from the opener and after 16 minutes Dan Perry struck a post and, after 30 minutes, Lawrence saved bravely at Perry’s feet as the winger broke clear.

The Wells were on the wrong end of a harsh decision after 38 minutes when a penalty was awarded for handball against Jake Hampson after the ball reared up off the turf. Attwood coolly converting the spot kick into the bottom corner to double the Crows advantage.

Once Crowborough opened up a three goal lead in the 50 minute, the game deteriorated quickly as the home side went through the motions with the visitors not having the wherewithal to threaten their freewheeling opponents. Bradley Large, on as a 61st minute substitute for Crandley produced a cross for Josh Biddlecombe to shoot over the bar in their only meaningful attack of the second period.

Whilst the Crows celebrated and looked forward to a FA Vase Fourth Round tie against Eastbourne Town, the Wells face another daunting derby fixture against Sevenoaks Town on Bank Holiday Monday, 2nd January 2017.

This was my first visit to Crowborough in the lifetime of this blog. The ground has changed inasmuch that it is now fully enclosed in accordance with the ground regulations of senior football, my last time was a pre-season game well over 10 years ago when the pitch was just roped off and the touchlines strewn with dogs mess. But these days, it is professional and welcoming. Pre-game walking behind the goal having bought a cup of tea, a stray ball from the warm-up took the tea clean out of my hand! The stadium announcer kindly purchased a fresh cup for me, a very nice gesture.