Crowborough Athletic FC (0) 0-3 (0) Redhill FC
Tuesday 25 August ‘09
Sussex County League Division One
7:45pm Kick Off

Crows: R Gordon, L Leppard, D Adams (capt), J Risby, S Whibley, K Everest, C Ransome (A Shade 69), S Reid, S Carrington (T Saunders 65), S Treleaven, N Millroy (P Wilkins 76).
CRO RDHL
1 Shots On Target 7
0 Shots Off Target 5
1 Corners 8
12 Fouls Committed 8
3 Offside 4
Subs Not Used: T Boddy, B Head (GK).

Attendance: 60.
Half-Time: 0-0.
Goals: M Elliot 68’ 80’ 83.
Man of the Match: Sam REID.

By Anthony Scott

A second half hat-trick from Marcus Elliot condemned Crowborough to their third defeat of the season.

“After a poor first half we tightened up all over the pitch and competed much better, until a sublime piece of skill and an unstoppable shot from 25 yards opened the scoring for Redhill,” commented Boro manager Stuart Nowell, “After that we attempted to go looking for an equaliser and were always vulnerable to their pace on the counter attack.”

Redhill were the better side first half, and came close to opening the scoring early on, as Lee Radford went inside of Luke Leppard, and his drive glanced off Crows’ Chris Ransome, and the ball hit the near post before going wide.
Then the ball was played through to Leon Dussard, whose shot across goal was well saved by the diving Rob Gordon.
On 36, Chris Hubbard’s corner picked out the unmarked Jon Hogg, but he could only head wide of the far post from close range.
Gordon then came to the Crows’ rescue as he pulled off an excellent save from close range to deny Hogg, the keeper immediately then made another great save. Hubbard’s long range strike looked to be dipping over Gordon, but the outstretched keeper did fantastically well to tip the ball over the bar.
Crowborough then broke on the brink of half-time, as Sam Carrington’s through ball played in Scott Treleaven who was one on one with Chris May, but only for the linesman to put his flag up for an apparent offside.

Crowborough’s second half performance was much improved, but they failed to turn any of their possession into goalscoring chances, with Joe Risby’s effort from range May’s only real test.
Redhill took advantage of this, and broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion after the hour. Marcus Elliot cut in from the right, before unleashing an unstoppable strike from 25 yards away from the diving Gordon and into the top corner.
On 73, the Lobster’s came close to double their lead, as Hubbard saw his ambitious attempt on goal go narrowly over, before Elliot doubled his tally.
Substitute Andrew Dalhouse played the ball over the top to Elliot, who beat the offside flag, and his well executed lob over the advancing Gordon found the bottom far corner.
Elliot completed his hat-trick seven minutes from time, as Hubbard’s ball found Elliot, and Gordon’s clearance looked to have hit the striker’s hand, but this allowed Elliot to drive away from the defender on the line to wrap up victory for the visitors.