Tom Saunders stunner in vain for poor Crowborough Athletic

CROWBOROUGH ATH 1

HASSOCKS 2

Sussex County One

HASSOCKS came from behind to beat Crowborough Athletic for the second time in a month on Tuesday evening.

The Crows had taken the lead through Tom Saunders, who lit up a dire first half with a magical strike. However, the visitors came roaring back and turned the game on its head in the last 15 minutes.

Boss Dave Adams was disappointed with his side's second-half display.

"I thought we had done enough to go in at half-time 1-0 up," Adams said. "But they had a spell after the break where we just sat back. We did not press them, did not press the ball.

"That was disappointing from my point of view. We took our foot off the pedal. The lads were disappointed in the changing room after the game, but we need to learn how to win games 1-0. That's something we haven't done yet."

The weather on Tuesday evening was miserable and the game wasn't much better in the opening exchanges. Neither team could keep hold of possession in slippery conditions, although the Crows did edge proceedings. Nathan Millroy saw a sharp shot well saved by Jack Simpson, while Dave Adams bent a free-kick inches wide of the upright.

The Crows took the lead on the stroke of half-time. Tom Boddy played a long ball forward which found Tom Saunders just inside the area. He turned his man and fired a stunning right-foot strike across Simpson and into the top corner. It was the one moment of class in a drab opening 45 minutes.

Hassocks were much improved after the break, but the Crows put up a fine rearguard action.

Jon Trotter and Boddy were superb at the heart of the defence, however, the visitors kept banging at the door.

Ben Head did brilliantly to deny the impressive Kieran O'Callaghan with a fine sprawling save after the midfielder had escaped the offside trap, while a slip from Adams let Dan Smith in, but Head once again turned his effort away.

Ben Palmer headed a corner inches over as Hassocks dominated.

The Crows had their moments. Scott Taylor was denied by a last-ditch block from Ashley Marsh, while a Millroy free-kick caused havoc in the Hassocks box, Tom Saunders' shot eventually being deflected over.

However, a goal for the visitors seemed inevitable and it finally came on 75 minutes, O'Callaghan's towering header crashing off the underside of the bar and in.

Hassocks got the winner eight minutes later following a quick break that saw Smith feed Nathan Miles, who produced a sumptuous lob over Head and into the net.

The Crows huffed and puffed late on, but couldn't force home an equaliser.

They visit bottom-side Arundel on Saturday and then travel to Sidley on Tuesday evening.

Arundel beat the Crows 5-0 in the FA Vase earlier in the season, so the Crows will be out to right a few wrongs.

"We didn't run up that day," Adams said. "We need to show that result was a one-off. It's not going to be easy. They've got some good players and I'm surprised they are, where they are."