Non League Day on Saturday always gives a host of extra options, not in terms of how many games being played but clubs putting on that little bit more to entice some new fans into coming and then coming again.
Although most of the offers are aimed at the floaters and those not yet in tune with the game at the lower levels, some clubs did add some on for their own fans.
My destination was decided for me, a trophy to be presented from the SNLF team for team of the month and with dates not working out for me around Saturday, it was off to East Sussex.
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Crowborough Athletic was my place of being for the afternoon, winners of the February monthly award, a club in two cup finals and almost certainly set for a place in the play-off’s in the Southern Combination Premier Division.
Their opponents are also chasing a play-off place and after a record breaking run in the FA Vase earlier in the campaign delaying some league games along with the weather, it hasn’t however bogged them down in their quest.
With the need for points on both sides of the ball it was set for an intriguing afternoon, the sun doing it’s best to shine on the day for non-league football.
A very open game was to take shape, the Crows with the best chances, and their visitors with some nice possession but unable to convert it into opportunities in the final third of the pitch.
The hosts should have been a couple of goals to the good in the first 20 minutes but just couldn’t hit the target, they did however eventually hit the net courtesy of a penalty.
Rushaar Samuel-Smikle was seemingly fouled in the area on the half hour and centre half Steve Smith slammed home the spot kick past Alex Bellingham for the only goal of the first half.
With just the solitary strike separating the two sides the second half was to be as open as the first 45 with both teams sensing they could go on and grab the points.
However, a second yellow card of the afternoon for Njagsa Jammahl-John for the visitors just after the hour mark should have given the Crows the impetus to go on and put the game out of sight.
But the Anvils made it difficult for the home side to break through, defending well but the lack of the full compliment of players meant they struggled to get bodies up the pitch to trouble Charlie Holmwood, Crowborough moving three points closer to a play-off spot whilst defeat for the visitors didn’t actually dent their chances too badly.
The Crows did however hit the post in the final 15 minutes, the ball rebounding safely away and the best of the second half chances gone.
A very decent crowd of over 300 in to watch and while it wasn’t a spectacle in most senses it was about two teams really going for the points for what they need.
The play-off race in this division is one of the most exciting to watch at Step 5, six clubs currently in the chase with only four places available. You could also add Peacehaven & Telscombe into the mix as well with the three sides above them level on 59 points, the Haven four points further back.
The two centre halves for the home side were outstanding, no change given to the front men of Crawley Down Gatwick all afternoon ensuring that with their counterparts not allowing much through their back line the points stayed with the Crows.
Great to meet up with ex-Haywards Heath Town photographer Ray Turner at the game, his pictures are absolutely excellent and of course the one used above is shot by the man himself.
Lovely to meet the Crows social media guru Abi Garety, her graphics are just superb in creation and really worthy of club much higher up the food chain, a first time meeting with Sean Muggeridge too, over 500 games managed just for this one club, we’ve been lucky to have a fair few this season in Sussex who’ve reached 400 or the same milestone as Sean, they certainly don’t make them like this anymore!
