Match Report: Rotherfield 0 - 0 Crowhurst

Rotherfield FC continued their strong run of form this Saturday, holding league leaders, Crowhurst FC, to an entertaining 0-0 draw at the Recreation Ground. In doing so, the Greens collected their fourth consecutive clean sheet.

Entering the game with two wins and a draw from their previous three games, the Greens were keen to test themselves against one of the division’s title contenders. A single change was made from the previous Saturday’s lineup, as Connor Morrow returned to the side in place of the unavailable Harry Brand.

The early exchanges saw Crowhurst enjoy the better of the ball with patient build-up, and the away side’s back four and midfield three enjoying comfortable possession without overly threatening James Gurney in the Rotherfield net. Mainly thanks to the imperious aerial prowess of Jack Turner who was in determined mood in an excellent performance.

As the half ticked on, the home side began to get more of a hold of the game as the Rotherfield midfield trio of John Sinclair, skipper Sam Saunders and Harry Chittenden started to dominate physically. This allowed the dangerous Jack Spampanato to work a couple of openings, only for the away side’s defence to stand firm.

At the half-hour mark, a dangerous deep cross found a Crowhurst head at the back post, leading to a fantastic save from Gurney in goal, only for the attacker to have been flagged offside anyway. Just before half time, the Greens were forced to lose the influential Callum Ridley to injury, but the changed back four of Turner, Alex Kerslake, Max Carbune and Richard Holman stood up to the test of the Crowhurst attack.

The score remained goalless at half-time but it was the Greens who started the second period in the ascendancy. Spampanato and Morrow continued to have joy down the flanks, and it was Spampanato who would force the next chance. Jinking through the home side’s defence, his stabbed effort across goal would ricochet off of Michael Peevor just a couple of yards out but it ballooned over the bar.

Rotherfield would continue on the front foot and were denied a close penalty call just a few moments later as skipper Saunders broke into the box with the ball but the referee deemed the contact not enough. With the game becoming more open, it was Crowhurst who were next to bemoan a penalty call in similar circumstances to Rotherfield’s earlier call.

Changes were in the offing now and the next clearest chance would fall to Cameron Howard for the home side who picked up the ball 50 yards from goal. The young attacker drove at goal and as the game opened up in front of him, a low strike from twenty yards fell just the wrong side of the post.

The whistle sounded to bring an end to a goalless draw, but a competitive game that had entertained all those present. The result continues the Greens’ strong run of form as they look to end the season on the front foot with only three games to go.

The Easter weekend represents a rare week off for the first team but the Reserves are back in action on Easter Monday at the Rec as they welcome Seaford Town.

Lineup: Gurney; Carbune, Turner, Ridley (Holman, 40), Kerslake; Sinclair, Saunders, Chittenden (Howard, 60); Spampanato, Peevor, Morrow (Dunn, 75)