On the eve of yet another national lockdown and being one of only a few surviving games within the ESFL umbrella we put on another great show for the Crow’s faithful, bulldozing Bexhill Town in the League Cup and building on the 5-1 win we secured against the same opposition in the league a fortnight ago.

Perry Salmons returned form injury to start between the sticks, whilst the backline remained the same as last week’s win at Hawkhurst United. Dale Penn started his first game for the Crows this season, partnering the ever present Aaron Davies in centre midfield. Jordan Slater continued on the right of midfield with Al McMinigal coming back into the starting eleven on the left-hand side after missing last week. Sean Lennard led the line with Ash Kidman dropping to the bench. We were also boosted by the return of Chris Ford after the injury he picked against Town two weeks ago.

In what can only be described as ‘horrendous’ conditions we struggled to get into the game in the early stages. Playing with the wind behind us, too many times we were looking to force the game rather than playing on the floor, which is where we are strongest. Bexhill almost took the lead early on were it not for a fabulous double save from Perry Salmons, followed by some last ditch defending! Regardless of the slow start, a lovely piece of interplay on 9 minutes allowed Al McMinigal to tee up Dale Penn on the edge of the box, who neatly despatched the ball into the far corner to put us one goal to the good. With that goal, we began to settle and start to play out from the back. Bexhill having just one forward was leaving a lot of space for the backline to take the ball from Perry Salmons and in turn gave us a good platform to spring out attacks from. It was becoming easier and easier for us to break any press that Bexhill offered, and we were soon two goals to the good when Dale Penn completed his brace on 17 minutes. It was the same combination of McMinigal and Penn again as the later finished neatly.

With the wind in our sails we were soon to make it three and it came courtesy of an Al McMinigal corner! With the whip on the ball and the wind taking it, the corner landed straight on the goalkeeper who could only help the ball on its way into the net! Not one to rest on his laurels, McMinigal was to complete his brace before halftime. Picking the ball up on the left of the box, his quick feet getting him past a couple of defenders allowed him to finish smartly at the near post to make it 4-0 on 40 Minutes.

Half time came and the rain remained! To say we were wet was an understatement, but we were winning and winning well. The team talk from Brett was to make more use of the wings and keep control of possession – do not force it! Although we were dominating the score-line we still needed to play the right way.

We began the second half well and soon started to get back into our rhythm. Penn was dropping in deep to collect the ball from Greenfield and Tomlin at the back, and the movement of Davies and Harman in the middle was giving us plenty of options for a forward pass. Bexhill didn’t really offer much of an attacking threat and were mainly targeting the ball over the back of Terry Davies who was more than a match for it. We were to extend out lead on 57 minutes when Sean Lennard latched onto a perfect through ball and finished well to grab a well deserved goal for all his endeavour. Bexhill heads were visibly dropping now, and we were very much in the ascendancy. Dale Penn had the chance to complete his hattrick picking the ball up 10 yards out but his effort going over the bar. It was however to be a hattrick on his first start of the season for Penn, who was on hand to scramble in a loose ball in the box from a corner that wasn’t dealt with by the Bexhill defence!

A triple change was in order! Salmons, who was carrying a slight injury was replace by Hankinson, and Frazer-Bates and McMinigal were withdrawn for Ford and Kidman respectively. Not to be outdone after his three goals last week, Kidman was pretty much immediately on the scoresheet, not once but twice in the space of 10 minutes. Finding himself with chances that strikers dream of; Kidman finished both with aplomb. With the game drifting into obscurity, we were guilty of goal chasing and were beginning to leave ourselves exposed on the counterattack, especially with Bexhill now leaving players up field feeling the game was now over.

The illusive clean sheet was yet again to be out of our grasp! After giving up possession in midfield Bexhill broke on us 4 v 3 and some neat one-two’s allowed their striker a one on one opportunity which he despatched off the post and in. To say this was frustrating was an understatement, to concede such a sloppy goal when in full control of the game didn’t go down well – much as it shouldn’t.

After a fabulous game in attacking midfield yet again, Jack Harman was to have the last laugh and score probably the goal of the game. Picking the ball up from the left, he neatly slalomed past two players and placed the ball in the far top corner from 20 yards out. 9-1 Finito!

Another fabulous performance; we have now scored 18 goals in our last 3 matches. Top of the table and still in all the cups, things are looking good going forward. Every player who played today really put in a shift, and there were many great performances throughout. Man of the Match has to go to Dale Penn who voice and experience in the middle helped to gel the play, which he capped off with a hattrick – not bad for a centre back!

With lockdown now looming, it seems this could be the last game for a month (although the weather could have seen to that anyway). It will be vital that we keep ourselves fit and sharp for when the season continues to make sure we are able to fight on all front Up the Crows!!