For the second time this season we had a friendly against a Horsham and District Div 1 side.
Over the years we have had some close games against Billingshurst A team and this was to follow the tradition. From the kick off we were penned in our own half as Billingshurst came at us and we struggled to get into the game. Despite being on the back foot we were defending as a team and there were no clear chances . However, after 15 minutes a cross/Shot was beaten away by our keeper with ball falling to a Billingshurst player on the edge of the area. A scuffed shot deceived our goalie and squirmed through Isaac Denton- Millers legs for a 1-0 lead to the home team. This seemed to galvanise Cranleigh and we started to come into the game a bit more. When a Billingshurst defender got himself in a bit of a tangle with the ball Leo Lord robbed him and crossed for Sullivan Howick to score at the back post. Another chance for Cranleigh soon followed as a cross was narrowly missed being scored by Alastair Hill.
The first half ended with a couple of Billingshurst chances and great efforts to score for Cranleigh by Sullivan and Jack Rogers. Half time and a 1-1 scoreline was a fair reflection of the game so far.
Disaster at the start of the half as Billingshurst kicked off and scored straight away for 2-1. Cranleigh just hadn’t switched on and payed the price .The second half started much the same as the first with Cranleigh on the back foot. Great defending by Harry Dancaster and an amazing save by Isaac kept us in the game. As the game went on we again had chances to score .
Ethan Payne picked up the ball bringing it out into midfield, he skipped past 3 players and played a great ball into space behind the defence for Alastair Hill. With the Billingshurst keeper advancing to clear it became a race for the ball . Alastair just reached the ball ahead of the keeper and prodded it towards an open goal . It looked like the equaliser as the ball headed goalwards only to hit a bit of a divot a yard out and agonisingly come off the post. Very unlucky for Alastair who had worked hard to get the chance. Still time for a goal mouth scramble which ended in Billingshurst hitting the post 2 minutes from time.
A very credible 2-1 loss which so easily could of been a draw.
Two games against Horsham and District Div 1 teams this season and 2 very close games .
Scorer
Sullivan Howick – 1
Men of the Match
Harry Dancaster – Commanding performance yet again
Leo Lord – Ran himself into the ground for the team .. And he hates runningh
