Cranleigh U17 County got their season underway with a hard-fought 3–2 victory away at A.F.C. Brooklands, in what proved to be a tough but rewarding first league outing.
Both sides were evenly matched from the start, with the game played at a fast tempo and with plenty of physical battles across the pitch. Cranleigh settled quickly and struck early in the first half, putting Brooklands on the back foot. They continued to press and were rewarded with a second goal just before the break, giving them a well-earned 2–0 lead at half-time.
Brooklands came out strong after the restart and turned the momentum in their favour. Within 20 minutes they had pulled a goal back, and shortly after found an equaliser to level the game at 2–2.
Cranleigh, however, showed real character and composure. Regaining their rhythm, they pushed forward again and, with just five minutes remaining, found the decisive third goal. From there, the team dug deep to close the game out and secure their first ever league win.
Manager Will Batchelor praised his squad for the way they have quickly gelled, describing the performance and result as “much deserved.”
He said: “I’m really proud of the boys. For their first competitive match together they showed great character, worked for each other, and didn’t let their heads drop when Brooklands came back at us. To dig in and find that late winner shows the spirit in this team, and they fully deserved their first league win.”
Goalscorers:
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Alex Marcus
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Josh Steyne
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James Llewellyn
