TABLES ARE NOT NORMALLY WRONG AFTER 37 GAMES.
By Malcolm Boyes
With third away to the bottom club the result was never in doubt, although the home side did well.
Comfortable win in the end.The relevant positions of the club's in the table was reflected in the game overall with the Crows dominating the possession and chances throughout, apart from a lack-lustre 15 minute spell right at the start of the second half. During this period the home side upped their game whilst the Crows sat a bit deep and lost the midfield area, however, it wasn't long before the pattern set in the first 45 minutes was restored and the chances flowed for the Crows.
The Crows went ahead in the 7th minute when Cole was brought down inside the area by the defender and a penalty was awarded. The away fans were left wondering who would take the penalty, bearing in mind we missed one in our last game, however, Perry took charge and buried it passed Coxall in the United goal.
Cole himself had a great chance to make it 2-0 in the 10th minute but he missed with a header from a Perry cross when well placed and the ball was cleared. Crows were making the best of going down the slope and dominating the play but suffered an injury blow in the 19th minute when skipper Muggeridge had to go off, Zabadne came on as his replacement to make his first team debut.
It did become 2-0 in the 22nd minute, Perry the scorer and Cole the provider once again after he intercepted a poor back pass and squared the ball to the unmarked Perry. The Crows should have increased their lead even more, especially Perry but in remained 2-0 at half time as the players left the field for their dressing room.
The home side only had three efforts at goal in the first half so they knew they'd have to improve in the second half if they were to get anything from the game. To be fair to them they were the better side, possession wise, for the first 15 minutes of the second half, and made it 2-1 in the 49th minutes when Simms fired the ball home from 22 yards out.
Appiah left the field in the 53rd minute with an injury following a tackle by Katikaza in the first half, the United player seeing the yellow card at the time, Attwood came on in his place. Attwood's presence certainly lifted the Crows and it should have been 3-1 in the 65th minute when good work by Attwood and Phipp led to Stone having a point blank header brilliantly saved by Coxall, the ball eventually being cleared.
It was only a minute later though when it did become 3-1, a great cross by debutant Zabadne was volleyed goalwards by Perry from around 8 yards out but once again Coxall produced a stunning save however, the ball fell to the feet of Phipp who was able to slide the ball home and in to the net. That was Phipps last action as he was replaced by Boddy only a couple of minutes later.
The Crows were back on top again and chances were coming thick and fast as both Perry, Stone (twice) and Attwood all had good chances to add to the goal tally. Perry then missed another great chance before, against the run of play, United made it 3-2 to the Crows in the 87th minute, Chirtsen the scorer with a virtual copy of United's goal earlier in the half.
Still the scoring was not over, Attwood, who was impressive from the moment he came on, got his name on the scoresheet in the 89th minute, hitting a good shot across Coxall and in to the net after good work by Perry, 4-2 to the Crows.
So the last away game of the season saw the Crows win 4-2 and deservedly so however, credit to United for not caving in and giving up, especially as they only had eleven players and no substitutes on the bench.
Perry was voted the Crows Man of the Match for his two goals and his two assists as he showed everyone what we've missed through the season due to his bad injury.