Subs: 12 D Clarke (on for S Ramsay 75mins), 14 L Woodley (on for Tuppenney 77mins), 15 A McCann, 16 N Godden, 17 M Norris
Yellow: S Loft, B Ridgeway
Red: None
Goals: P Tuppenney (31mins)
Final Score: 1-2
Crawley Down Win

Rye U 1 - 2 Crawley D

Rye were very sharp out of the blocks and within 3 mins Leach won a free kick after being pushed over near the edge of the box. McArthur stepped up to take the FK which he struck low but the keeper easily gathered into his outstretched arms.

Jon Saunders in goal had an early touch when forced to collect at his boundary from almost of the attackers foot. On 7 mins the first of a trio debatable decisions occurred when Rye had a definite shout for handball in the area after Ellis charged into the area and set Leach up to unleash a bar breaker.

The goal bound shot hit Mbaye on the arm. The ref said it hit his chest and once again the player admitted after the game it was handball. One minute later and still Rye were pushing forward again when Ellis won a corner on the right. McArthurs cross was punched away from Lofts head by their keeper. Ellis again tormented them on the right and beat everyone to cross to Tuppeney who hit over.

Ellis was on fire and his next cross ended up being headed wide. Crawley Down hadnt seen much of the ball until on15 mins they won a FK that was hurreldy hit well over. Ellis and McArthur linked up well to carve open the defence and McArthur hit tamely wide. Scott Ramsay just signed from Hastings United was showing his quality and easily fitted in to Rye's attacking drives forward.

Meanwhile Saunders in the Rye goal was required to take a comfortable catch from a rare Crawley venture into foreign territory. On 31 mins Ellis provided for a Macca shot that rebounded out to Tupps who hit home and well deserved after all the pressure applied. Almost immediately Crawley were nearly gifted a life line back when B Ridgway and Saunders collided when trying to deal with a cross. Fortunately the ball spilled to a Crawley player in an offside position.

36 mins and Rye players were shouting at the ref again for handball only to be waived away. Rye were like terriers shaking a rabbit and Macca's flick pass to Rambo was cut out when it would have been easier to shoot. Ellis charged again for the umpteenth time into the area but this time Mbayes tackle was perfection.

42 mins had gone by and Rambo curled wide from distance, followed by an Ellis cross that went invitingly in front of goal was met by Rambo and their keeper at the same time. Macca ran onto a driven pass and clean through he tried to side foot wide of the keeper. His shot was tame enough for a defender to recover the situation by clearing of the line. Another great chance went begging when Ellis ran from his own half towards the left side of goal and Rambo went to the right. Ellis then with just the keeper to beat squared a ball that went just behind and out of reach of Rambo, when again it must have been easier to score.

The game was shaking up when on 46 minutes Nick Sullivan for CD received the ball at least 2 yards offside, The rye defence waiting for the flag to go up saw His cross squirm from under Saunders and straight to Tony Reid who didn't miss and against the run of play drew them level. Then CD actually played some football and instead of going into the break with plenty to do they got what turned out to be the winner one minute later again in injury time.

So the whistle went and after the Rye battering Crawley were all smiles as they managed only 4 shots at Rye's net compared to Ryes 8 at theirs. Second half looked as if it might mirror the first when Rye had another penalty shout in the 50th minute again against Mbaye for handball although I would have said it was a weaker shout than the previous ones.

At the same end Macca missed when 10 yds out and bang infront of goal. Crawley took some of the heat off by forcing Saunders to save from a FK. Then came THE contentious decision of the whole game when Rambo ran onto a pass cutting through the defence. He hit the back of the net with a thumper that was somehow ruled off side by the assistant. Not even Crawley could see what it was for ,they hadnt appealed and there was no apparent offence as Rambo had run past the defence.

Anyway it didnt count but Rye still probed and Rambo won a corner that when converted he headed just wide. 78 mins and Crawley had their first real good passage of play which ended up with a shot well wide. Up until this point Crawley had been happy to just shut out Rye by booting the ball up field. This had some merit as their striker Reid up front was lightning quick. On 80 mins Ramsay was replaced by Clarke and shortly after Tupps for L Woodley.

The last five minutes saw Crawley efficiently waste the clock and Rye had lost their rhythm. However we thought L Woodley would be our saviour when he ran onto a long ball and unopposed in the area managed to tread on the ball when setting himself up for a shot. So it wasn't Rye's day the stars didnt have their shooting boots on and the officials certainly didn't help but god did we play some great Footie that day. MoM could have been picked from Ellis, Ginge,Macca, Rambo and Tupps. But should probably go to their no 4 Mbaye for handling at least 3 shots and getting away with it.

Shots Rye 12

Crawley Down 7

Yellow Loft, Ridgway.