Bore draw at Alderbrook

FOLLOWING their disappointing defeat on Saturday, it was a determined Crowborough side who met Franklands Village on Tuesday at the Alderbrook in a match important to the promotion aspirations of both sides.

Borough made three changes to their XI from the weekend defeat at Newhaven, with Craig Gosnell, Ben Evans and Tom Page replacing Scott Foy, Kevin Sharman and Chris Ransome.

The opening exchanges saw each team probing for an opening, but it soon became clear that the game would be dominated by two solid defensive units. Indeed it was 19 minutes before there was a shot when Evans, finding space on the edge of the box, fired over the bar.

Borough began to enjoy territorial advantage and on 23 minutes the visitors' keeper snatched a dangerous cross from Gosnell off the head of Jack Singer. Almost immediately the young striker broke through on goal but was foiled by a last ditch challenge.

Borough finished the first half stronger and could have taken the lead on 42 minutes when a clever through ball by James Lattimer provided Danny Baker with the best chance of the match, but he fired just wide.

Two minutes later Franklands' keeper was required to make his only save of the match when he safely gathered a speculative Lattimer shot at the base of the post.

Borough emerged after the break with a fresh urgency as they pressed for the opening goal.

However, they were unable to breach a solid back line and the visitors almost scored themselves on 63 minutes but the excellent Page thwarted the danger.

Franklands looked happy to settle for a draw but, as Crows pushed on, the visitors almost grabbed a winner in the 75th minute when only the alertness of keeper Alex Collick prevented Village taking the lead after the linesman failed to flag for a blatant offside.

In the 80th minute some desperate defending foiled Borough when Lattimer and Evans both had shots charged down in the box.

Tony Wright replaced Lattimer in the hope that his fresh legs might create an opening, but it was Village who had the best chance when Collick was again the saviour, fly kicking clear after Nabil Yahyaoui's back pass fell woefully short.

The final whistle was a welcome relief to players and spectators alike, and a share of the points reflected the balance of the game which, while full of effort and endeavour, was sadly lacking in entertainment value.

CROWBOROUGH: Collick, Yahyaoui, Fuller, Bishop, Page, Evans, Green, Baker, Gosnell, Singer, Lattimer (Wright 85). Subs (not used): Ransome, Clarke.

'We set a target of a seven-point minimum from this week's three games to get up with the leaders and we've managed just one with a game to go,' said Borough secretary, Phil Sharman.

'We've under-achieved this season. I think we've got the best squad of players in the division.

'However, we're still hoping that fourth place could be good enough for promotion which gives us a chance.'