HOOPS v CROWBOROUGH PREVIEW

By Deal Town

The Hoops take on a Crowborough Athletic side at home this weekend who always seem to prove difficult opponents for Derek Hares’ men.

The clubs have met seven times since the Crows switched from the Sussex County League to the Southern Counties East League in 2014 with Deal winning on just one occasion.

It looked like the Hoops were going to double that last figure in the opening league game of the current campaign when they led 1-0 late on at Maidstone’s Gallagher Stadium, which Crowborough are groundsharing this season, only for the Crows to snatch another victory with two goals in added time.

Hares recalled: “We deserved at least a draw up there and to lose the game through two late goals was sickening because the lads worked so hard and played some good football.”

That victory was one of six league wins that the Crows have recorded so far this season and they are currently lying fifth in the table with games in hand on all the clubs above them. They finished runners-up behind Ashford United last season and Hares added: “Crowborough will again be up there fighting for the title but, on our day, we are capable of beating anyone in this league.”

Steve Butcher and Joe Reeves will be available again on Saturday after being suspended for last Saturday’s goalless draw with Corinthian but Charlie Walsh, Steve O’Brien, Luke Bigginton and Ryan Philpott are all injury doubts which could mean another new chance for new signing Trinn Brisley who came on as a second-half substitute against Corinthian.

4 Responses

  1. Personally,I would have left this weekend blank.
    With next week’s game in the Vase looming,it would have been ideal just to let the lads train twice a week,keeping them match fit,rather than run the risk of injury or suspension,which could,in theory,weaken the team further,for the game against Balham☹
    Let’s just hope some of the walking wounded are available for next week????
    Will be there Saturday,to see,what I expect,will be a tough game.

  2. Do agree although probably best to get fixtures out of the way while both pitch and weather are good.
    I am so pleased it’s a Saturday game rather than what could’ve been a rearranged game.
    It’s my birthday this weekend so to have a game on is fantastic.
    It will be a fascinating fixture and hope that the lads can get a result.
    The Deal players can really make a name for themselves
    If they can produce the goods.
    Why not they were the better side at Maidstone and deserved applause.
    They will get a cheer from me that’s guaranteed.
    Come on Deal.!!!!

  3. I can assure everyone that we did not ask for the Crowborough game and that we were instructed from the SECFL fixture secretary on the evening of Friday 6th October for the game to be brought forward from 3rd February. In fact we had already pencilled in a friendly training match against Lydd for the Tuesday night knowing that we had no game for two weeks prior to the Balham FA Vase match and we certainly would not have considered risking further injuries or suspensions to our already stretched squad.
    Dave Chmura

  4. Thank you for letting us know Mr. Chairman.
    It was good to know that it was the leagues’decision and not the clubs!

    Now we know who to blame in the future! 😉 🙂

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