Steyning Town 3 Crawley Down Gatwick 1 (Emirates FA Cup, Preliminary Round)

The Barrowmen progressed to the FA Cup Qualifying Rounds on Saturday, coming back from trailing at half time to achieve a hard fought and well deserved 3-1 win over Crawley Down Gatwick at the Birchwood Shooting Field.

The Anvils made the short trip down from north Sussex for this Cup-tie derby with their tails up from three straight wins in the SCPL, so Steyning were expecting a hard contest against a side we’d had a number of tasty encounters with down the years in the County League, including two draws last season.

With the weather sunny and hot again, the match started with the visitors quicker off the blocks and early on Nathan Stromberg was called into action. However, on six minutes Crawley striker Josh Alder slotted the ball wide of Nathan to put them in front. Minutes later a pile driver from Anvils left back Louis Gates rattled our crossbar.
Town regrouped and tried to battle back into the game but often seemed lacklustre and lacking the urgency of our opponents, maybe not coping as well with the sapping heat.
Steyning eventually found some range though and were unlucky with good attempts from Jack Barnes and Joe Radley-Martin. On 40 minutes Harvey Killick was replaced by Mark Goldson due to injury.
Half time – Town 0 Crawley DG 1
The Barrowmen started the 2nd half much better with Goldson looking sharp and on 50 minutes we were level.
Goldson neatly played in Alfie Rogers who took full advantage of a fumble by their keeper and coolly stroked the ball home.
Three minutes later our pressure was again rewarded, this time Rogers setting up Goldson to rifle a lovely shot high into their net for 2-1. The turnaround galvanised us and the energy lacking in the first half came in floods.
Again we used our powerful bench of subs, offsetting the intense heat, and it paid off with strong running from Lloyd Francis and good link up play between Lucas Murrain and Charlie Towning.
Towning himself was unlucky not to score, hooking his close range shot just wide of right.
On 70 minutes Steyning effectively wrapped up the tie when a corner in from the left caused a scramble and Goldson hooked the ball in over his shoulder for his second and our third goal. More chances came with Charlie Meehan unlucky not to make the score sheet. Down the other end our visitors were still in the game and incisive but Stromberg was at his best and dealt with everything he had to admirably.
Yes, very much a game of two halves but what a turnaround! This comeback and show of character gives a huge boost going forward and the next round beckons with ties due to be played on 31st August
Man of the Match – Mark Goldson

Next up – next Saturday more Cup football with a trip up to South Park in the FA Trophy (KO @

Whitehall Lane 3pm) then on Tuesday 27th August it’s back to the League and a big local-derby at home to Broadbridge Heath (KO @ Birchwood Shooting Field 7:45pm)

Final Score – Steyning Town 3 Crawley Down Gatwick 1

Town line up – Stromberg, Osei, Weller Barnes (capt), Brown, Da Costa, Killick (Goldson), Edwards (Francis), Meehan, Rogers (Towning), Radley-Martin (Murrain)

Report by Dave Perrett.