A stunning individual goal from Sam Welch gave Hollands & Blair their first SCEFL win of the new season after Crowborough had threatened to spoil Danny Kedwell’s first appearance in a Blair shirt at Star Meadow.

After a really entertaining opening period that could have gone either way with both sides creating some great chances and both keepers making terrific saves.

The home side finished the half with first choice keeper Adam Highsted taken off with concussion and they were then reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Lewis Mingle just before the break, a decision that enraged both sides as Richard Wetton had rolled the ball into the empty net following Mingle’s foul on Danny Powell only for referee Grist to pull play back for the foul.

Ironically it was one of the officials last acts too as he had to leave the play at half time, and he missed a second half performance from the ten men that thrilled many of the 267 gate, with Kedwell dropping into a deeper role which brought a clear calming influence on his team-mates.

Joe Kane put the home side in front getting on the end of Louis Valencia’s deep cross before Welch produced a sensational goal, surely an early Goal of the Season contender.

As he picked the ball up just inside the Crows half and just kept running at the defence before rolling the ball past keeper Cameron Hall. The visitor’s night was summed up late on when Tom Boddy was shown also shown a straight red for a foul on Blair sub Fjord Rogers.

The opening half really was a joy to behold with both defences being posed numerous problems by the opposing strikers, Ricky Freeman and Kedwell for the home side and the tireless Powell for Crowborough worked their respective socks off and both sides.

It was primarily down to the respective keepers that the score line was blank at the break. Hall made terrific saves from Valencia, Kane and Ben Brown, who’s point blank header was produced an incredible block.

At the other end, Highsted produced a world class save to deny Jack Funnell’s low driven free kick but in turning the ball around the post, the keeper himself collided with the woodwork and after treatment had to be helped from the field with suspected concussion.

He was replaced in goal by Callum McGeehan, and for a while the injury rocked the home side. Scott Taylor and Powell both then went close before the game seemed to turn the visitor’s way as Mingle was dismissed for bringing down Powell. From the resulting free-kick, McGeehan pulled off a remarkable save to deny Funnell’s free kick that crept under the wall.

The second half was temporarily delayed as Mr Grist was called away and was replaced for Mr Tunnicliffe, and the half began with Crowborough on top but were unable to find their way through.

Just past the hour mark, the ten men took the lead when Kane netted his first Blair goal after a great Valencia cross, a lead that was doubled six minutes later by Welch’s wonder goals and that really seemed to knock the stuffing out of the visitors.

They had a couple of chances, notably when Boddy headed inches wide – but when Boddy was then shown the red card himself, Crowborough’s night was truly over.

Next for the Blair is a mouth watering challenge and a FA Cup trip to Isthmian League Burgess Hill at the weekend – a real test for Simon Halsey’s side – a test that they will surely take in their stride and if they’re under estimated, a Cup surprise is surely on the cards…

BLAIR – Highsted (Loynes), Welch, Mingle, Brown, Kane, McGeehan, Simon, Heffernan, Kedwell, Freeman (Rogers), Valencia

Subs – Cooper, Bearman-Dyce, Kingdom

CROWBOROUGH – Hall, Funnell, Slater, Boddy, White (Galle), Carbune, Mouajal, Styles (Izokun), Powell, Taylor, Wetton (Osbourne)

Subs – Welsh, Smith

Referee – Mr Grist (replaced at half time by Mr Tunnicliffe)