FT: Frenches 2–0 Cranleigh
Cranleigh FC were brought back down to earth on Wednesday night with a frustrating 2–0 defeat away at Frenches Athletic.
Both goals came in the first half, and both from set pieces, a recurring theme this season that continues to haunt the side. After the high of beating promotion-chasing Worcester Park just days earlier, this was a disappointing and disjointed performance.
Frenches opted for a direct, long-ball style of play that disrupted Cranleigh’s rhythm from the start. With very little opportunity to get the ball down and play, Cranleigh found themselves under pressure and unable to settle into the game.
Joint Manager Sam Carpenter reflected frankly after the match:
“We just didn’t turn up tonight. That’s been the story of our season – we haven’t shown up against the teams in the bottom half of the table, and it really showed in the first half. Two goals conceded from set pieces again, and that made it an uphill battle.”
Despite a much-improved second half, in which Cranleigh dominated possession and pinned Frenches back, chances were limited. A lack of cutting edge in the final third meant there was little to show for their efforts.
“We dominated the second half, but they barely got out of their half and yet we didn’t create many guilt-edge chances. We just never got going – not in the first half, and barely in the second,” said Carpenter.
“No one can really hold their head high after that. It was a lacklustre, end-of-season type of game where nothing seemed to be on the line – and we made an average team look good by being poor.”
As Cranleigh’s season draws to a close, attention turns to finishing strongly – and addressing the side’s ongoing issues defending set pieces.
Next match: 19th April, Cranleigh vs AFC Royal Holloway
