Late winner gets Common back on track

An 89th minute winner from Jamie Crone gave Common a 3-2 victory at home to Langney Wanderers to end a run of four consecutive Macron Store Southern Combination Football League Division One defeats without scoring.

Common had earlier turned a 1-0 half time deficit into a 2-1 lead thanks to goals by Lewis Hole and Russell Eldridge within 10 minutes of the restart before Langney equalised shortly after the hour.

Both sides had their moments during the first half. Hole shot just wide early on before he and Crone were undone by heavy touches when through on goal within seconds of each other having been nicely played in by Dan Estherby and Eldridge.

At the other end, an excellent Kyle Feneron cross was headed over by Shane Saunders and stand-in Common goalkeeper Chris Eldridge recovered from spilling Paul Weatherby’s shot by blocking Saunders’ follow-up.

Saunders hooked the ball over from Simon Catt’s cutback and Chris Eldridge booted away Weatherby’s angled drive at his near post, while Crone fired over when well placed at the other end following a good ball by Luke Curteis.

Langney midfielder Dale Penn was booked for lashing out at Estherby as they tussled fiercely for possession, but the free kick had been awarded to Langney and the resulting delivery into the box dropped for Catt to bury a terrific shot into the far bottom corner.

Common responded to seeing their league goal drought go beyond the 400-minute mark by scoring twice in the space of eight minutes soon after half time.

Hole levelled things up with a good header back across the goalkeeper from a Russell Eldridge free kick. Eldridge then went from provider to scorer with a delightful first time curling shot from just outside the box into the corner of the net.

Langney made a triple substitution in a bid to stem the tide, but Common came agonisingly close to a third goal seconds later as a tremendous free kick by Russell Eldridge rattled the crossbar.

Only minutes later, however, Langney got back on terms. Weatherby’s ball across was unwittingly diverted past Chris Eldridge by Common central defender Dave Ammoun.

Saunders had a close range header disallowed for offside and Chris Eldridge palmed away Weatherby’s free kick before Common won it late on. Steve Morris’ long free kick into the Langney box was nodded down by Hole for strike partner Crone to drill the ball home.

Langney had one last chance to rescue a point in the dying seconds of added time, but full-back Marcus Allen headed over at the near post from a right wing corner.

Common: C. Eldridge, Sherwood, Curteis (Mote 75), R. Eldridge, Morris, Ammoun, Denny (Burgon 67), Brown, Hole, Crone (Crathern 90+2). Sub not used: Richardson.

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