Down on the up

AT THE start of the season newly-promoted Crawley Down could not buy a win for love nor money, but on Boxing Day the Anvils celebrated their fifth consecutive Ryman League win by thumping Burgess Hill Town 5-0 away.

The run has seen the Anvils, who won the Sussex County League last season, move from three points adrift, rock-bottom of Division One South to 17th in the league.

And manager Darren Guirey was even forced to blast his in-form team on Boxing Day for complacency in their first half display at Burgess Hill.

"We weren't great in the first half, there was a bit of complacency," the manager explained. "We went in a goal up at half-time, but I knew we could play better than that so I gave them a rollicking."

And the hair-dryer treatment worked well for Crawley Down with Jamie Cade bagging a second half brace and Fraser Logan and Anvils stalwart Tom Burton grabbing a goal each.

"We showed the quality I know we have and we absolutely smashed them," said Guirey.

"From the start of the season until now has been a vast improvement, but I always knew we had it in us."

The next match will be a huge test for the Anvils' winning streak as they travel to title-chasers Dulwich Hamlet on New Year's Eve.

"It will be a difficult match on Saturday, we all know that. Dulwich Hamlet are a very good side," Guirey pondered.

"Dulwich didn't have a game on Boxing Day because they were due to play Croydon Athletic, so if we're lucky they might be a little bit sluggish."