Five-star Common ease past Midhurst

Dan Cruikshank netted his first Little Common against Midhurst & Easebourne.

Five different players were on the scoresheet as Common ran out 5-1 winners at home to Midhurst & Easebourne in Macron Store Southern Combination Football League Division One.

The Commoners welcomed back Matt Cruttwell in goal and with the exception of Harry Saville (holiday), player-manager Russell Eldridge had a full squad to select from.

It was the visitors who enjoyed the early pressure before the Commoners went on to boss the majority of the first half.

Russell Eldridge scored for the fourth consecutive game in Little Common's 5-1 victory.

The first came with just five minutes on the clock when Wes Tate's shot was blocked on the line after Lewis Hole had challenged for a header.

It was Hole who did open the scoring in the ninth minute with a fine finish into the roof of the net following a Jamie Crone pass for his 14th of the season.

Common could have added a second, but Hole sliced a first time effort over the crossbar following a neat pullback from Crone and he then poked wide after receiving the ball inside the area.

At the other end, Cruttwell tipped a long range effort over the crossbar at the end of a rare Midhurst attack, but Common looked comfortable as half time approached.

Jamie Crone was on target for the second Saturday in a row.

Common doubled their advantage just before the interval when a Tate corner was met by the head of Dan Cruikshank, who powered the ball home from close range for his first Common goal.

After a relatively even start to the second half, Common made the game safe with a third goal in the 53rd minute. Tate was upended in the penalty area before dispatching the resulting penalty himself.

The visitors saw a header clear the crossbar and they also blazed a shot wide after a promising run by the Midhurst forward.

Common added a fourth goal in the 73rd minute when Eldridge hit a low free kick around the wall and into the net after Crone had been fouled.

It was Crone who grabbed the fifth when he nipped in to meet Liam Foster’s pinpoint delivery and head home in the 80th minute.

Common’s defence was finally breached in the dying minutes when a quick break allowed Lewis Hamilton to lob an effort over Cruttwell.

Common: Cruttwell, Sherwood, Cooper, Eldridge (Wells), Cruikshank, Ammoun, Denny (Foster), Tate, Hole, Crone, Burgon (Bristow).

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