Crowborough 3, Ashford Town 4.

Crowborough boss Steve Johnson cursed his side’s naivety after they suffered a second sucessive defeat.

Crows were cruising at the interval thanks to strikes from dynamic duo Gavin Gordon and Andy Ducille.

But last year’s County League champions collapsed to leave themselves pointless from their opening two fixtures in Ryman division one south.

Johnson said: “We need to be more streetwise. We said at half-time to play one more pass and take the sting out of the game. Instead we gave the ball to them and they got the momentum.

“We paid the price for our naivety and we’ve got to learn our lessons quickly.

“We have to know when to clear our lines and defend as a team. We can score but we’re leaking too many.

“Perhaps we can start putting it right when we play Fleet and Worthing over the Bank Holiday weekend.”

The Crows set their stall out early and got their reward.

The plan was to hit flying winger Wayne Clarke as early as possible and it was Clarke who set up the first Ryman goal to be scored at the Crowborough Community Stadium after just five minutes.

Clarke sent over a near-post cross which was firmly headed home by Gordon and it got even better on 18 minutes when Clarke’s driven low cross was diverted into the net by Gordon’s strike partner Ducille.

Steve Lovell’s visitors were unable to cope with the pace and directness of Clarke throughout the opening half and he supplied one more half chance for Ducille which was blocked.

Kieran Wilson, who scored Crows’ consolation in the opening day defeat at Walton and Hersham, also hit the side netting.

Ashford kept their heads up and went close to reducing the arrears. Former Hastings captain Sean Ray headed just wide and a Ryan Briggs thunderbolt was deflected on to the bar by Crows keeper Mark Oldroyd.

The bubble burst for the Crows as they made a nightmare start to the second half.

Their lead evaporated thanks to two defensive blunders in as many minutes against enlivened opposition.

Home captain Drew Crush was turned by Bradley Spice and the unmarked Charlie Gynde prodded home the loose ball.

Then, as Crows dithered in their own box, home defender John Sinclair brought down substitute Jimmy Bottle and Mitchell Sherwood converted the spot kick.

On the hour, the home side went 3-2 down as James Humphreys lobbed Oldroyd and it went from bad to worse for Crows as Paul Jones curled a high shot into Oldroyd’s net eight minutes later.

Clarke gave the home side hope when he beat Jamie Riley with a fierce rising drive following a pass from Ducille ball but there was no barnstorming finish as Crows’ effort petered out.

Crowborough Athletic: Oldroyd; Sinclair, Adams, Boyle, Crush, Wilson, Clarke, Chamberlain, Ducille, Gedling (sub Ellis 65), Gordon (sub Tate 65). Sub not used: Boddy.

Ashford Town: Jamie Riley; Elford, Gynde (sub Hockey 83), Lye, Ray, Briggs, Browne (sub Humphreys 41), Hogg (sub Bottle 41), Spice, Jones, Sherwood. Subs not used: Doerr, Ibrahim.

Referee: Mr Grant Smith.

Man-of-the-match: Wayne Clarke.

Attendance: 189.