Croydon v Chertsey

Saturday 12 December 2009
Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League

Chertsey Town FC (1) 4 (Jon Pomroy 36, 87pen, Steve Goddard 68, Kwabena Agyei 80)

Croydon FC (0) 0

There was no doubt that Chertsey are a pretty decent side but this was a ramshackle performance from Croydon who got what they deserved form the match – a good spanking.

All 4 goals had a touch of misfortune about them, a dodgy offside and an equally questionable penalty, along with 2 goalkeeping errors, could have lead to the trams feeling a little sorry for themselves but the scoreline, if not the manner of the goals was a reasonable reflection on the home sides superiority.

Croydon were hamstrung from the start as they were unable to field a single regular striker, Phil Page was absent and Nigel Ikocodo was serving a suspension, even Tim Murdoch who scored last week when he filled in upfront was unavailable as he started a long suspension that will keep him out until deep into January.

Justin Hemmings struggled on his own in attack, but it didn’t look his natural position, he was supported by a 3 man central defence of Ollie Young, Rob Bartley and Bronek Dabrowa with Lewis Goddard and John Gladwin playing as wingbacks.

The midfield benefitted for the introduction of Rob Hughes, returning to football after his rehabilitation from the vicious attack he suffered in Crete the summer before last, Hughes, playing in a scrum cap must have wondered what was going on as team mates struggled to involve him in the game.

It was only a matter of time before toothless Croydon’s resistance crumbled, Chertsey had a number of good openings but their finishing left a lot to be desired, eventually they had to break through and when they did it was due to the beneficence of the linesman.

After 36 minutes Steve Goddard headed down in the box and John Pomroy followed up from close range to tuck the ball into the net. Pomroy is always a thorn in Croydon’s side whenever these 2 team’s meet but on this occasion he had the rub of the green a he was definitely in an offside position.

It hardly mattered though as the Trams were never going to keep a clean sheet and it certainly appeared highly unlikely that they would trouble the scorers.

When Goddard scored in the 68th minute it was all over bar the shouting, he twisted and turned away from his markers well but his shot from around 25 yards was hardly a thunderbolt, it was too good for Manny Djornor in the Croydon goal though as it somehow sneaked past him and into the net.

Heads then dropped and it could have been a rout, but Chertsey remained profligate in front of goal. It took until the 80th minute before they scored their 3rd, Djornor failing to hold Steve Gibson’s cross shot, allowing substitute Kwabena Agyei a simple tap in.

With 3 minutes to go, Bronek Dabrowa was harshly adjudged to have fouled in the box. Ex-Croydon player Pomroy stepped up and made no mistake to make it a resounding 4-0 for his club.

It looks as if the Trams now have a much needed break until the New Year now as their match against Egham has been called off and the game next Saturday against Cove is in serious doubt due to a sewage leak on their pitch. The fixture can’t be played at their home ground but they may yet be able to re-arrange the game elsewhere.

If as is likely that game does not take place, Croydon are next in action at home to Horley on 2 January 2010. Maybe the New Year will bring a little luck to the Trams.

Croydon: Manny Djornor; Lewis Goddard; John Gladwin; Jensen Grant (Dexter Babalola 62); Rob Bartley; Ollie Young; Justin Hemmings (Danny Clayton 45); Louis Headley; Rob Hughes; Bronek Dabrowa; Ashley Kelly.

Sub not used: Joe Hart

Simon Hawkins