Croydon V Ash United

Saturday 23 January 2010

Cherry Red Records Combined Counties Football League

Croydon FC (1) 3 (Bronek Dabrowa 33 pen, Junior Gyimah 69, 90+2)

Ash United FC (0) 2 (James Blason 65 pen, Shawn Lydon 76)

After what seemed an interminable break of 6 weeks due to the inclement weather it was virtually pre-season all over again for the Trams who faced Ash United after their enforced mid-winter break, co-incidentally their opponents on the opening day of the season.

Ash ran out comfortable victors on that day, winning 4-0 and making Croydon out to be the poor side they proved to be, they weren’t so fortunate in this game losing 3-2 with the Trams gleaning a vital haul of 3 points.

Amazingly their still some familiar faces on the Croydon merry-go-round after the long gap, leavened with new signings, the Trams fielded their 7th keeper of the season Adrian Jones, Craig Phelps was at left back and Rob Wingfield supported the returning Junior Gyimah in attack. Later on Danny Penfold and Michael Johnson joined the fray from the bench.

The Trams didn’t look too rusty in the 1st half and probably deserved to go in ahead at half time against an Ash side that appeared to lack belief. Gyimah nearly got on the end of a deep cross early on, a firm touch could have caused real problems for the visitors defence but he couldn’t quite get enough purchase on his effort.

Then Croydon looked a bit hard done by when Bronek Dabrowa bundled a perfect free kick form rob Hughes into the net, the referee blew up for an infringement but it seemed a harsh decision form the sidelines.

With half an hour gone and with neither side appearing particularly threatening in front of goal, Croydon took the lead with a penalty. It wasn’t the prettiest of build-ups. A huge route zero punt from a home defender put Arjuna Adlam under pressure in the Ash goal, he came out of his area to deal with it but only succeeded in lofting the ball behind himself. Wingfield managed to rest possession from the scrabbling keeper and was brought down in the box for his trouble. After some delay Adlam got his inevitable marching orders and Dabrowa slotted home with aplomb.

Gyimah had a chance to show what he was capable of a few minutes later with a bullying run and powerful shot just wide, but Ash had the chance to equalise before the half-time break when Shawn Lydon was on the receiving end of a lucky bounce and tested Jones with a fine shot that he saved excellently.

In stoppage time Gyimah showed his power again, driving past a lunge by his marker and unleashing another rifling drive that substitute keeper Nick Garwood did well to save.

Ash came out for the 2nd half with renewed vigour, they obviously thought that their was no point surrendering when the lead was only one goal and they began to pressurise the fragile Croydon team who made heavy weather of the rest of the game.

When Ash eventually got their seemingly inevitable equaliser, it was like history repeating itself. Croydon skipper Ollie Young made an awful ricket of a routine clearance, slicing the ball into the path of the galloping Lydon, trying to redeem the situation; Young scythed him down on the edge of the box. The penalty and sending off were only to be expected and James Blason netted with ease.

Just when it looked like Croydon heads would drop they regained the lead with a terrific goal from the mercurial Gyimah. His work rate without the ball is open to question, but he is certainly dynamic when he is in possession, again he drove towards the opposition, playing a little one-two with Johnson and blasted the ball into the back of the net from a difficult angle with no apparent back lift. It was a fabulous goal.

But the lead didn’t last long. An Ash corner was poorly defended and Lydon scrambled the ball into the net at the far post.

It soon turned into the Junior Gyimah show as he tried valiantly to give the Trams the lead for the 3rd time. Garwood tipped over agonisingly after a deep Phelps cross and he shot ferociously wide after making the minimum of space for himself.

In fact left winger John Gladwin had the best of the chances when he found himself scot free behind the Ash defence but his confidence betrayed him and he finished tamely leaving Garwood with little more to do than gather the ball.

After all their effort, ash so nearly snatched the game as it entered into stoppage time, only to be thwarted by an incredible save form Jones, Lydon’s shot looked in as the keeper went the wrong way, however, Jones swung out his right boot and magically cleared his lines.

Amazingly the game wasn’t quite yet over and Croydon still had time for a winner, Hughes, denied decent possession all game found a bit of space on the right and went on a mazy run, cutting back for Gyimah who lashed the ball into the net. Another brilliant goal in a much needed win.

Croydon are on their travels now with an anticipated game against Bookham at Dorking on Wednesday 27th, watch this space; it’ll probably be off as Dorking are at home the day before! Then it’s off to Molesey on the following Saturday.

Croydon: Adrian Jones; Lewis Goddard (Danny Penfold 51); Craig Phelps; John Gladwin; Justin Hemmings; Ollie Young; Danny Clayton; Rob Wingfield (Michael Johnson 56); Junior Gyimah; Rob Hughes; Bronek Dabrowa.

Subs not used: Dexter Babalola; Adrian Ma; Manny Djornor.

Simon Hawkins