Wednesday 27 January 2010
Cherry Red Records Combined Counties Football League
Bookham FC (1) 1 (Martin Smith
Croydon FC (0) 3 (Junior Gyimah 67, Danny Clayton 75, Rob Hughes 79)
Discounting Croydon’s victory in the pre-season Kent League challenge Shield, this was the Trams 1st away victory in any competition this season, and after a mediocre opening half it was a deserved win.
Croydon owed Bookham a little bit of something in this match and there was somewhat of a reversal of fortune about the way the game panned out. In the fixture at the Arena, Croydon cruised to a 2-0 lead and looked odds on against a ramshackle Bookham side only to be blown of the pitch in the 2nd half when the visitors came back at them with a 4 goal burst.
It wasn’t quite so dramatic last night, Bookham’s lead was a tentative 1-0 at half time and Croydon had been in the game, even if the scoreline was not unjust, but the Trams built on some initial promise and ran out 3-1 winners in comfortable style in the end.
Bookham have been having their tribulations with the weather and sharing the notorious Dorking pitch can only exacerbate them. They did well to get this match on, the conditions weren’t ideal, the ball was constantly diverted form it’s true course by lumps and divots but it was perfectly playable – so long as you didn’t dwell on the ball. And that’s what Croydon tended to do in the 1st half.
Dickson Gill likes his teams to play football, but this game required a direct approach, maybe not route one but certainly a one touch, two touch type of performance and as the Croydon defence dwelt a little on the ball in the 8th minute, Martin Smith pounced and gave his side the lead with a neat finish from an awkward angle.
Croydon had played fluently up to then but they lost their way and Bookham had their best spell of the match. Justin Hemmings got caught in possession mid way through the half and but for a fine save by Adrian Jones, Bookham would have doubled their lead through Mark Jarman.
Towards the break, Croydon got a grip and Junior Gyimah showed his undoubted class going close a couple of times, he broke away the 1st time and although a defender clutched at his shirt he carried on and tried to place the ball over Tim Brewster in the Bookham goal. It perhaps should have been brought back for a foul but that would have lead to a very harsh sending off. His 2nd effort was a trademark thump just wide from a delicate Bronek Dabrowa chip.
After a doubtless frank half-time team talk, Croydon meant business in the 2nd half and they pretty much dominated proceedings, with only the odd defensive slip up giving the home side anything to get their spirits up.
Gyimah was a constant threat and went close another couple of times before he eventually got on the score sheet, firstly hitting a fierce drive into Brewster’s arms and then failing to capitalise with a header in front of goal, when he got to a lovely Rob Hughes cross, a foot either side of the keeper would have done but he managed to pick him out for an easy save.
Jones made an essential save from Jarman when the Bookham striker turned his man and bore down on goal, the ball bobbled at just the wrong time for the forward and Jones showing great anticipation pounced.
Then Croydon got the equaliser that their general play merited. Good work down the right form Daniel Penfold lead to a cross form Dabrowa that was picked up by Gyimah who made a little room and passed the ball into the net with an excellent controlled finish.
That was in the 67th minute, by the 75th the trams had the lead when Danny Clayton toe poked the ball home after a determined battling run by John Gladwin down the left flank.
That broke Bookham’s spirit and 4 minutes later the game was safe. Gyimah held the ball up well on the edge of the home penalty area and laid the ball off to Hughes who threaded the ball through a tiny gap between keeper and post with a superb finish. Hughes’s celebration went deeper than that of a man who had simply scored a goal and was a joy to see.
The trams went close 2 or 3 more times before the end and could easily have scored more through both Gyimah and substitute Rob Wingfield but 3 was an ample return and enough for an important win.
Croydon travel to Molesey on Saturday and are on the road again on the following Tuesday when the visit Egham.
Croydon: Adrian Jones; Daniel Penfold; Craig Phelps; John Gladwin; Justin Hemmings; Ollie Young; Danny Clayton (Joshua Fraser 85); Joseph Loyzu (Rob Wingfield 77); Junior Gyimah; Rob Hughes; Bronek Dabrowa.
Sub not used: Manny Djornor
Simon Hawkins
