Chessington & Hook v Croydon

Tuesday 9 February 2010

Cherry Red Records Combined Counties Football League

Chessington & Hook United FC (1) 2 (Ollie Young 27 – og, Darren Smith 68)

Croydon FC (0) 0

After a bit of a debacle on Saturday when the Trams were a bit of a shambles especially early in the 2nd half, this was a much improved performance – even if the final result was the same.

Both goals conceded against Chessington & Hook were of the super soft variety and Croydon really tried to play some football, looking very good between the 2 penalty boxes at times, without showing the necessary defensive resolve or required penetration up front.

The side welcomed back Junior Gyimah in attack and he continued to make an impact, ploughing a one man furrow at times and becoming less effectual as the game wore on, but still a star player and at the moment the only likely match winner. In addition Lewis Goddard returned from injury at right back and he added a little solidity there.

Chessington could arguably be said to have lost the battle for midfield in this game but they were very bright when they got the Trams defence on the back foot and were far more likely to score, always assuming that Gyimah didn’t make the breakthrough for Croydon.

And it was Gyimah who had the 1st clear cut opportunity, after being fouled in a central position, he took the free kick himself, left footed and made Mark Daniel stretch in the Chessington goal, just tipping over.

The home team seemed to get the run of the ball all evening and a lucky break put Paul Timba free, caught out by the bad break, Croydon keeper did excellently well to change direction and save down to his left when he looked beaten. The another very fortunate ricochet set up Darren Smith uncontested but Jones made another very sharp save, he was definitely the Trams man of the match.

Chessington were having difficulty containing Gyimah’s dangerous runs and Daniel had to make a fairly desperate save when the powerful striker gave it a mighty whack from distance but it wasn’t going to be his night.

Then it all went wrong for the Trams, Paul West got around the back of the Croydon defence to easily and put a cross into a perilous area, unluckily for Ollie Young the ball hit him high up on the thigh and rebounded into his own goal, the build up was good but the end result was most disappointing.

It took until stoppage time for Croydon to mount a serious reply. The nearly got in as the ball became loose after a Rob Hughes corner, Gyimah pounced and his shot was going in until a desperate defensive leg sent his effort wide.

At the start of the 2nd half, Gyimah came so close to giving his team parity when he unleashed another left foot shot that whizzed just past the post with Daniel well beaten.

Croydon continued to play a studied game between the 2 boxes but it was almost Wenger like in it’s pretty ineffectiveness, whereas Chessington went straight for the jugular and won.

Midway through the half, Scott Todd had a shot for the home side that looked on target but was deflected just wide and then from the resulting corner his team put the match safe, when after Craig Phelps had cleared the ball of the line, it was hacked away and appear to hit Smith, rebound back and trickle over the line and into the Trams net. It was a feeble goal but enough for game over.

The game moved on inexorably towards Croydon’s inevitable defeat but there was still time for Young to get sent off. He was rightly booked for a foul on the edge of his area and then protesting too vehemently, cautioned again and sent packing. Completely unnecessarily and not worthy of further comment.

The Trams now travel to Bedfont on Saturday. All plane spotters should have their note books handy.

Croydon: Adrian Jones; Lewis Goddard; Craig Phelps (John Gladwin 71); Justin Hemmings; Ollie Young; Danny Clayton; Joseph Loyzu (Rob Wingfield 83); Jensen Grant; Junior Gyimah; Rob Hughes; Michael Johnson (Daniel Penfold 83).

All subs used.

Simon Hawkins