Croydon v Epsom & Ewell

Wednesday 17 February 2010

Cherry Red Records Combined Counties Football League

Croydon FC (1) 1 (Martin Smith 23)

Epsom & Ewell FC (2) 2 (Robbie Burns 6, Ramzi Bedj-Bedj 40)

Croydon’s dismal run extended to 5 defeats in a row after this loss to a decent but not unbeatable Epsom & Ewell side. The slide down the table continues apace and the ominous threat of relegation now lurks over the Trams shoulder.

This was not a poor performance by any means; it was just not good enough to glean any points. After an uncertain start, Croydon played some good neat football for large parts of the game but found themselves wanting in the last third at both ends.

The fact that Croydon goalkeeper Adrian Jones is putting a late bid in for player of the year (this was his 3rd consecutive man of the match display) puts the Trams travails into some perspective, longish periods of control in midfield were suddenly relinquished to allow an attempt at goal out of context with the way the match was proceeding always had the home team on the back foot.

With Bronek Dabrowa back from a work sojourn and with John Gladwin returning from injury the Croydon midfield was bolstered but Junior Gyimah arrived late and his goal threat came from the bench in the 2nd half and he was well marshalled when he did arrive.

Epsom & Ewell got the start they wanted when they opened the scoring in the 6th minute, their best player Ramzi Bedj-Bedj sent in a good corner and centre forward Robbie Burns nodded the haggis into the back of the net with a decent finish.

The Trams were distinctly 2nd best for the 1st 15 minutes or so but they got back into the game and soon levelled the scoring, Martin smith on his home debut claiming the credit as he picked up position some distance out and tried to place a shot beyond Paul Borg in the Epsom goal, he was ably assisted in his aim by a cruel deflection that left the keeper with no chance.

Croydon were oh so close to snatching the lead a minute or so latter as Michael Johnson let fly a shot that Borg found too hot to handle but after a scramble in the box the loose ball was eventually hustled out to safety.

With the trams completely on top it was only to be suspected that they would fall behind to a bit of sloppy defending, there were calls for offside as Bedj-Bedj got behind the defence but he appeared to be played on by a lingering fullback on the far side and he finished clinically.

That put an end to Croydon’s best spell, although they were still in the game, they never really looked like taking anything out of it and the best chances fell to Epsom & Ewell in the 2nd half with Jones making especially good saves from Bedj-Bedj, Andy Amfo-Brobbey and Kyle Hough. Craig Phelps also worked a miracle with a desperate last gasp on the line clearance that denied Ben Hayward.

There was still plenty of endeavour from the Trams but other than a wild effort from Joseph Loyzu and a near miss from Smith on the turn, there was little goal threat from the home side and Epsom & Ewell held out for their win.

Frustrating though the result was there was a glimmer of hope in this performance, a bit of work at the back and a little more incision upfront and Croydon’s fortunes could change just like that.

Croydon face Cove at home this Saturday, a win is fast becoming a necessity.

Croydon: Adrian Jones; John Gladwin; Craig Phelps; Ntipadem Sophonie; Justin Hemmings; Jensen Grant; Danny Clayton (Lewis Goddard 73); Bronek Dabrowa; Joseph Loyzu (Danny Penfold 78); Martin Smith; Michael Johnson (Junior Gyimah 68).

Sub not used: Joshua Fraser.

Simon Hawkins