Dorking v Croydon

Tuesday 9 March 2010

Cherry Red Records Combined Counties Football League

Dorking FC (0) 0

Croydon FC (0) 2 (Stuart Padgett 66, Danny Clayton 70)

It was 8 long games ago and on this same Meadowbank pitch that Croydon notched their last win, that time it was against lowly Bookham who ground share with Dorking. It was happy hunting grounds again for the Trams as they dismissed their previous victim’s Landlords for a deserved victory.

Dorking and Bookham look odds on to fill the bottom 2 places in the league and Croydon are in a battle to ensure they don’t fill the last relegation spot but on the evidence of this match they are streets ahead of those 2 clubs at least. Although the results haven’t gone their way, the performances have been under par rather than woeful. It only seemed that a turn of fortunes card would see them picking up points, if not on a consistent basis but enough to keep them ticking over. The acid test will come in the next couple of games when they face fellow strugglers Banstead and Wembley.

With new face Turgay Akli forming a 3 pronged attack with Martin Smith and Shane Thomas, the Trams looked to have a bit of bite up front, they certainly had some energy as Smith and Thomas along with Akli for the 50 odd minutes he was on the pitch, worked tirelessly. The mercurial talent that is Junior Gyimah has left the club, if he could harness his talent with a large dollop of nous and a little bit of team/work ethic he could be some player but what Croydon need are heads down grafters and he didn’t fit the bill.

The midfield was compact and efficient, even missing the injured Bronek Dabrowa, Danny Clayton and Stuart Padgett had very good games, topping of their displays with a goal each but the undoubted man of the match was Jensen Grant who had an immense match, showing tenacity, workrate and no little skill as he drove his team forward.

It was at the back where the Trams looked vulnerable, with Ollie Young suspended and Ntipadem Sophonie crying of late, there was a distinct lack of experience at the back. Michael Johnson continued his renaissance at left back, it appears to be his strongest position as he sees the game well from that area, Craig Phelps switched onto his weaker right flank and acquitted himself very well indeed. Justin Hemmings continued to hold things together at centre back with another composed display and Joseph Loyza continued to be a revelation. In 10 games for the Trams he has gradually worked his way back down the team, from centre forward to midfield, then at right back against Egham last Saturday and now to emergency centre half. His positioning was a little shaky from time to time but he put in a sterling performance and should be feeling proud today.

In fairness Dorking weren’t up to much, they had a young side and looked out of their depth for much of the game. They had a bit of pace up front and could have sneaked something on the breakaway in the 1st half and wholesale changes after they went behind livened things up for them when the Trams vacillated between defence and attack. But they were definitely second best.

It only looked to be a matter of time before Croydon got ahead in this game and they dominated proceedings throughout the whole game. Akli went close early on from a Phelps cross and Thomas drove over after a neat build up involving Smith and Akli.

Thomas tried a spectacular overhead kick from a Phelps corner but his goalbound shot was blocked and Thomas went close again when he tried to chip the keeper after being set up by an Akli header from a route one clearance from Craig Bradshaw in the Croydon goal. Clayton had a decent drive deflected away for a corner.

Dorking did have a couple of decent chances against the run of play. Bradshaw had to save sharply from Mamadou Meite and Johnson did well to clear an effort from Steffan Beckford off the line.

Croydon buzzed the ball around the Dorking box innumerable times but Padgett went closest in the 1st half when Doug Still had to go full stretch to put his shot wide. The 2nd half started with the Trams showing renewed vigour, they knew a win was there for the taking and weren’t prepared to let it slip through their grasp through lack of effort. Akli’s last act before his substitution was to test Still with a nice turn and shot before he was replaced by Danny Penfold.

Smith brought out a decent save from Still when he saved low down after a cunning little flick from Thomas. Then in the 66th minute, the Trams broke the deadlock. Phelps made inroads down the right flank, cut inside and delivered the perfect left foot cross for Padgett, lurking Martin Peters like on the edge of the box, he ghosted in and headed the ball sweetly past Still.

4 minutes later and the game was put beyond Dorking. Smith battled past his marker down the right, found a bit of space a pulled his cross back for the advancing Clayton to smack the ball past Still and wrap things up for the Trams.
One Swallow doesn’t make a summer (a little bit of spring wouldn’t go amiss though) but this was a fabulous performance against an admittedly not very good team. If the players can keep these energy levels up then whatever the final result, their opposition will now they have been in a contest.

Croydon face Banstead at the Arena this coming Saturday before travelling to Wembley the following Thursday. Hopefully fixture congestion (Croydon aren’t unduly affected due to the robust nature of the Arena pitch) will lead to some exhausted opponent s in the run in.

Croydon: Craig Bradshaw; Joseph Loyza; Michael Johnson (John Gladwin 88); Craig Phelps; Justin Hemmings; Stuart Padgett; Jensen Grant; Danny Clayton; Turgay Akli (Danny Penfold 55); Martin Smith; Shane Thomas

Sub not used: Lewis Goddard

Simon Hawkins