Ash United v Croydon match report

Saturday 8 August 2009

Cherry Red Records Combined Counties Football League

Ash United FC (2) 4 (James Blason 10, 41, 56; Shaun Lydon 50)

Croydon FC (0) 0

Welcome to the Combined Counties League!

Any optimism generated by Croydon’s victory last week in their Kent League Shield win against VCD Athletic turned to dust after this uninspiring debut game against Ash.

Perhaps expectations were slightly too high, with a brand new manager in Mike Robbins and a fresh out of the box team playing in an unfamiliar league, teething problems could have been expected and there were some mitigating circumstances, but by any reckoning this was a most disappointing start to the season.

It was a baking hot day and that hampered any attempted comeback but the most unsatisfactory aspect was an apparent lack of determination after the team went 3-0 behind, it could have ended in a rout if it wasn’t for the fact that Ash used up their goals to chances ration early in the game and keeper Chris Arnold made some good save towards the end.

Taking last Saturday’s game into account, Croydon gave debuts to James Beauchamp and the returning Steve McNamara at full back with Sam Groombridge moving to centre half.

Croydon could easily have been facing a penalty as early as the 2nd minute when Grant Cunningham got the wrong side of the player he was marking and appeared to bundle him over in the box, there was relief when the referee waived play on, it looked a certain spot kick from the terraces.

After 10 minutes luck evened itself out. The Trams feebly gave possession away on the edge of the Ash penalty box from their own free kick, Aneel Azeem clearly handled the ball as he broke up field but unfortunately the referee was on his blindside, James Blason made no mistake with his finish when he received the ball from Azeem, sliding the ball under Chris Arnold’s body, giving the keeper no chance. Blason looked the best player on the pitch but he is no greyhound, somebody should have got back to him, handball or not.

From an inauspicious start, Croydon got steadily more into the game, without really looking that penetrative, the team tried to pass it about and Tyron Roberts and Aaron Adgeyman made some inroads down the flanks, but lone striker Jamie Marriott was far too isolated and his endeavours to bring his team-mates into the game went unrewarded.

After 41 minutes Croydon were dealt another cruel blow when Blason scored directly from a free kick. The combative Tim Murdoch was unfairly adjudged to have fouled when he was involved in a scramble for the ball on the edge of his area, then the kick itself was taken much further out, improving Blason’s angle no end. His shot found it’s mark with Arnold rooted to the spot.

Croydon had a sniff of a chance at the start of the 2nd half when Aaron Smith hit a shot into a crowd of players but it was soon all up for the Trams when Ash broke away again to score.

Again the referee influenced the situation but his actions would probably have been echoed in any game. Jamie Marriott was bowled over in the Ash penalty box, when he was clattered into from behind, it would have been a free kick anywhere else but a very tame penalty, it gave the home side the opportunity to rampage down Croydon’s left and Azeem could have shot himself as Arnold gave him the whole of the goal to aim at, he crossed though and Shaun Lydon thumped the ball in.

The 4th goal followed soon after, Blason completing his hattrick when he picked the ball up some little distance out and placed it into the net, there was not great momentum on the ball and it didn’t creep into the corner of the net by any means but Arnold appeared wrong footed and made no attempt to save.

After this the Trams’ heads drooped into their chests and it became a procession of unconverted chances for Ash. Substitute Leon Wallace did show some spirit, going close a couple of times and fellow sub Rhod Davis was cruelly adjudged offside when he had timed his run immaculately. Arnold made several stops and a particularly fine save to deny Lydon but of course it was all too little too late.

It would be difficult to take much encouragement from this match, hopefully it was just a bad day at the office and of course, the only way is up now.

Croydon hope for better things this coming Wednesday when they face Chessington and Hook at home followed on Saturday by another home match, this time in the FA Cup versus Shoreham, let’s hope the Trams’ form has picked up a bit by them.

Croydon: Chris Arnold; James Beauchamp; Steve McNamara; Tim Murdoch (Jamie Lawrence 63); Grant Cunningham; Sam Groombridge; Tyron Roberts (Leon Wallace 45); Aaron Smith (captain); Jamie Marriott (Rhod Davis 67); Daniel Westerman; Aaron Adgeyman.

Subs not used: Darren Delgrado; Jamie Williams (gk)

Simon Hawkins