Croydon v Wembley

Saturday 10 October 2009

Cherry Red Combined Counties Football League

Croydon FC (1) 3 (Rhod Davis 12 pen, Mark Roberts 85, Junior Gyimah 86)

Wembley FC (0) 0

Somehow, after a thoroughly shambolic start to the season, Croydon have made it to mid-table mediocrity and currently sit 12th out of 22, this win, their 4th in all competitions and 2nd in the league helped to haul the team out of the nether reaches of the Division and was the 4th consecutive game unbeaten, maybe things are looking up.

Although Wembley well may not agree, the Trams got what they deserved out of this game but hardly dominated in the process and had to wait until Mark Roberts' brilliant goal in the 85th minute to make things safe. But the quality of their earlier missed chances was better than those of their opponents and that would have edged it if the game had been decided on points.

Croydon welcomed back skipper Rob Bartley in central defence and played Brett Law in the middle of midfield, replacing Jensen Grant who had work commitments. Rhod Davis and Nigel Ikocodo resumed striking duties although they will be looking over their shoulder at Junior Gyimah who was very impressive after coming on as a sub.

First blood nearly went to the visitors as Dean Cupit in the Croydon goal failed to deal with a free kick arrowed in from the right by Ian Bates, but Conor Carroll could only head wide, it was soon the Trams chance to spurn a goalkeeping error, when Michael Power-Simpson kicked a straight forward clearance from a back pass right up in the air. Ikocodo was right on it but although he was 1st to the loose ball, he could only head narrowly wide.

After 12 minutes Croydon took a somewhat fortuitous lead. Roberts made his marker pay full price for a stumble and raced to the right byeline, he picked out Ikocodo but his pass appeared to be just behind the big striker, as he turned the referee deemed that Ikocodo had been caught and awarded a penalty. It looked a bit soft but Davis tucked it away nicely.

The Trams so nearly doubled their lead 5 minutes later when Roberts burst away down the right again, this time he pass meant that Ikocodo had to stretch to reach it at the far post but he made good contact only to be thwarted by a very lucky Powers-Simpson who happened to be in the right place to block the instinctive shot.

Then it was Croydon's turn to get away with it, Cupit rushed off his line but was caught out and eventually the ball fell for James Okunowo who saw his shot blocked on the line by the seemingly omnipresent Roberts. Seconds later the Trams were up the other end, Ikocodo get a firm head on a fine cross by Mohamed Shugaa only to aim it a little too close to the keeper.

It seemed for all the world that Croydon had doubled their lead when Ikocodo beat the offside trap a couple of minutes into the 2nd half but he hit is powerful shot just wide of the near post with only the keeper to beat. Up the other end Cupit made a fine save as Jerome Walker found a bit of space on the right and hit a clean shot at goal from a wide angle.

Substitute on Louis Headley, on for the injured Law then stamped his authority on the game, firstly getting in a quick cross that saw Davis flash a reaction header just wide and then after picking up a Shugaa through ball he made some space for himself before hitting a looping shot that was mopped up by Powers-Simpson.

New signing Gyimah then made his flamboyant debut, hopefully he'll turn out to be the real thing because he appears to have pace and power to burn, he shrugged off his markers with ease and when he got the chance showed them a clean pair of heels, he looked very quick and it didn't take him long before he had 2 one on ones with the keeper, he tried had shot with left foot and the other with his right and neither unduly troubled Powers- Simpson but the potential was awesome.

It wasn't him that sealed Wembley's fate though it was the mercurial Roberts who scored his 2nd consecutive wonder goal, put through by a combination of Jake Pitt and John Gladwin down the left he had the chance to shoot 1st time but he calmly lifted the ball over his markers head and rammed his shot past the keeper with his other foot. It was more than reminiscent of Gazza's fabulous goal against the Dutch in the '96 European Cup. The only thing missing was the dentist's chair.

A minute later Gyimah proved that he could finish from a couple of feet out, as he tapped in a fine cross from another sub, Billy Chincharo with the Wembley defence floundering.

Although they earned their win, the scoreline was a little flattering, when the passing was working, the Trams looked like they had the beating of anyone at this level but too often simple balls went astray, defenders dawdled on the ball and the wrong options were chosen. But these things can be worked on if you have the right raw materials and Dickson Gill appears to have put together a pretty good young squad - he even has some very able cover in key positions, Law, Headley and Gladwin may not be 1st picks yet but they are able deputies and Gyimah could become something special.

Trams travel to top of the table Sandhurst next Saturday, a result there will really put the cat amongst the pigeons.

Croydon: Dean Cupit; John Gladwin; Mohamed Shugaa; Brett Law (Louis Headley 32); Rob Bartley; Ntipadem Sophonie; Jake Pitt; Dexter Babalola; Rhod Davis (Billy Chincharo 66); Nigel Ikocodo (Junior Gyimah 63); Mark Roberts.

Subs not used: Asher Colbourne; Lewis Goddard.

Simon Hawkins