Croydon v Badshot Lea

Saturday 31 October 2009

Cherry Red Records Combined Counties Football League Premier Division

Croydon FC (1) (Phil Page 69 pen, Nigel Ikocodo 69)

Badshot Lea FC (1) 3 (Michael Smith 24, Barry McCoy 87 pen, 90)

This was a cracking game, that ebbed back and forth and although it looked as if Croydon had victory in their grasp at one stage, it would be difficult to argue that the best team didn’t win.

In fact, Badshot Lea are by some margin the best side that the Trams have played this season and in running them close and giving them a big scare at 2-1 up with 7 minutes to go the home team showed how far they have progressed in recent weeks. Being competitive against such opponents is a big plus.

Talking of big, Badshot were a huge side, definitely grown men versus Dickson Gill’s boys and rumoured to be backed by a very substantial wage bill, they should have been 3 or 4 up after 15-20 minutes but a combination of good goalkeeping, bad misses and the intervention of the woodwork kept then at bay, after that Croydon started to cause them trouble, they certainly looked better going forward than they did at the back and the Trams very nearly made them pay for their profligacy.

Dean Cupit, nursing a groin injury from the previous Saturday was not risked in goal, replaced by the experienced Michael Lidbury and Phil Page, who scored a penalty for Dorking against the Trams earlier this season replaced the suspended Junior Gyimah. Jensen Grant’s influence in midfield was missed, as he was absent due to work commitments.

It certainly was a torrid opening few minutes for Croydon as Badshot opened them up like a tin of Spam, the visitors had a succession of very clear cut chances that they should have buried, Croydon defenders got last ditch challenges in on a couple of occasions and Matthew Griffiths was guilty of a woeful miss as he dragged his shot wide with the whole of the goal to aim at.

Michael Smith should perhaps have got on the score sheet earlier than he did but made amends in the 24th minute when some lax refereeing gave him the opportunity to put his team into the lead. Badshot were awarded a throw down the left and as the ball bounced off down the running track, a quick throw was taken with a stray ball some 15 yards away from where it should have been taken, the Croydon defence showed their inexperience and were caught napping, Smith took his chance and shot past Lidbury giving him no chance.

Before the half was out Mark Peters had headed against the Croydon bar and Mark Kleboe had hit the angle of post and bar.

Although Badshot were clearly the superior side the Trams definitely had goals in them, Rob Bartley went very close early on when he got a faint touch to a left wing cross and Nigel Ikocodo had 2 glorious chances to score in 2 similar positions, firstly he hesitated, thinking he was offside and snatched his shot wide and then a couple of minutes later he latched on to a brilliant diagonal ball from Bartley brought the ball on but could only blast his left footed drive wide with the goal at his mercy.

Against the general run of play, Croydon did level the cores in the 45 minute. Lewis Goddard burst into the box from the right touchline and was tripped just inside the area. It was like Déjà vu all over again for Page who stepped up and scored the penalty at the same end that he had for Dorking a few weeks earlier.

Half way through the 2nd half, the Trams took an unexpected lead, they were playing a lot better by now, having weathered the Badshot storm but the visitors still looked like they might have something in the tank – so it proved – but in the meantime Page played in Ikocodo, this time on his good right foot, he made no mistake and finished cleanly.

It looked as if Croydon might eke out a win but a barnstorming finish by Badshot did for them in the end. Lidbury had already made a couple of excellent saves when the referee adjudged that Bartley had fouled on the edge of the box, there were a melee of players involved so it was difficult to argue, substitute Barry McCoy stepped up slotted calmly home.

That was in the 87th minute, the points evaporated for the Trams 3 minutes later when McCoy headed in after good work by fellow sub James Hinchin down the right.

The game wasn’t quite safe for the visitors as both Page and Jake Pitt went close in the 9 minutes of stoppage time played but eventually justice was done and Badshot Lea got the win they deserved.

It was to their credit that Croydon very nearly got something out of this game, Badshot looked a very good side indeed, and the Trams do need to be tested to improve – a little more artifice and guile and Gill’s young men could have got a point or 3 against the odds.

Croydon travel to Egham town for a 7.45 kick off on Tuesday evening, followed by a tip to Banstead Athletic this Saturday. The Badshot chairman reckons Egham are the best side he had seen this season so that should be a test!

Croydon: Michael Lidbury; Lewis Goddard; John Gladwin; Louis Headley; Rob Bartley; Ntipadem Sophonie; Billy Chincharo; Jake Pitt; Phil Page; Nigel Ikocodo; Mark Roberts (Brett Law 83).

Subs not used: Dexter Babalola; Sam Muir; Rhod Davis; Mohamed Shuga’a.

Simon Hawkins