Croydon Municipal v Croydon

Wednesday 11 November 2009.

EL Records League Cup

Croydon Municipal FC (1) 4 (Nana Agyei 25, Adam Rea 50, 90 + 1, Kevin Dalrymple 65,

Croydon FC (1) 1 (Nigel Ikocodo 24)

Just a brief report to keep the ball rolling.

The less said about this match the better really, it was always going to be a tough ask for the Trams, turning up at the Arena as the away side, facing a load of ex-players with a point to prove against a side that grew phoenix like out of the ashes of last years reserve side.

Municipal fielded 4 ex-Trams, Nana Agyei, Tyrone Roberts; Terry Fennessey and Wesley Hines, Croydon themselves had a number of players cup tied or suspended but it probably wouldn’t have made any difference if last year’s cup winning team was available, the Trams were always destined to lose.

Croydon certainly has the better of the opening 20 odd minutes and deserved their lead. Nigel Ikocodo pouncing on a defensive mix up after some good work by Jake Pitt.

After that it was all downhill for the Trams, they never recovered from Municipal’s instant reply. Fennessey took a free kick from the right and floated his cross come shot towards goal, his effort hit the bar, fell for a home attacker who hit the opposite post. The danger was still not over though and Agyei whacked the ball in from close range.

The 2nd half brought nothing but frustration for Croydon, Adam Rea looked miles offside when he received the ball in acres of space 5 minutes after the break, he made no mistake giving his side a lead they never appeared likely to lose.

5 minutes later and the Trams were reduced to 10 men. Rob Bartley booked for a foul in the 1st half spent just a little too long bending the referee’s ear about the perceived earlier miscarriage of justice and was cautioned for dissent. He was duly dismissed.

Another 10 minutes later and the game was beyond Croydon. This time it was Kevin Dalrymple who appeared to be lurking beyond the last man. He chipped the ball into the net sweetly to make it 3-1.

It was just a matter of playing out time now and Municipal got a 4th in stoppage time, some sloppy work by Ntipadem Sophonie and Dean Cupit presenting an easy chance for Rea.

On this kind of form Croydon might be swapping places with Municipal at the end of the season but this kind of game is always a bit phoney, we’ll see what happens at the end of the year.

Croydon: Dean Cupit; Lewis Goddard (Rhod Davis 69); Mohamed Shuga’a; Brett Law (Joe Hart 65); Rob Bartley; Ntipadem Sophonie; Louis Headley; Jensen Grant; Nigel Ikocodo; Billy Chincharo; Jake Pitt.

Sub not used: Dexter Babalola

Simon Hawkins