Croydon v Camberley

Saturday 21 November 2009

Cherry Red Combined Counties Football League

Croydon FC (0) 1 (Tim Murdoch 72)

Camberley Town FC (0) 1 (John Finnieston 90+1)

After 5 consecutive defeats, it was typical of Croydon to start turning things around against the league’s leading side and only a late penalty saved Camberley’s blushes in the end.

No one would put this in their all time top 10 matches, even if they’d only ever attended 9! The only shot on target for either side turned out to be the goals and particularly for a side in Camberley’s lofty position that is an appalling statistic.

But if the visitor’s were bitterly disappointed with their performance then the Trams should be less so. For a variety of reasons things have been going a bit wrong lately, a lack of experience combined with rapidly ebbing confidence would be the obvious problems, but the rub of the green has been going against them in a big way too. The fact that they suffered a sending off and a penalty in this game, reinforcing the contention that luck is against them at the moment.

In one of the shocks of the season, Dickson Gill welcomed back Ollie Young and the prodigal Tim Murdoch into the fold, both returning from a sojourn at Lingfield. They are excellent players, easily up to the required standard, but both like a tackle, so the 1st booking sweepstake is back on. They didn’t get a yellow between them in this game but did manage a wonder goal and penalty.

Camberley’s endeavours weren’t helped when they lost keeper Justin Gray in the warm up. Full back Jamie Hoppitt took over between the sticks but as mentioned aforesaid, he was hardly tested. If he and Gray had both been in goal they wouldn’t have stopped Murdoch’s effort anyway.

Croydon also had a new custodian Manny Ajornoz, he too had hardly anything to do, but he claimed his catches well and certainly made his presence felt, giving a very vocal performance.

He was called into action in the 1st minute but only to claim a very poor attempt at a finish from John Finnieston after a swinging freekick from Anthony Millerich, a few minutes later, Phil Page turned well and hit Camberley’s side netting from and acute angle.

25 minutes later Lewis Goddard had the best chance of the game when he got in behind the visiting defence, he bore down on Hoppitt but lost control of the ball at the crucial moment and got to close to the stand in keeper.

The 2nd half was as pedestrian as the 1st, Croydon went close when Millerich headed just past his own net under pressure from Nigel Ikocodo and from the resulting corner, Rob Bartley put his header wide from a promising position.
With 62 minutes gone, it looked as if the Trams had been undone by another contentious refereeing decision. Ikocodo, justifiably booked for dissent in the 1st half chased Millerich for a ball down the right channel, as the ball was shepherded out of play he caught the defender on the heels for a routine foul. The referee, observing from deep in the other half decided it was worth a 2nd caution and duly sent Ikocodo off.

Despite the numerical advantage, Camberley were still not able to muster a meaningful attack and if anything looked the poorer outfit of the 2. Croydon had a half chance when Page tried a shot from distance but it was left to Murdoch to turn the game with a spectacular goal in the 72nd minute. Nothing seemed on when he picked up the ball around 30 yards out but he though otherwise and unleashed a brilliant left foot drive that found the corner of the net leaving Hoppitt no chance at all.

It would have been pleasant to report that the Trams held out for an against the odds win but it wasn’t to be, in the 90th minute Young was a little late closing down his man and conceded a penalty. A minute later Finnieston calmly slotted home the spot kick.

Although Croydon were within a whisper of gaining all 3 points, this was a worthy performance that should augur well for the future.

Croydon play host to Hanworth Villa this Wednesday at 7.45 and are on their travels again on Saturday when they face Bookham at Dorking’s ground.

Croydon: Manny Ajornoz; Jo Hart; John Gladwin; Lewis Goddard (Dexter Babalola 69); Rob Bartley; Ollie Young; Louis Headley; Tim Murdoch; Phil Page (Mark Roberts 88); Nigel Ikocodo; Billy Chincharo.

Subs not used: Jake Pitt; Mohamed Shuga’a; Ntipadem Sophonie.

Simon Hawkins