Croydon v Hanworth Villa

Wednesday 25 November 2009

Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League

Croydon FC (0) 1 (Jensen Grant 69)

Hanworth Villa (1) 1 (Ollie Young 43 og)

An unfortunate own goal from skipper Ollie Young looked like it was going to be enough to decide this game but a spirited 2nd half fight back from the Trams lead to an equalizer and a deserved share of the points.
After a worthy 1-1 draw against disappointing table toppers Camberley at the weekend, Croydon would have held out some hope of a victory against fellow Combined Counties new boys Hanworth Villa, but a poor, disjointed performance, particularly in the 1st half lead to stalemate.

In contrast to Saturday’s match at least this game started off at a gallop, even though the initial impetus soon drained away, Croydon with some notable passers in the side, seemed incapable of getting the ball under control and when they did, promptly gave it away to the opposition. Villa themselves were no better and the ball went back and forth any number of times as it was given away with heavy touches.

A nice little ball from Jensen Grant to Phil Page, nearly got the ball rolling in the 1st couple of minute, but page shot just wide after a nice turn, then it was comedy defending time at the other end when Steven Loverage was presented with a shooting opportunity. Croydon keeper Manny Djornor mopped up with no trouble.

A couple of minutes later, Page turned creator when he teased his marker on the edge of the box and delivered an excellent cross to the back post were Mark Roberts couldn’t quite get enough purchase on it leaving Villa custodian Terry Buss with a simple save.

The game lapsed in to the doldrums for a while before Nigel Ikocodo spurned the chance of the half, put through he ran towards goal but his shot was much too tame to trouble Buss and a golden opportunity went begging.

When Hanworth Villa took the lead it was out of nothing. A long punt up field from a free kick shouldn’t have caused any trouble but it skimmed Young’s head and looped unanswerable over the frustrated Djornor’s head. The keeper’s positioning was exemplary; you can’t legislate for this type of thing.
Croydon started the 2nd half much more brightly and applied pressure on their opponents throughout the majority of the half. Although they were hardly brilliant, they did earn their equaliser and perhaps shaded things overall.

Ikocodo again failed to take advantage after he had worked himself a decent opening but again his shot lacked the necessary oomph to trouble Buss.

With 69 minutes gone it was a set piece that enabled Croydon to claw their way back into the match. A Corner from the right by John Gladwin fell perfectly for Grant who powered in a header from the centre of the goal.

A couple of minutes later Ikocodo sprinted down the right channel and squared brilliantly across the face of goal, Page steaming in, was just too late and the touch that would have meant a certain goal was just out of reach.

That was about it for clear cut chances, although Croydon did look the better side for the rest of the half, Villa defended well and shut up shop effectively.
This Saturday; Croydon have a bit of a 6 pointer against Bookham who play at Dorking’s ground. The Trams went from 2-0 up and absolutely cruising to an absolutely crushing 4-2 defeat against Bookham earlier this season. A nice win would give a measure of revenge and the points would be handy too.

Croydon: Manny Djornor; Lewis Goddard; John Gladwin; Jensen Grant; Ntipadem Sophonie; Ollie Young; Mark Roberts; Tim Murdoch; Phil Page; Nigel Ikocodo (Jake Pitt 84); Dexter Babalola.

Only Sub used.

Simon Hawkins