Croydon v Colliers Wood United

Saturday 5 December 2009

Cherry Red Records Combined Counties Football League

Croydon FC (1) 1 (Tim Murdoch 19)

Colliers wood United FC (0) 1 (Phil Frodsham 75)

Croydon are rapidly becoming the Combined counties draw specialists, this was their 9th of the season and their 3rd 1-1 home stalemate in succession.

And on balance it was probably just about the right result, Croydon had the best of the 1st half and Colliers Wood – who looked like they couldn’t hit a barn door with a banjo for most of the match – scored a latish equaliser that neither side satisfied but reflected the fluctuating fortunes of the 2 teams fairly.

It has been a bit back to the future for the Trams at the moment, with Tim Murdoch and Ollie Young already back in the fold, this game saw Justin Hemmings getting his 1st start since returning with folk hero Bronek Dabrowa making a late contribution from the bench. If these 4 can keep themselves fit and suspension free they should make an excellent contribution towards the 2nd half of the season.

With Rob Bartley suspended, Croydon had lost a defensive rock but they were a little lightweight up front too, with Nigel Ikocodo missing Murdoch partnered Phil Page in attack and although he proved adept in the unfamiliar role, an orthodox striker would have been a bonus as Croydon dominated the opening 20 minutes or so.

In fact, the Trams got off to a pretty good start with Jake Pitt looking influential on the right and Page dangerous through the middle. Pitt and Murdoch worked a good opening with a minute of the start but keeper Nick Peters mopped up Murdoch’s left foot effort with ease.

Jensen Grant forced Peters into a sharp save low down at his near post as he made a late run into the box and got a decent shot in from a tight angle.

Then Page very nearly scored, Peters making a spontaneous save from a powerful header after a Murdoch corner, the ball fell invitingly loose but the Trams couldn’t take advantage.

Croydon were passing the ball about nicely at this stage but they still should have gone a goal behind when a corner from Cornell Mackay bounced loose and fell for Ryan Hughes who could only strike his shot tamely at Manny Djornor in the home goal.

The Trams took the lead in the 19th minute when Murdoch appearing to pose no threat, turned and smacked a left foot drive towards the top left corner of the net. Peters appeared to let it go, change his mind, put his hand up to attempt a save and then change his mind again allowing the ball to nestle just inside the angle of post and bar. It was a fabulous strike but the keeper did appear to spurn the opportunity to foil it.
After the goal Colliers Wood came a little more into the game although Croydon did make a couple more chances, a lovely ball from Page to Grant gave Peters the chance to make amends and he saved well.

Murdoch should really have doubled Croydon’s lead in the 35th minute when Pitt passed upfield to Page who flicked the ball on to Murdoch who was scot free behind the defence but he was in uncharted territory and his attempted chip sailed over Peters and the bar.

With time at the end of the half Colliers Wood had a succession of quarter-chances but any attempts on goal were way off target until they hit the underside of the bar after a melee in the Croydon goalmouth. Croydon’s blushes were spared at the last when Mackay found himself completely unmarked after a right wing cross but he fluffed his chance badly.

With Colliers wood coming at them, the Croydon defence sat back far too deep and the team really lost their way, it looked only a matter of time before goal shy Colliers wood scored and so it proved.

Mackay wasted another golden chance and he and his team mates continued to fluff their lines after good approach work, it couldn’t last and eventually Croydon conceded, giving away a soft corner that was converted neatly by Phil Frodsham.

That seemed to be enough to satisfy the visitors and to the Trams relied the match petered out for the draw.

There was some good and bad in the game, Hemmings will only improve the side and Dabrowa when fit is definitely a handful at this level, and there does appear to be some work to be done on fitness as several players faded significantly in the 2nd half.

It’s the Surrey Senior Cup this Wednesday at home versus Camberley – beware extra time and penalties - and then the following Saturday, Croydon visit Chertsey in the league.

Croydon; Manny Djornor; Joe Hart (Lewis Goddard 64); John Gladwin; Jensen Grant; Louis Headley; Ollie Young; Justin Hemmings; Tim Murdoch; Phil Page (Bronek Dabrowa 84); Jake Pitt; Dexter Babalola (Ashley Kelly 58).

Suns not used: Rhod Davis; Danny Clayton

Simon Hawkins