Croydon 3 - Molesey 2

Wednesday 9 September 2009
Cherry Red Combined Counties Football League Premier Division
Croydon FC (0) 3 (Tim Murdoch 59, Darren Delgrado 77, Grant Cunningham 88 pen)
Molesey FC (1) 2 (James McShane 4, Owen Bent 72)
When their visitors took the lead in the 4th minute, this looked like it was going to be another fruitless game for the Trams but even though they went behind a 2nd time and played 60 minutes of the match with 10 men, somehow Croydon managed to squeak their much needed 1st win of the season.
The standard of football was less than sublime but there was enough incident to keep even the most blasé of spectators interested. 2 penalties one of them missed, 2 sendings off, 5 goals, 2 of which were magnificent and 2 comebacks as well as some half time handbags, the game had it all.
Once again there are changes to report, coaches Matt Longhurst and Jim Bajeux have left the club. Dickson Gill gave starts to the returning Lewis Goddard and Billy Chincharo with Irfan Amin and Emmanuel Chukwuma also getting their debuts, but this time off the bench.
Although Tim Murdoch had already drilled a shot wide, Croydon had the worst possible start given their fragile confidence, Sam Lampard was given too much space on the right and crossed for James McShane who stood unmarked in the middle of the goal and despatched his shot past Michael Holder adroitly.
Molesey have had a grim start to the season with only 2 wins so they were desperately searching a much needed victory an looked a poor side, with the Trams also down in the dumps the match hardly hit any heights and neither side threatened unduly. Grant Cunningham did make Sheik Ceesay pull of a splendid save with a shot on the turn.
Croydon’s cause was undermined when Steve McNamara over-reacted to alleged elbow from Steve Brown, he received 2 yellow cards and was duly sent off.
The atmosphere was tense with and things got a little heated between the teams as they went off at half time but it turned out to be a storm in a tea cup and both teams showed more discipline in the 2nd half.
The wheel of fortune seemed to have turned in Croydon’s favour when Murdoch struck a screamer in the 59th minute. Picking the ball up on the half way line he took a few steps towards goal and unleashed a ferocious drive that gave Ceesay no chance as it nestled in the top right corner.
At that point the home support would have settled for a draw but Molesey had other ideas and they regained the lead in the 72nd minute. Holder made a brave save at the feet of Matt Baxter but couldn’t hold onto the ball and Owen Bent forced it in.
The feeling of anticlimax was relieved however, just 5 minutes later when Darren Delgrado scored to put the Trams back on level terms for the 2nd time. Wide on the left and just past the halfway line he spotted Ceesay of his line and cool as you like lobbed the ball in the net. Credit to Delgrado, he meant what he did and executed the shot to perfection. Croydon’s 2 goals were definitely worth the admission.
With 10 minutes to go, the trams were given a lifeline when Cunningham was sent sprinting away behind the Molesey defence. Ceesay was adjudged to have brought him down in the penalty box but was inexplicably relieved from the mandatory sending off. He kept his composure and saved well from Murdoch.
It would have seemed that Croydon had blown their chances but history repeated itself with 2 minutes to go as Cunningham beat the offside trap again, this time he weaved past Ceesay but was brought down in the 18 yard box by Moses Spencer. Spencer was red carded although he had a case to say that there were covering defenders. Cunningham took the kick and dispatched it with certainty.
The referee took pity on the Trams and blew the final whistle after only a couple of minutes of stoppage time and Croydon had the win that will hopefully kick start their season.
Croydon have another home fixture, this time against Bookham this coming Saturday but, please note next Saturday’s game away to Egham has been postponed due to their FA Vase commitments.
Croydon: Michael Holder; Lewis Goddard; Darren Delgrado; Aaron Smith; Rob Bartley; Sam Groombridge; Steve McNamara; Tim Murdoch; Grant Cunningham; Billy Chincharo (Emmanuel Chukwuma 47) (Kevin Sefaah 89; Aaron Agyeman (Irfan Amin 52).
Subs not used: Daniel Akpoveta; Rhod Davis.
Simon Hawkins