croydon fc 1 – 1 greenways

This was a game that Trams could have won by a decent margin with better finishing and ultimately just held onto a point by the skin of their teeth with a suspicion of fitness needing to improve.. 

Croydon took the lead in the third minute when the industrious Cameron McGovern put Lauris Chin clear to round the advancing goalkeeper and slide the ball home. However, they failed to build on this advantage throughout the afternoon. 

There was some sporadic but useful approach play but nothing meaningful came from it. Aaron Reber played a useful ball through on thirty-five but it was deflected for a corner. this was quickly followed by enterprising approach work from David Green but his centre was headed out for another flag kick.

 Shortly before the interval, Chin was again sent through but trod on the ball and fell over as the goalkeeper narrowed the angle. Green then forced a corner but Aaron Bogle failed to connect properly with Jahquan Springer’s kick..

Following the turn round, it looked more and more likely that the visitors – who were in the ascendancy – would get onto the scoresheet and the earlier that they did so, the more likely they would be to benefit.

On forty-nine, Chin was again in with a chance but his extra touch gave the defence the time to force the ball out for a corner which was headed over by Keiran Rufus.

Greenways started to get the upper hand with George Kamurasi causing Trams palpitations by getting caught way out of his area but luck was on his side, the ball hitting his belly with the visitors claiming hands!

The game now opened up, Chin indecisive up front and when Greenways broke away, they shot across the face. The equaliser came on ninety, Greenways allowed unimpeded progress, with failure to tackle and leaving too much space to net from close range.

And deep into stoppage time, when Trams failed to clear their lines, the visitors again netted but the “scorer” was quite correctly deemed offside. There was obvious disappointment but little complaint.

Trams now have three further home fixtures on the spin. Tomorrow (Saturday) sees the aspirational Faversham Strike Force coming to town. Bank Holiday weekend (an international week) sees high flying Shoreham coming north in the FA Vase followed by Lewisham Borough on the Bank Holiday Monday. All games kick off at 3pm.

The Coming of Age, the history of Croydon Amateurs FC’s first twenty-one years, is almost ready for print but an urgent request.

Do any readers have photographs (as opposed to press cuttings) of the Albert Road  Recreation Ground from pre 1953 and also the nascent Arena in 1953 and 1954? Emails please to historian Steve Tyler on tyler672@aol.com