CROYDON FC 3 – 2 SHEPPEY SPORTS

Croydon were flying high on Saturday in a match where the crowd got value for money. End to end action and goals galore were on the menu. In a week where joint manager Ryan Watts gained the Freedom of the City of London, after today’s performance, both he and joint manager Alex White should be nominated for the Freedom of the Borough of Croydon. 

The visitors started with a shot that went past the far post. The Teams got on target on ten minutes after passes from Tom Friend and Neil Spencer’s assist went towards Pat Ward whose goal was ruled out for offside. But there wasn’t long to wait for Croydon to take the lead as in the next minute and following some short passes, Tom Barton put the Trams ahead. A few minutes later, Spencer attempted to double the Trams’ lead taking a shot from some distance which ended side of the far post.

Soon, Croydon got a free kick taken in front of the half way line which, although on target, was kicked out by an opponent. Sheppey got a free kick half way through the first half, which was cleared by Spencer and Red Jenkins. Spencer passed to Friend whose cross ended with Jack White, but his shot ended high over the crossbar. The next attempt saw a stoppage from goalkeeper Jobi Fare following an attempt from short range from Barton. Croydon’s goalkeeper Tommy Taylor had to move towards the far post to hold down the ball to deny a Sheppey goal. Barton had two more attempts, the first saw him flagged for offside, whilst the next saw his lob caught by Fare. Ted Dwyer had a chance from close range saved by Fare, followed by a Sheppey chance going wide of the car post. 

There was controversy six minutes into the second half. Jake Abrahams scored, the Croydon players stood still as the assistant referee had flagged for offside. But the referee did not see the assistant and gave the goal. Sheppey took the lead three minutes later after a corner and a forward scored from the near post. Croydon responded with a couple of attempts. The first came after a corner, but Sheppey headed the ball out. Then Barton received a ball from the left, but his shot went wide of the post. Soon he took a free kick, and Spencer also had a shot going side of the post.

Croydon equalised after 76 minutes. The Teams got a corner, and although this was cleared, Croydon got the ball back and hit the crossbar, and then captain Kieran Rufus scored off the rebound. Rufus showed his leadership throughout the match, and showed his dedication by flying back from San Francisco the day before, still suffering from jetlag literally before the match, and still leading his players on the pitch. Soon after the goal, there was an incident and Sheppey’s Joe Ganiwa took down a Croydon player and was given a straight red after 80 minutes.

Croydon were awarded a penalty and unsportingly, Ganiwa slowly took his time coming off the pitch, delaying the penalty. Croydon were keen for the penalty to take place, and when the time eventually came, Kanan Fitton missed it. Croydon eventually won after 87 minutes, despite the tactics of Shelley Sports desperately trying to stop a Croydon win, when Spencer finally put one last Fare in the back of the net. Croydon’s win meant that the Trams went up to sixth in the table, almost touching distance of a play off place.

 

REMINDER: The London Senior Trophy draw sees Croydon confirmed away to Wimbledon Casuals on February 28th – kick off 2.30pm – in the semi-final. The final will be against the winners of AFC Greenwich Borough v Tooting Bec. Details TBC.

 

Croydon: Taylor, Walters (Macmillan 73), Friend, Rufus (C), Clark, Swyer (Jenkins 80), Spencer (Petrou 88), Palmer, White, Barton, Ward (Fitton 64).

Subs (unused): Dale