CROYDON FC 4 – 2 SC THAMESMEAD

With an 11-0 win still fresh in the memory of Croydon, the Trams entered the game third in the division on current form, and finished the day with a play off place on Saturday. 

The Trams came across some familiar faces in the SC Thamesmead ranks, as Nic Taylor-Greaves, Ethan Osbourne and Wale Odedoyin had previously played for Croydon. Croydon themselves signed a new striker from Bridon Ropes, 19 year old Olusegun Akinwunmi, who stood out recently, scoring for Ropes in the 1-1 draw against Croydon. 

There was an early test for Taylor-Greaves when Croydon got a corner, and the keeper caught the first shot on target. The keeper was not as successful in the eighth minute. There was a run on the left wing, and despite a defender failing to stop Croydon, an assist went to Cameron Macmillan whose short cross went between the near post and the keeper. SC Thamesmead, nicknamed The Acre, managed four corners. Even when Croydon keeper David Boorer was punched and taken down whilst attempting to receive a cross, they failed to score. When the corners were over, only then did they nearly score in open play, with the ball going towards the goalline, and Alfie Clark making a clearance to safety. At one end of the pitch Tom Friend, following an assist from Kanon Fitton, had a shot go wide of the near post. At the other end, their former team mate Osbourne did a scissor kick that ended over the crossbar. The Acre succeeded later when Lewis Cann equalised with a short tap in following an assist on the half hour mark. With eight minutes to go before half time, after an assist from the right, Macmillan nearly scored, hitting the side netting.

An attempt from Tom Walters was too powerful and led to an Acre goal kick. Cann scored his brace, also with a powerful volley, going past a wide gap between Boorer and the near post. Following a free kick, Tom Barton scored a blinder, with Taylor-Greaves grasping for air as the ball went beyond his reach. Taylor-Greaves did make a save eventually, palming away a shot from Ted Dwyer. The third Trams goal came in the 71st minute. A throw in from Friend reached Neil Spencer whose cross reached Macmillan who scored close to the near post. The final goal came in the 82nd minute. There was a run on the right wing, and a cross was defended by the Acre’s number 2 Chris-Emmanuel Loko, but the ball reached Croydon’s number 2 Tom Friend who put the ball past Taylor-Greaves and the game beyond SC Thamesmead’s reach. 

Saturday sees the Trams in the semi finals of the London Senior Trophy away to Wimbledon Casuals. Casuals have two names familiar to the Trams, David Green and Uli Fischer, who could meet their old side. The game, played at Elmbridge Leisure Centre, Walton-on-Thames, kicks off at the early time of 2.30. The winners will face AFC Greenwich Borough, who beat holders Tooting Bec 3-2 in the other semi final.

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: Boorer, Walters, Friend, Rufus (C), Clark, Palmer (Jenkins 75), Fitton (Ward), Macmillan (Akinwumni 83), White, Barton (Spencer 67), Dale (Dwyer 56)..

Match Report: Suniel Bhardwaj

Pictures: Paul Davis: https://www.flickr.com/photos/croydongas/albums/72177720332155508) & Shaun Allen: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCL49y