WIMBLEDON CASUALS 2 – 0 CROYDON FC

Wimbledon have made a habit of reaching county cup finals and this wretched display by Trams let them get through to their third in the London Senior Trophy. Casuals are more than a useful side, especially on their artificial surface, knowledge of the vagaries of their turf being used to their advantage and how to play the surface.

Casuals have a well-disciplined line-up  which invites opposition on to them and forces them to run up blind alleys. This restricted us for long periods, showing that they were not really the underdogs suggested by the football hierarchy.

Their use of the ball, their spreading it around was excellent, releasing it immediately before we could shut them down and at times, had us chasing shadows.

The opening gambits were cagey and former Tram David Green looked to have recovered from his leg injury when here, now appearing a lot fitter and determined to help his new colleagues progress.

Thrice in the opening fourteen he caused us problems, a decent run down our left flank and a cross on ten, a long drive from thirty yards two minutes later and followed by another decent centre from the other flank.

We were unable to make any headway during the first half, rarely troubling the home goal and lived dangerously, not appearing to have the wherewithal to counter throughout the half.

There was a modicum of improvement after the restart although we still weren’t sharp enough, often dallying on the ball. Green found himself clear on fifty but his shot was palmed clear. A very promising break down our right saw Cameron Macmillan hit the ball back into the danger area only for Tom Barton to hit the goalkeeper’s legs.

And within three minutes, we were behind, a low cross from the left saw tPenny parry the ball but  to the onrushing Green who gratefully netted with a tap-in.

Trams best effort came from a corner and when Fitton headed against the bar but the ball  was immediately cleared.

Come the final fifteen, Trams became aware that they were likely to lose and stepped it up but without conviction against opponents who were happy to let us run into their defence.

Pushing forward, we left some space at the back and on eighty-seven, the hosts took full advantage and hammered home the final nail.

Croydon: Penney, Walters (Ward), Friend, Rufus, White (Eldridge), Clark, Dwyer (Jenkins), Fitton (Palmer), Petrou (Dale), Macmillan, Barton ()

Match Report: Steve Tyler

Pictures: Nigel White, Matthew Fulcher and Jason Carey