Post by shameless on Aug 17, 2014 19:32:56 GMT
Saturday 16 August 2014
FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Arundel FC (0) 0
Croydon FC (0) 1 (Badar Mohammed 43)
The trees have grown a little to mask the magnificent view of Arundel castle from the football ground but on this summer’s day, with the town full of people celebrating the Arts & Crafts festival there could hardly be a better place to visit for an FA Cup tie. Assuming, of course that your team comes away with a result!
And indeed, Croydon did the job here, they made it harder than they needed to, being by far the better of the 2 teams, but they won nevertheless and although the margin of victory was tight on paper, it was pretty comfortable on the ground.
With 3 successes in a row now and 3 clean sheets to go with them, this must be the Trams best start to the season for some time and they looked a side in form as they bossed Arundel throughout the 1st half and large parts of the 2nd without quite being penetrative enough.
The Trams went close twice in the 1st 10 minutes, a great run and cross from full back Michael Craveiro found Dan Jupe whose excellent header was saved brilliantly by James Fernandes. Fernandes was easily his team’s man of the match and it took a degree of luck for Croydon to get past him. The visitor’s next chance came from 1 of their many corners. Karl Douglin took this one and he found Dave Waters who rose gracefully but could only watch as his header rebounded off the angle of post and bar.
Next up Tristan Toney shot over after a fine build up by Marvin Hong and Douglin. Then Douglin himself was thwarted by a fabulous Fernandes save when he twisted and turned before managing to toe poke a shot to the keeper’s left.
Francis Ameyaw was called into serious action for possibly the only time in the match after an Alex Biggs free kick found Scott Tipper in too much space at the far post and forced Croydon’s star keeper into a smothering save.
Croydon continued to rack up the chances. Waters headed another Hong corner just wide and a pinpoint through ball found Jupe in a little space that allowed him to chase past Fernandes before a covering defender mopped up the danger. There was another near miss, this time from Badar Mohammed as he took advantage of some poor defending down the right and hit a shot that bounced away to safety off the far post, 1 of 3 times the woodwork came into play.
Eventually in the 43rd minute the Trams huffing and puffing paid off when left back James Jordan danced past his marker and won a corner on the left. Hong took it but as the ball was half cleared, Mohammed’s stooping header at the near post did just enough, ricocheting off a couple of defenders before squeezing into the back of the net for what turned out to be the decisive goal.
At the start of the 2nd half a brilliant save by Fernandes, tipping the ebullient Jupe’s header onto the far post kept the home side in it and minutes later he saved again, this time from a decent Douglin effort.
The visitor’s then nearly shot themselves in the foot with a couple of sloppy pieces of defending that could have gifted a goal or 2 to a better side. Both chances fell to Barney Boutwood who hit a tame shot at Ameyaw with his 1st effort and scuffed the 2nd hopelessly.
The Trams continued to attack though, with substitute Lauris Chin bursting through and hitting the side netting and Jupe forcing Fernandes into another save. The travelling support were screaming for their players to take the ball into the corners but Croydon continued their all out attack until the final whistle blew and victory was assured.
On 30th August, Croydon have an intriguing tie in the next round when they play their former Combined Counties rivals Epsom & Ewell at Chipstead FC’s ground.
Croydon: Francis Ameyaw; Michael Craveiro; James Jordan (Junior Mitchell 81); Adam Allen; Dave Waters; Justin Hemmings; Tristan Toney (Ben Mankelow 69); Marvin Hong; Dan Jupe; Karl Douglin; Badar Mohammed (Lauris Chin 56).
Subs not used: Rhys Martin; Catalin Meresciu
Report: Simon Hawkins
FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Arundel FC (0) 0
Croydon FC (0) 1 (Badar Mohammed 43)
The trees have grown a little to mask the magnificent view of Arundel castle from the football ground but on this summer’s day, with the town full of people celebrating the Arts & Crafts festival there could hardly be a better place to visit for an FA Cup tie. Assuming, of course that your team comes away with a result!
And indeed, Croydon did the job here, they made it harder than they needed to, being by far the better of the 2 teams, but they won nevertheless and although the margin of victory was tight on paper, it was pretty comfortable on the ground.
With 3 successes in a row now and 3 clean sheets to go with them, this must be the Trams best start to the season for some time and they looked a side in form as they bossed Arundel throughout the 1st half and large parts of the 2nd without quite being penetrative enough.
The Trams went close twice in the 1st 10 minutes, a great run and cross from full back Michael Craveiro found Dan Jupe whose excellent header was saved brilliantly by James Fernandes. Fernandes was easily his team’s man of the match and it took a degree of luck for Croydon to get past him. The visitor’s next chance came from 1 of their many corners. Karl Douglin took this one and he found Dave Waters who rose gracefully but could only watch as his header rebounded off the angle of post and bar.
Next up Tristan Toney shot over after a fine build up by Marvin Hong and Douglin. Then Douglin himself was thwarted by a fabulous Fernandes save when he twisted and turned before managing to toe poke a shot to the keeper’s left.
Francis Ameyaw was called into serious action for possibly the only time in the match after an Alex Biggs free kick found Scott Tipper in too much space at the far post and forced Croydon’s star keeper into a smothering save.
Croydon continued to rack up the chances. Waters headed another Hong corner just wide and a pinpoint through ball found Jupe in a little space that allowed him to chase past Fernandes before a covering defender mopped up the danger. There was another near miss, this time from Badar Mohammed as he took advantage of some poor defending down the right and hit a shot that bounced away to safety off the far post, 1 of 3 times the woodwork came into play.
Eventually in the 43rd minute the Trams huffing and puffing paid off when left back James Jordan danced past his marker and won a corner on the left. Hong took it but as the ball was half cleared, Mohammed’s stooping header at the near post did just enough, ricocheting off a couple of defenders before squeezing into the back of the net for what turned out to be the decisive goal.
At the start of the 2nd half a brilliant save by Fernandes, tipping the ebullient Jupe’s header onto the far post kept the home side in it and minutes later he saved again, this time from a decent Douglin effort.
The visitor’s then nearly shot themselves in the foot with a couple of sloppy pieces of defending that could have gifted a goal or 2 to a better side. Both chances fell to Barney Boutwood who hit a tame shot at Ameyaw with his 1st effort and scuffed the 2nd hopelessly.
The Trams continued to attack though, with substitute Lauris Chin bursting through and hitting the side netting and Jupe forcing Fernandes into another save. The travelling support were screaming for their players to take the ball into the corners but Croydon continued their all out attack until the final whistle blew and victory was assured.
On 30th August, Croydon have an intriguing tie in the next round when they play their former Combined Counties rivals Epsom & Ewell at Chipstead FC’s ground.
Croydon: Francis Ameyaw; Michael Craveiro; James Jordan (Junior Mitchell 81); Adam Allen; Dave Waters; Justin Hemmings; Tristan Toney (Ben Mankelow 69); Marvin Hong; Dan Jupe; Karl Douglin; Badar Mohammed (Lauris Chin 56).
Subs not used: Rhys Martin; Catalin Meresciu
Report: Simon Hawkins
