Post by shameless on Aug 21, 2014 18:57:47 GMT
Wednesday 20 August 2014
Southern Counties East Football League
Croydon FC (1) 2 (Steve Cox 18, Karl Douglin 70)
Lingfield FC (3) 3 (Brendan Kiernan 8, 13, 33 pen)
In theory this should have been a comfortable home win for the Trams, with Croydon having a perfect 3-0 record so far this season and the visitors Lingfield having had a nightmare start - losing all 3 of their matches.
However, the hypothesis was tested to destruction as Lingfield played out of their skins and won the match by a 1 goal margin that could easily have been greater but for some heroics from Croydon keeper Francis Ameyaw.
The Trams started brightly enough and had a decent chance when Badar Mohammed cut in and shot towards the far post only for keeper Rob Hambly to push the ball away for decent save. But Lingfield took an early lead when Harry Simtim burst down the right in the 8th minute and put in a cross shot that bounced out of Ameyaw’s clutches and fell invitingly for Brendan Kiernan to tap in from close range. It was Ameyaw’s 1st mistake of the season and he made up for it later with some fine blocks and saves.
Croydon had an immediate opportunity to get back in terms when Tristan Toney saw his flicked effort kicked off the line after he had beaten the keeper. And Mohammed got clear of the defence again but this time his attempt was tame from a dangerous position.
But despite the open nature of the game, Lingfield were increasingly rampant and it was no real surprise when they doubled their lead in the 13th minute. They were forcing the Trams into some last ditch defending and putting in excellent crosses and corners. It was from a corner that Kiernan got his 2nd, nodding in from close range and showing how much the home side missed their unavailable centre back Dave Waters.
At this point in the game, with Croydon under the cosh it looked like Lingfield would run away winners but in the 18th minute, skipper Steve Cox got his team back into the game with a header from James Jordan’s long throw.
But the Trams revival wasn’t sufficient and after Ameyaw had made a fine block to thwart Simtim, a foul on the winger on the edge of the box gave the visitors a penalty in the 33rd minute and Kiernan made no mistake giving Ameyaw no hope with an emphatic finish.
Head coach Dickson Gill rang the changes around half time and introduced the pace of Jamie Atkins, Ben Mankelow and Lauris Chin into the side and this appeared to stimulate a better 2nd half performance. A pinpoint Karl Douglin pass saw Mohammed ram the ball just wide and it was Douglin himself who gave the Trams false hope as he blasted in a long range shot in the 70th minute.
Chances continued to be generated at both ends, Ameyaw made a couple more impressive saves and Kiernan nearly got a 4th as his shot shaved the woodwork. Croydon got close but not close enough through Dan Jupe, Douglin again and Atkins but even though the match was more evenly balanced in the 2nd half, Lingfield had done enough to deserve their 1st victory of this campaign.
Croydon: Francis Ameyaw; Junior Mitchell; James Jordan (Jamie Atkins 44); Adam Allen; Justin Hemmings (Lauris Chin 53); Marvin Hong (Ben Mankelow 45+2); Tristan Toney; Steve Cox; Dan Jupe; Karl Douglin; Badar Mohammed.
Subs not used: Catalin Meresciu; Rhys Martin.
Report: Simon Hawkins
Southern Counties East Football League
Croydon FC (1) 2 (Steve Cox 18, Karl Douglin 70)
Lingfield FC (3) 3 (Brendan Kiernan 8, 13, 33 pen)
In theory this should have been a comfortable home win for the Trams, with Croydon having a perfect 3-0 record so far this season and the visitors Lingfield having had a nightmare start - losing all 3 of their matches.
However, the hypothesis was tested to destruction as Lingfield played out of their skins and won the match by a 1 goal margin that could easily have been greater but for some heroics from Croydon keeper Francis Ameyaw.
The Trams started brightly enough and had a decent chance when Badar Mohammed cut in and shot towards the far post only for keeper Rob Hambly to push the ball away for decent save. But Lingfield took an early lead when Harry Simtim burst down the right in the 8th minute and put in a cross shot that bounced out of Ameyaw’s clutches and fell invitingly for Brendan Kiernan to tap in from close range. It was Ameyaw’s 1st mistake of the season and he made up for it later with some fine blocks and saves.
Croydon had an immediate opportunity to get back in terms when Tristan Toney saw his flicked effort kicked off the line after he had beaten the keeper. And Mohammed got clear of the defence again but this time his attempt was tame from a dangerous position.
But despite the open nature of the game, Lingfield were increasingly rampant and it was no real surprise when they doubled their lead in the 13th minute. They were forcing the Trams into some last ditch defending and putting in excellent crosses and corners. It was from a corner that Kiernan got his 2nd, nodding in from close range and showing how much the home side missed their unavailable centre back Dave Waters.
At this point in the game, with Croydon under the cosh it looked like Lingfield would run away winners but in the 18th minute, skipper Steve Cox got his team back into the game with a header from James Jordan’s long throw.
But the Trams revival wasn’t sufficient and after Ameyaw had made a fine block to thwart Simtim, a foul on the winger on the edge of the box gave the visitors a penalty in the 33rd minute and Kiernan made no mistake giving Ameyaw no hope with an emphatic finish.
Head coach Dickson Gill rang the changes around half time and introduced the pace of Jamie Atkins, Ben Mankelow and Lauris Chin into the side and this appeared to stimulate a better 2nd half performance. A pinpoint Karl Douglin pass saw Mohammed ram the ball just wide and it was Douglin himself who gave the Trams false hope as he blasted in a long range shot in the 70th minute.
Chances continued to be generated at both ends, Ameyaw made a couple more impressive saves and Kiernan nearly got a 4th as his shot shaved the woodwork. Croydon got close but not close enough through Dan Jupe, Douglin again and Atkins but even though the match was more evenly balanced in the 2nd half, Lingfield had done enough to deserve their 1st victory of this campaign.
Croydon: Francis Ameyaw; Junior Mitchell; James Jordan (Jamie Atkins 44); Adam Allen; Justin Hemmings (Lauris Chin 53); Marvin Hong (Ben Mankelow 45+2); Tristan Toney; Steve Cox; Dan Jupe; Karl Douglin; Badar Mohammed.
Subs not used: Catalin Meresciu; Rhys Martin.
Report: Simon Hawkins