Trojans too strong for Croydon in Semi-FinalCroydon started this match knowing it was to be their toughest test of the weekend. To win it, they would need to show vast improvements in their game compared to yesterday’s quarter final. With this in mind, the sections lined up with Anna Jeanes (c), Pete Lindsey, Andy Withers, and Karen James in first attack. In defence were Grace Stimpson, Jane Belfourd, Zak Omar and Ed Chaney. Trojans started strongly by winning a penalty, but failed to score from it, or the follow up long shot. Croydon had two chances to pull ahead with two free-passes – the first was disallowed when Withers touched the floor before releasing, but the second worked a treat and Jeanes claimed Croydon’s first goal. Trojans struggled to produce an instant reply as they missed a running in shot, and then through poor passing gave the ball to Croydon. Unfortunately an equally poor pass by Croydon gave the ball straight back to Trojans. A long shot from a Trojan boy found the basket and brought the scores level to 1 each. Croydon found themselves another goal when Omar, who had clearly eaten something to make him extra quick and bouncy today, pushed Croydon in to the lead once more with a mid range shot from the side. Trojans responded quickly though when their girl scored a running in shot. Croydon were looking good and were moving well around the court. So when Lindsey eyed the basket from just inside the half-way line, the Croydon fans were a little bemused at his optimism. However one should apparently never doubt Megatron, as he slotted the ball home to take the score to 3-2 and the look on his defender's face was priceless. Another attempt by Lindsey under the post almost pushed Croydon further ahead, but the shot was called as defended. Trojans then appeared to find their shooting range, and brought themselves level and then in to the lead with two mid-distance shots. Croydon continued to make chances for themselves, including two running-in efforts from Belfourd that twice forced a switch and left Stimpson free to shoot, but the ball failed to find the basket on both occasions. Trojans pulled further ahead with 3 more unanswered goals – two from mid range and one under the post. Omar missed the opportunity to pull one back with a one-handed shot under the basket, and Trojans instead scored from under the post despite it appearing to have been defended by Lindsey. The game was running away from Croydon, with the score now Croydon 3, Trojans 8. Croydon continued to try and make chances for themselves, and had a good spell of possession with Withers securing some good collects. Despite their efforts Croydon still could not grab some goals, whereas Trojans continued to score 3 more – a mid-range, under the post, and long shot, to bring the half time score to Croydon 3, Trojans 12. Trojans started the second half as they had finished the first. They scored a long shot, but their next couple of attacks were interrupted by some great intercepts by Omar. Eventually Trojans found the basket another 3 times from mid-range, a running-in shot, and a free-pass. Belfourd responded with Croydon’s only goal of the second half through a running-in shot, before she and her blistered feet were given a rest and Zoe Shewell was subbed on. Lindsey was also subbed off and replaced by Dan Pratt. The subs helped to up Croydon's intensity and although Trojans scored one more, Croydon’s defences effectively blocked out their attack for the entire remaining ten minutes. Croydon’s attack continued to put up shots mostly from mid-distance, but fell short of scoring from them. In defence Omar and Chaney worked hard to win the ball and send it back in to attack. Despite Croydon’s defensive efforts, Trojans managed to grab one last goal from behind the post to bring the final score to Croydon 4, Trojans 18. Croydon had started the match well, pulling in to the lead 3 times, but once Trojans found their aim they never looked back. Croydon created good chances but the lack of goals meant Trojans were always favourites to progress through to the final. Match Report by Zoe | Updated by Zoe Previous photo Next photo1 of 19 Final Score: Trojans 1 18 vs 4 Croydon 1Z Omar (1)E Chaney (0)A Withers (0)P Lindsey (1)D Pratt (0)A Jeanes (1)G Codd (0)K James (0)J Hudspith (1)Z Shewell (0)Submitted by Zoe on 26 Apr 09Croydon claim 4th place after Bec battleHaving missed out on a place in the EKA Cup Final, Croydon were now looking at finishing in 3rd or 4th place. To claim the bronze place position, they would need to overcome Bec 1. First attack was Dan Pratt, Lorna Elliott, Anna Jeanes (c) and Andy Withers. In defence were Jane Belfourd, Grace Stimpson, Zak Omar, and Dave Butters. The first few minutes was long of chances but short on goals. Pratt shot from mid-distance but missed, Elliott’s drop off fell short, and Pratt forced a switch that freed up Withers to shoot but the ball bounced out. Bec were also making chances, and were the first to get on the scoreboard with a long-distance shot. The ref looked to be hot on infringements today, and awarded Bec a free-pass which they duly missed. Croydon was then awarded 3 free-passes in quick succession – the first two sailed wide but the third attempt hit the mark and brought the scores level at 1 all. Player-coach Butters had warned the players during the pre-match team talk to watch for drop-offs, and it was through this move that Bec bagged their second goal. They then pulled further ahead with another goal, followed up by a missed free-pass. Elliott got Croydon back in to the game with a drop off shot, but Bec quickly responded when their girl scored behind the post. The scores were now Croydon 2, Bec 4. Croydon won themselves a free-pass for an out of hands infringement, but Bec charged out to defend Stimpson’s shot. A quick time out was called with 10 minutes left of the first half. Back in to action, Croydon created some good movement and space allowing Butters and Omar to force a penalty, which Butters promptly scored. Bec were awarded another free-pass but missed when Jeanes charged down the shooter, and then Croydon almost gave Bec back the ball when Withers and Pratt jumped for the same collection. Bec won themselves another free-pass but it was disallowed for the players being too close together. Croydon also won a free-pass when Omar had the ball taken out of his hands whilst passing it in to Belfourd’s face. The free-pass was messy though, and Bec scrambled away with the ball. With the first half whistle drawing closer, Omar turned and shot in the feed to bring the scores level again at 4 all. Croydon finished off the half with another couple of chances - Withers put up a long shot that flew wide, and Elliott’s collect and shoot was too high. The half time whistle blew with both teams level on 4 goals. It was Croydon who grabbed the first goal of the second half with Pratt scoring from distance. With the scores so tight, both teams were eager to win and keep the ball. A Bec girl came off worse when competing with Butters for a loose ball, and then Belfourd’s opponent twisted her ankle and had to be substituted off. Pratt shot again from distance but watched it fall short. Bec then won a penalty for a foul on the running in shot, and brought the scores level once more at 5 each. Omar again turned and shot in the feed, but this time failed to score from it. His one-handed shot under the post also went wide. Bec's Dav Patel pulled Bec into the lead with a shot from middle distance despite knocking into Withers and sending him sprawling to the ground. Poor sportsmanship? Possibly. Ruthless? Certainly. Croydon had two chances to score with a free pass, and a follow up long shot, but both sailed wide. Bec grabbed their chances though when they won and scored their penalty, followed up by a running in shot to give themselves a three goal cushion at 5-8. Some forced passes out of Croydon’s defence meant Bec were gifted possession until Omar intercepted their pass to get the ball back to Croydon hands. Withers turned in the feed to give Jeanes a drop off, but the ball missed the basket. Elliott got past her girl for a running in shot but was fouled in the process. Since her effort went through the basket anyway, the ref allowed the goal rather than make Croydon take the penalty. 6-8 and all to play for. However Bec responded soon after with another running in shot. A time-out was called for Croydon with the team encouraged to stay aggressive, stay competitive and take chances. A change of personnel also came when Ed Chaney subbed on for Omar. The team talk had some effect, as Jeanes slammed down a pass aimed towards the Bec feeder, and Pratt fought legally with a Bec girl for a 50/50 ball and won. Butters then scored under the post with a one-handed flick, but Bec again responded quickly with a long shot and then a shot from behind the basket to take the scores to 7-11. Croydon won themselves a penalty, which Bec used as a chance to sub off a player, but this failed to distract Butters as he slotted the chance home. Croydon continued to battle to create chances and claw back at the goal deficit. Stimpson put up a long shot and missed, but Butters scored with his long shot effort. 9-11 and all to play for. Bec were also starting to put up long shots but kept missing the basket. With time running out, they did grab a goal though, through another free-pass to make the scores 9-12 and to effectively seal the match. Jeanes and Pratt did put up some speculative long shots and had a go at some free-passes but by now time was on Bec’s side, and they had just enough left to grab their final goal from under the post. The whistle blew, and Croydon claimed 4th place in the 2009 EKA Cup. Final Score Croydon 9, Bec 13. Croydon should feel proud of their efforts over the cup weekend - 4th place is a very respectable position, and they made Bec fight tooth and nail to claim bronze place. The weekend’s matches have provided the team with plenty of game time and positives to take away, in particular their displays in defence, and also highlighted some areas to work on in preparation for their next big competition weekend. Match Report by Zoe | Updated by Andy Previous photo Next photo1 of 24 Final Score: Bec 1 13 vs 9 Croydon 1D Butters (4)D Pratt (1)A Withers (0)Z Omar (1)E Chaney (0)L MacKay-Elliott (2)A Jeanes (1)G Codd (0)J Hudspith (0)Submitted by Zoe on 26 Apr 09
Croydon claim 4th place after Bec battleHaving missed out on a place in the EKA Cup Final, Croydon were now looking at finishing in 3rd or 4th place. To claim the bronze place position, they would need to overcome Bec 1. First attack was Dan Pratt, Lorna Elliott, Anna Jeanes (c) and Andy Withers. In defence were Jane Belfourd, Grace Stimpson, Zak Omar, and Dave Butters. The first few minutes was long of chances but short on goals. Pratt shot from mid-distance but missed, Elliott’s drop off fell short, and Pratt forced a switch that freed up Withers to shoot but the ball bounced out. Bec were also making chances, and were the first to get on the scoreboard with a long-distance shot. The ref looked to be hot on infringements today, and awarded Bec a free-pass which they duly missed. Croydon was then awarded 3 free-passes in quick succession – the first two sailed wide but the third attempt hit the mark and brought the scores level at 1 all. Player-coach Butters had warned the players during the pre-match team talk to watch for drop-offs, and it was through this move that Bec bagged their second goal. They then pulled further ahead with another goal, followed up by a missed free-pass. Elliott got Croydon back in to the game with a drop off shot, but Bec quickly responded when their girl scored behind the post. The scores were now Croydon 2, Bec 4. Croydon won themselves a free-pass for an out of hands infringement, but Bec charged out to defend Stimpson’s shot. A quick time out was called with 10 minutes left of the first half. Back in to action, Croydon created some good movement and space allowing Butters and Omar to force a penalty, which Butters promptly scored. Bec were awarded another free-pass but missed when Jeanes charged down the shooter, and then Croydon almost gave Bec back the ball when Withers and Pratt jumped for the same collection. Bec won themselves another free-pass but it was disallowed for the players being too close together. Croydon also won a free-pass when Omar had the ball taken out of his hands whilst passing it in to Belfourd’s face. The free-pass was messy though, and Bec scrambled away with the ball. With the first half whistle drawing closer, Omar turned and shot in the feed to bring the scores level again at 4 all. Croydon finished off the half with another couple of chances - Withers put up a long shot that flew wide, and Elliott’s collect and shoot was too high. The half time whistle blew with both teams level on 4 goals. It was Croydon who grabbed the first goal of the second half with Pratt scoring from distance. With the scores so tight, both teams were eager to win and keep the ball. A Bec girl came off worse when competing with Butters for a loose ball, and then Belfourd’s opponent twisted her ankle and had to be substituted off. Pratt shot again from distance but watched it fall short. Bec then won a penalty for a foul on the running in shot, and brought the scores level once more at 5 each. Omar again turned and shot in the feed, but this time failed to score from it. His one-handed shot under the post also went wide. Bec's Dav Patel pulled Bec into the lead with a shot from middle distance despite knocking into Withers and sending him sprawling to the ground. Poor sportsmanship? Possibly. Ruthless? Certainly. Croydon had two chances to score with a free pass, and a follow up long shot, but both sailed wide. Bec grabbed their chances though when they won and scored their penalty, followed up by a running in shot to give themselves a three goal cushion at 5-8. Some forced passes out of Croydon’s defence meant Bec were gifted possession until Omar intercepted their pass to get the ball back to Croydon hands. Withers turned in the feed to give Jeanes a drop off, but the ball missed the basket. Elliott got past her girl for a running in shot but was fouled in the process. Since her effort went through the basket anyway, the ref allowed the goal rather than make Croydon take the penalty. 6-8 and all to play for. However Bec responded soon after with another running in shot. A time-out was called for Croydon with the team encouraged to stay aggressive, stay competitive and take chances. A change of personnel also came when Ed Chaney subbed on for Omar. The team talk had some effect, as Jeanes slammed down a pass aimed towards the Bec feeder, and Pratt fought legally with a Bec girl for a 50/50 ball and won. Butters then scored under the post with a one-handed flick, but Bec again responded quickly with a long shot and then a shot from behind the basket to take the scores to 7-11. Croydon won themselves a penalty, which Bec used as a chance to sub off a player, but this failed to distract Butters as he slotted the chance home. Croydon continued to battle to create chances and claw back at the goal deficit. Stimpson put up a long shot and missed, but Butters scored with his long shot effort. 9-11 and all to play for. Bec were also starting to put up long shots but kept missing the basket. With time running out, they did grab a goal though, through another free-pass to make the scores 9-12 and to effectively seal the match. Jeanes and Pratt did put up some speculative long shots and had a go at some free-passes but by now time was on Bec’s side, and they had just enough left to grab their final goal from under the post. The whistle blew, and Croydon claimed 4th place in the 2009 EKA Cup. Final Score Croydon 9, Bec 13. Croydon should feel proud of their efforts over the cup weekend - 4th place is a very respectable position, and they made Bec fight tooth and nail to claim bronze place. The weekend’s matches have provided the team with plenty of game time and positives to take away, in particular their displays in defence, and also highlighted some areas to work on in preparation for their next big competition weekend. Match Report by Zoe | Updated by Andy Previous photo Next photo1 of 24 Final Score: Bec 1 13 vs 9 Croydon 1D Butters (4)D Pratt (1)A Withers (0)Z Omar (1)E Chaney (0)L MacKay-Elliott (2)A Jeanes (1)G Codd (0)J Hudspith (0)Submitted by Zoe on 26 Apr 09
