Croydon up for the fight but lose out in 2nd half Nottingham City hosted Croydon at Bilborough College, Nottingham in the BKA National League. Croydon were eager for revenge for the first game of the season where they lost Steve Jones to injury whilst Nottingham were looking to cement their mid-table position. In the opening exchanges Nottingham were putting up far more shots than Croydon but neither side was able to find their range. Nottingham's Richard Buttinger eventually opened preceedings but the visitor's Paul Jeanes earned and converted a penalty to draw level. The first half continued in this vein with neither side scoring freely and whilst Nottingham kept getting ahead, Croydon were always quick to peg them back with Jeanes scoring again from the penalty spot and Dave Butters netting a free-pass and one from way down town to end the half at a well contested 6-all. It was Croydon who opened the scoring in the 2nd half with Anneka Barretto scoring her second - a tight one under the post. From here the teams' scoring went into overdrive with Nottingham's girls now finding the back of the net and Croydon doing likewise with Anna Jeanes scoring the first of 2 goals but from 11-10, Croydon's steel seem to slip a little and the hosts took advantage opening out a 3 goal lead for the first time in the match. It was crucial that Croydon scored next but decisions started to go against them while Nottingham were scoring all the chances they got. At 17-11 and 10 minutes left the game was effectively over. Croydon did come back into it towards the end as desperation set in but it was to no avail as Nottingham were able to relax into their shots and the game petered out 20-14 to Nottingham. All told, the best team won but Croydon will be pleased with this fluid performance against a strong and cohesive Nottingham side who they had on the ropes for large parts of this match Match Report by Andy Final Score: Nottingham City 1 20 vs 14 Croydon 1D Butters (4)P Jeanes (4)R Carr-Taylor (2)A Withers (0)A Jeanes (2)A Tydeman (2)S de Jager (0)S Withers (0)Submitted by on 12 Mar 06Croydon 2 front up better in the 2nd half Nottingham City 2 took on Croydon 2 in the Reserve League for effectively the first time this season after the first match between these sides was abandoned after an injury to Paul Blood. Croydon were pleased to see Dr Blood alive and well on the sidelines. The visitors fielded Vernon Ellis in the 2nds for first time in several years, and clearly time has taken its toll in the intervening period as he now sports the shaven crew-cut look rather than the David Seaman pony tail. Matt Cook also made the long journey up to Nottingham so Croydon 2 had to re-organise themselves and work off the girls or at least that was the plan... Croydon got off to a slow start and despite a goal from Zu Munshi they got slower still as the new line up found its feet. Dan Pratt let a couple in but then scored a delicious runner as he beat his player for fun but the visitors were leeching goals and a swift time-out was called at 6-2 after 15 minutes. The time-out had some effect as the rest of the half resulted in a meagre 4 goals spread between the sides with Cook scoring from mid range and Grace Stimpson converting a rare running in shot rather than her usual bombs from down town. The mathematicians amongst you will have worked out that the half time score was therefore 8-4 to the hosts. Coach Carr-Taylor, ever the strategist, came up with a new plan to counteract the Nottingham front defence with the boys doing what they do best: getting the feeds and collects, leaving the girls to flounce around a bit up front. And this plan paid dividends with the boys(!) scoring freely with one from Ellis, a pair of pens from Munshi and a free-pass from Pratt. Croydon weren't able to keep Nottingham out though and as old legs (Lynda) tired towards the end of the game, the visitor's only score was an aforementioned bomb from Stimpson. Final score 15-9. Croydon will be pleased with the 2nd half but the damage was done early on and Nottingham deserved their win. Be interesting to hear if Nottingham will be coming down south to scoop another 2 points for the abandoned 1st fixture.Match Report by Andy Final Score: Nottingham City 2 15 vs 9 Croydon 2Z Omar (3)D Pratt (2)M Cook (1)V Ellis (1)G Codd (2)L Barker (0)J Johnson (0)B Sinclair (0)Submitted by on 12 Mar 06
Croydon 2 front up better in the 2nd half Nottingham City 2 took on Croydon 2 in the Reserve League for effectively the first time this season after the first match between these sides was abandoned after an injury to Paul Blood. Croydon were pleased to see Dr Blood alive and well on the sidelines. The visitors fielded Vernon Ellis in the 2nds for first time in several years, and clearly time has taken its toll in the intervening period as he now sports the shaven crew-cut look rather than the David Seaman pony tail. Matt Cook also made the long journey up to Nottingham so Croydon 2 had to re-organise themselves and work off the girls or at least that was the plan... Croydon got off to a slow start and despite a goal from Zu Munshi they got slower still as the new line up found its feet. Dan Pratt let a couple in but then scored a delicious runner as he beat his player for fun but the visitors were leeching goals and a swift time-out was called at 6-2 after 15 minutes. The time-out had some effect as the rest of the half resulted in a meagre 4 goals spread between the sides with Cook scoring from mid range and Grace Stimpson converting a rare running in shot rather than her usual bombs from down town. The mathematicians amongst you will have worked out that the half time score was therefore 8-4 to the hosts. Coach Carr-Taylor, ever the strategist, came up with a new plan to counteract the Nottingham front defence with the boys doing what they do best: getting the feeds and collects, leaving the girls to flounce around a bit up front. And this plan paid dividends with the boys(!) scoring freely with one from Ellis, a pair of pens from Munshi and a free-pass from Pratt. Croydon weren't able to keep Nottingham out though and as old legs (Lynda) tired towards the end of the game, the visitor's only score was an aforementioned bomb from Stimpson. Final score 15-9. Croydon will be pleased with the 2nd half but the damage was done early on and Nottingham deserved their win. Be interesting to hear if Nottingham will be coming down south to scoop another 2 points for the abandoned 1st fixture.Match Report by Andy Final Score: Nottingham City 2 15 vs 9 Croydon 2Z Omar (3)D Pratt (2)M Cook (1)V Ellis (1)G Codd (2)L Barker (0)J Johnson (0)B Sinclair (0)Submitted by on 12 Mar 06
