Croydon 2 edge past Reading UniCroydon 2 faced a Reading Uni team that had just been beaten in the first game of the day, Croydon laid out with Adam Champion, Dan Pratt, Emma Butters and Hannah Evans in attack, Peter Lindsay, Nigel Hudspith, Julia Johnson and Jane Belfourd in defence. Croydon started nervously as the long drive seemed to take its toll, many passes were off target, shots were missed and the defence looked shakey. Reading Uni took advantage of Croydon's slow start, scoring first with a long shot. It was a long while before Croydon replied, but Champion levelled the scores with a long shot. Reading though looked determined to avoid defeat in both games and were putting the pressure on Croydon, going into the lead again scoring a running in shot. Croydon brought the scores back again seconds later with Belfourd carving past her defender to score making the score 2-2. With 5 minutes left in the first half Croydon seemed to shut down as frustration crept in. Reading capitilised scoring twice before the break with a long shot and an effort from under the basket, leaving Croydon looking happy to hear the half time whistle. Croydon took the time to regroup and refocus and set off looking more confident. It took just two second half minutes for Croydon to score; Hudspith putting away a penalty after some good attacking from Lindsey. Reading were still not giving up and scored again after a pass fluked its way into the basket and the referee decided it wasn't defended much to the shock of the defence but delight of the suprised attacker. After the change around Croydon got the boost they needed when Pratt brought them level first with a lovely long shot and then a neat turning shot from close to the post. The team looked bouyed by being on terms again and dominated on both ends of the court, Lindsey proving his worth able to keep Croydon attacking for long spells at a time. The defence were closing Reading down and the opposition looked as if they had run out of ideas. Croydon however were attacking in a dominant way and it didn't take long before they had the lead with Johnson scoring a nice free pass and soon after Belfourd scored her second runner following a neat interception to put daylight between the two teams. Croydon closed out the game with some controlled passing, leading to Evan's first competitive goal for the club scoring a running in shot after a searching pass from Pratt. The final whistle blew soon after and Croydon had weathered the storm to overcome a spirited Reading Uni side. Match Report by Sicknote | Updated by Jane Final Score: Reading Uni 5 vs 8 Croydon 2D Pratt (2)A Champion (1)N Hudspith (1)P Lindsey (0)J Hudspith (2)H Evans (1)J Johnson (1)E Butters (0)Submitted by Sicknote on 06 Nov 07Croydon 2 lose out to Norwich KnightsIn their second game Croydon took on Norwich Knights in a match which would decide who would progress through to the next round of the cup. Norwich started as favourites but Croydon were ready to put up a fight. Croydon started the same way as they did in the first game except Vernon Ellis started in place of Peter Lindsey. Both teams got off to good starts creating plenty of oppurtunities, it was Norwich who got off the mark first with a penalty, but it wasn't long before Croydon had a penalty of their own after Butters had rounded her marker only to be fouled taking the shot. Pratt took the chance to level the scores cooly putting it away from the spot to make it 1-1. Norwich though seemed to be more comfortable on the small pitch and dusty floor and were creating more chances than Croydon, they took advantage of this putting away a shot from close to the post. They doubled their lead soon after with a long shot making it 3-1 to the hosts. Croydon were beginning to create good chances and were unlucky not to reduce the deficit but the half time whistle denied them the chance. After the break Croydon seemed to have lost their momentum and it showed, allowing Norwich time and space to go further ahead scoring a long shot to make it 4-1. The visitors weren't ready to give up yet and Butters once again won a penalty after beating her defender, Pratt stepped up and scored from the spot for the 2nd time to reduce Norwich's lead. Norwich were looking to close the game out and were frustrating Croydon, limiting the visitors in attack and causing problems for Croydon's defence and it proved too much for them to take as they conceded 2 quick goals to give the Knights their biggest lead of the game with the scores 6-2. Croydon continued though and Butters won her 3rd penalty of the game causing her defender all sorts of problems, Pratt though could not convert and with time winding down things were not looking good for Croydon's cup hopes. Both teams started making mistakes and Norwich dropped the ball in defence to leave Pratt a metre away from the post to score his and Croydon's third to leave the scores at 6-3. Unfortunately full time came too soon for any comeback to materialise and Croydon 2 go out of the cup, but the team can take heart knowing they gave a good battle to promotion favourites Norwich Knights. Match Report by Sicknote | Updated by Andy Final Score: Norwich Knights 1 6 vs 3 Croydon 2D Pratt (3)V Ellis (0)N Hudspith (0)A Champion (0)P Lindsey (0)E Butters (0)H Evans (0)J Hudspith (0)J Johnson (0)Submitted by Sicknote on 06 Nov 07
Croydon 2 lose out to Norwich KnightsIn their second game Croydon took on Norwich Knights in a match which would decide who would progress through to the next round of the cup. Norwich started as favourites but Croydon were ready to put up a fight. Croydon started the same way as they did in the first game except Vernon Ellis started in place of Peter Lindsey. Both teams got off to good starts creating plenty of oppurtunities, it was Norwich who got off the mark first with a penalty, but it wasn't long before Croydon had a penalty of their own after Butters had rounded her marker only to be fouled taking the shot. Pratt took the chance to level the scores cooly putting it away from the spot to make it 1-1. Norwich though seemed to be more comfortable on the small pitch and dusty floor and were creating more chances than Croydon, they took advantage of this putting away a shot from close to the post. They doubled their lead soon after with a long shot making it 3-1 to the hosts. Croydon were beginning to create good chances and were unlucky not to reduce the deficit but the half time whistle denied them the chance. After the break Croydon seemed to have lost their momentum and it showed, allowing Norwich time and space to go further ahead scoring a long shot to make it 4-1. The visitors weren't ready to give up yet and Butters once again won a penalty after beating her defender, Pratt stepped up and scored from the spot for the 2nd time to reduce Norwich's lead. Norwich were looking to close the game out and were frustrating Croydon, limiting the visitors in attack and causing problems for Croydon's defence and it proved too much for them to take as they conceded 2 quick goals to give the Knights their biggest lead of the game with the scores 6-2. Croydon continued though and Butters won her 3rd penalty of the game causing her defender all sorts of problems, Pratt though could not convert and with time winding down things were not looking good for Croydon's cup hopes. Both teams started making mistakes and Norwich dropped the ball in defence to leave Pratt a metre away from the post to score his and Croydon's third to leave the scores at 6-3. Unfortunately full time came too soon for any comeback to materialise and Croydon 2 go out of the cup, but the team can take heart knowing they gave a good battle to promotion favourites Norwich Knights. Match Report by Sicknote | Updated by Andy Final Score: Norwich Knights 1 6 vs 3 Croydon 2D Pratt (3)V Ellis (0)N Hudspith (0)A Champion (0)P Lindsey (0)E Butters (0)H Evans (0)J Hudspith (0)J Johnson (0)Submitted by Sicknote on 06 Nov 07
