Croydon 3 draw with Supernova 2The thirds made the trip to Latchmere to take on Supernova 2 who had beaten us 15-5 in the season opener, so we were determined to put on a better show. As has been the case most of the season, there were a myriad of changes from the last time the thirds took to the pitch. The starting attack was basically the Moore family (Chrissie, Micky and Dan), with Karen James becoming an honorary family member for the day. In defence were Dave S, Sean, Mandy and Steph. We started brightly, Chrissie dropping a long shot with practically her first touch (as usual), although Supernova equalised within seconds. In our section, we focused on Mandy who had the beating of her girl – and she duly notched up a couple of goals with a mid-range shot and a sharp turn and shot under the post. Supernova came back however, to bring things back to 3-3 before Mandy scored again. The momentum swung back and forth in a half where both teams were battling to gain the upper hand. We turned round at 4-4, but Supernova jumped out with two quick second-half goals to lead 6-4. Our half-time team talk had highlighted our tendency to switch off after the break, but this time there was to be no repeat. Steph scored with a mid-range shot and Mandy bagged her fourth. The last 15 minutes became a battle of wills as both sides form became ragged chasing the winner. Supernova put their seventh away before Dan Moore produced a one-man “shoot, collect your own shot, score your own rebound” show (or so it seemed – I was so tired I was seeing double by now!) to level things up. The final whistle put an end to an excellent game – played in a great spirit – and, as the footballers all love to say, a draw was probably the right result. Big credit to a terrific battling performance from everyone involved.Match Report by Smiffy | Updated by Sicknote Final Score: Supernova 2 7 vs 7 Croydon 3D Moore (1)S Fellows (0)M Moore (0)D Smith (0)A Furlano (4)C Moore (1)S Robinson (1)K James (0)Submitted by Sicknote on 06 Jan 08Croydon 4 lose to Nomads 5Croydon 4 travelled to Epsom to take on league leaders Nomads 5. They started with Steve Pratt (c), Andrew Lam, Jess Parsons and Becky Dean in attack, Dan Pratt, Jon Dean, Sarah Hole and Rhiannon Williams-Clarke in defence. Both sides started slowly, giving the ball away too easily and this led to both teams struggling to put together a strong attack. It was almost 15 minutes before a goal was scored, it was Nomads who managed to find the back of the net first with a long shot. Croydon were being frustrated by some incompetent decisions and the 4ths saw a role reversal with captain Steve having to calm down his irate son. Croydon were looking to draw level and were putting intense pressure on Nomads and it proved to spur on their attack, Steve was finding his range and Jess was collecting well, the extra chances paid off with Steve scoring from long range to level the scores at 1-1. With 20 minutes on the clock the new attacks had little time to make any impact, Jon went close after breezing past his player but that was to be it for the half with the referee blowing to send the teams into the break at 1-1. The half time gave both sides time to regroup and talk things over, also the chance to let any frustrations simmer down. Croydon would hope that in the second half they could put away more of their chances. It was Croydon who came out stronger, forcing Nomads into many mistakes, giving the attack time to work some chances, it proved to be to the visitor's advantage after a shot from Jon narrowly missed Dan collected it in space and scored with a drop off shot to give Croydon the lead. Unfortunatley Croydon's lead didn't last long, Nomads had won themselves a somewhat fortunate penalty and scored from the spot. Nomads retook the lead soon after scoring with another long shot to leave the scores at 3-2. With the game being so tight Nomads were getting frustrated again and turned their anger at the referee, both captains were called over and were asked to speak to their players. With tempers frayed, Andrew tested the nerve of one player, placing the ball close to his marker's face, the player lost his tether and reacted by blasting the ball out of Andrew's hands, with such unsporting behaviour on show it looked like Nomads would do anything to win. Croydon didn't let themselves be drawn into the battle though and stuck to their own game, Jess managed to squeeze past her player only to be fouled trying to take her shot. Steve stepped up to the spot only to have to wait until Nomads had stopped arguing with the referee. Despite the wait Steve soaked up all the pressure and cooly slotted away his penalty to draw level at 3-3. Once again, Croydon after drawing level, fell behind again losing out to a long range shot from such distance there was nothing Andrew could of done to prevent it. Nomads were still no more gracious in taking the lead, they continued to shout at the referee, at this point he had had enough and much to everyone's suprise awarded Croydon a penalty, this was not in the rules and the penalty was harsh on the hosts. Giving Jon the benefit of the doubt he took pity on Nomads and missed. Croydon were rewarded for their sympathy later on as they were awarded a genuine penalty after Rhiannon was battered from behind trying to shoot. This time Dan stepped up to the spot and put the ball away to level the scores again at 4-4. With the game tight again Nomads once again began complaining aout any decisions that went against them and were punished after they contested one too many decisions resulting in their captain being booked for consistent dissent. With time winding down it looked like Croydon might come away with a well fought point but Nomads had other plans and they scored yet another long shot despite pressure from Dan. Croydon were left with only 2 minutes to try and recover but shots from everyone bounced around and out the basket, just as Croydon were building momentum the full time whistle blew and unfortunately proved the saying: nice guys finish last. Croydon will be disappointed with the result as every player gave 100% and it was only down to finishing their chances, they dominated Nomads in every area but were just unlucky for their chances to miss out. Narrowly losing to the team at the top will only spur the 4ths on to beat the next team they face. Match Report by Sicknote | Updated by Andy Final Score: Nomads 5 5 vs 4 Croydon 4D Pratt (2)S Pratt (2)J Dean (0)A Lam (0)S Hole (0)B Lockett (0)J Parsons (0)R Williams-Clarke (0)Submitted by Sicknote on 06 Jan 08
Croydon 4 lose to Nomads 5Croydon 4 travelled to Epsom to take on league leaders Nomads 5. They started with Steve Pratt (c), Andrew Lam, Jess Parsons and Becky Dean in attack, Dan Pratt, Jon Dean, Sarah Hole and Rhiannon Williams-Clarke in defence. Both sides started slowly, giving the ball away too easily and this led to both teams struggling to put together a strong attack. It was almost 15 minutes before a goal was scored, it was Nomads who managed to find the back of the net first with a long shot. Croydon were being frustrated by some incompetent decisions and the 4ths saw a role reversal with captain Steve having to calm down his irate son. Croydon were looking to draw level and were putting intense pressure on Nomads and it proved to spur on their attack, Steve was finding his range and Jess was collecting well, the extra chances paid off with Steve scoring from long range to level the scores at 1-1. With 20 minutes on the clock the new attacks had little time to make any impact, Jon went close after breezing past his player but that was to be it for the half with the referee blowing to send the teams into the break at 1-1. The half time gave both sides time to regroup and talk things over, also the chance to let any frustrations simmer down. Croydon would hope that in the second half they could put away more of their chances. It was Croydon who came out stronger, forcing Nomads into many mistakes, giving the attack time to work some chances, it proved to be to the visitor's advantage after a shot from Jon narrowly missed Dan collected it in space and scored with a drop off shot to give Croydon the lead. Unfortunatley Croydon's lead didn't last long, Nomads had won themselves a somewhat fortunate penalty and scored from the spot. Nomads retook the lead soon after scoring with another long shot to leave the scores at 3-2. With the game being so tight Nomads were getting frustrated again and turned their anger at the referee, both captains were called over and were asked to speak to their players. With tempers frayed, Andrew tested the nerve of one player, placing the ball close to his marker's face, the player lost his tether and reacted by blasting the ball out of Andrew's hands, with such unsporting behaviour on show it looked like Nomads would do anything to win. Croydon didn't let themselves be drawn into the battle though and stuck to their own game, Jess managed to squeeze past her player only to be fouled trying to take her shot. Steve stepped up to the spot only to have to wait until Nomads had stopped arguing with the referee. Despite the wait Steve soaked up all the pressure and cooly slotted away his penalty to draw level at 3-3. Once again, Croydon after drawing level, fell behind again losing out to a long range shot from such distance there was nothing Andrew could of done to prevent it. Nomads were still no more gracious in taking the lead, they continued to shout at the referee, at this point he had had enough and much to everyone's suprise awarded Croydon a penalty, this was not in the rules and the penalty was harsh on the hosts. Giving Jon the benefit of the doubt he took pity on Nomads and missed. Croydon were rewarded for their sympathy later on as they were awarded a genuine penalty after Rhiannon was battered from behind trying to shoot. This time Dan stepped up to the spot and put the ball away to level the scores again at 4-4. With the game tight again Nomads once again began complaining aout any decisions that went against them and were punished after they contested one too many decisions resulting in their captain being booked for consistent dissent. With time winding down it looked like Croydon might come away with a well fought point but Nomads had other plans and they scored yet another long shot despite pressure from Dan. Croydon were left with only 2 minutes to try and recover but shots from everyone bounced around and out the basket, just as Croydon were building momentum the full time whistle blew and unfortunately proved the saying: nice guys finish last. Croydon will be disappointed with the result as every player gave 100% and it was only down to finishing their chances, they dominated Nomads in every area but were just unlucky for their chances to miss out. Narrowly losing to the team at the top will only spur the 4ths on to beat the next team they face. Match Report by Sicknote | Updated by Andy Final Score: Nomads 5 5 vs 4 Croydon 4D Pratt (2)S Pratt (2)J Dean (0)A Lam (0)S Hole (0)B Lockett (0)J Parsons (0)R Williams-Clarke (0)Submitted by Sicknote on 06 Jan 08
