Croydon 1 lose out to Nottingham 1Croydon took on Nottingham hoping to give a better account of themselves than the last time they met. They started in attack with coach Dave Butters, Zu Omar, Dawn Aindow and Grace Stimpson. Starting in defence were Anna Jeanes(c), Jane Belfourd, Pete Lindsay and Nigel Hudspith. Both sides started slowly not being able to gain any rhythym in attack, Nottingham had a scare early on as their England international Rob Mann went down injured but after some time recovered enough to carry on. Croydon went close from an Aindow free pass but Nottingham got off the mark first with a running in shot, they soon followed up with two shots from close to the post to give the visitors a 3-0 lead. Things got worse as Nottingham scored another from distance to give the a 4 goal advantage. Croydon were beginning to put pressure on the Nottingham defence eventually finding Stimpson for a running in shot which she put away with ease to get Croydon going. Nottingham though continued to attack well and earnt themselves a free pass which they scored to restore their 4 goal lead. Croydon had the chance to peg them back with a free pass but the resulting shot was defended. The visitors were working the ball round in attack and finding gaps in Croydon's defence, they managed to find a player dropping off and scored to bring the scores to 6-1. Croydon could have let their heads drop and have another poor result but that didn't happen, Croydon attacked with purpose and after Hudspith burst past his player he found Lindsay unmarked for a lovely drop off goal. Nottingham were starting to struggle in attack and had to take a time out to talk things over. After the break Nottingham began to get frustrated after losing possesion through numerous travelling offences and after Butters pointed it out he was told by the opposition player to "Shut his face" needless to say the pettiness was ridiculed by the Croydon bench. The visitors though did manage to bag another goal with a long shot to bring the scores to 7-2, Croydon responded immediately with Omar scoring an unconventional long running in shot, the hosts attack was now working together as it should and it showed when Belfourd was fouled taking a shot, Hudspith stepped up to the line and just about guided the ball into the basket to leave the scores at 7-4. It was to be the last action as the half time whistle blew straight after the penalty. After the break Nottingham got back to their attacking ways scoring two quick goals firstly with a running in shot and then another free pass, they extended their lead with another running in shot to leave the scores at 10-4. Hudspith pulled one back for the hosts with a drop off but Nottingham replied with a good goal, after collecting the Nottingham player shot whilst still airborn and scored to bring the scores to 11-5. Stimpson was working hard in attack, firstly pulling down two rebounds and then finding Omar with a beautiful bounce pass which Omar duly put away, at this point Nottingham brought on fresh legs to try and put away the resiliant hosts. It seemed to work as they scored soon after with a running in shot, Croydon though wouldn't go away and Jeanes scored with a lovely long shot, Nottingham though proved to be too good in attack and scored two long shots to bring the scores to 14-7 and with that the full time whistle blew.Match Report by Sicknote | Updated by Zuton Final Score: Croydon 1 7 vs 14 Nottingham City 1Z Omar (2)N Hudspith (2)P Lindsey (1)D Butters (0)G Codd (1)A Jeanes (1)D Aindow (0)J Hudspith (0)Submitted by Sicknote on 16 Feb 08Croydon 2's defence wins against Nottingham 2Croydon 2 were hoping they could reverse the 1sts result and beat Nottingham 2. They started with Dan Pratt, Vernon Ellis, Julia Johnson and Emma Butters in attack, Paul Jeanes(c), Adam Champion, Lynda Barker and Mandy Furlano in defence. Croydon didn't get off to the best start conceding a penalty after a controversial decision, the visitors converted from the spot to give them the first goal of the game. Croydon replied though with Pratt scoring with a drop off after bringing down the collect. Croydon continued to attack well and Champion won a penalty for the home team which Jeanes stepped up to score. Croydon extended their lead with Champion scoring a neat drop off shot to bring the scores to 3-1. Nottingham hit back though soon after scoring with a long shot to bring them within 1 again. Croydon were not going to let Nottingham back into the game easily and the defence were shutting them out well giving the other section more time to attack, Croydon won themselves a free pass and Johnson stepped up to take it, full of confidence she received the ball and scored with ease to put the hosts back up by 2. Croydon were shutting Nottingham's attack down and they couldn't get more than one shot attacks, Jeanes made things worse for the visitors scoring from under the post to bring the scores to 5-2. Nottingham were looking like they could be fading away but they came back strong, scoring from mid-distance, they had the chance to get back within one after a dubious penalty call. They finish from the spot to bring the scores to 5-4. Croydon rallied just before half time and Pratt was free under the post only to be fouled taking the shot, he stepped up to the spot and slotted away despite some heckling from a Nottingham player. Croydon closed out the half with some great defence to leave the scores at half time 6-4 to the hosts. Croydon knew that they would have to battle to stay on top and win the game, they got off to a great start as Barker dropped off her player to score from behind the post to open up a 3 goal lead. Nottingham though were not going away and scored a long shot to bring them to within two again. Croydon were dominant in defence and it lead to greater possession in attack, with Ellis and Pratt playing in support roles it was down to Johnson and Butters to find a goal, Butters rounded her player but was fouled catching the ball and Croydon had the chance to score from the spot, Pratt stepped up again but this time the penalty was short and the attack couldn't score after the rebound. Croydon though continued to attack and Pratt made up for his earlier penalty miss scoring a 360 running in shot to give them an 8-5 lead. Nottingham hadn't looked dangerous in attack for quite some time but managed to pull one back again with a shot from long distance. Croydon's defence were all over the visitors and Pratt was managing to rebound well, with time winding down Croydon just had to stop Nottingham from scoring, the pressure was eased though as Barker grabbed her 2nd and Croydon's ninth to almost guarantee Croydon the win. Nottingham looked deflated and Croydon were just picking them apart in defence, intercepting and rebounding well to shut them out, the game ended soon after and Croydon came out 9-6 winners. Match Report by Sicknote | Updated by Andy Final Score: Croydon 2 9 vs 6 Nottingham City 2D Pratt (3)P Jeanes (2)A Champion (1)V Ellis (0)L Barker (2)J Johnson (1)E Butters (0)A Furlano (0)Submitted by Sicknote on 16 Feb 08
Croydon 2's defence wins against Nottingham 2Croydon 2 were hoping they could reverse the 1sts result and beat Nottingham 2. They started with Dan Pratt, Vernon Ellis, Julia Johnson and Emma Butters in attack, Paul Jeanes(c), Adam Champion, Lynda Barker and Mandy Furlano in defence. Croydon didn't get off to the best start conceding a penalty after a controversial decision, the visitors converted from the spot to give them the first goal of the game. Croydon replied though with Pratt scoring with a drop off after bringing down the collect. Croydon continued to attack well and Champion won a penalty for the home team which Jeanes stepped up to score. Croydon extended their lead with Champion scoring a neat drop off shot to bring the scores to 3-1. Nottingham hit back though soon after scoring with a long shot to bring them within 1 again. Croydon were not going to let Nottingham back into the game easily and the defence were shutting them out well giving the other section more time to attack, Croydon won themselves a free pass and Johnson stepped up to take it, full of confidence she received the ball and scored with ease to put the hosts back up by 2. Croydon were shutting Nottingham's attack down and they couldn't get more than one shot attacks, Jeanes made things worse for the visitors scoring from under the post to bring the scores to 5-2. Nottingham were looking like they could be fading away but they came back strong, scoring from mid-distance, they had the chance to get back within one after a dubious penalty call. They finish from the spot to bring the scores to 5-4. Croydon rallied just before half time and Pratt was free under the post only to be fouled taking the shot, he stepped up to the spot and slotted away despite some heckling from a Nottingham player. Croydon closed out the half with some great defence to leave the scores at half time 6-4 to the hosts. Croydon knew that they would have to battle to stay on top and win the game, they got off to a great start as Barker dropped off her player to score from behind the post to open up a 3 goal lead. Nottingham though were not going away and scored a long shot to bring them to within two again. Croydon were dominant in defence and it lead to greater possession in attack, with Ellis and Pratt playing in support roles it was down to Johnson and Butters to find a goal, Butters rounded her player but was fouled catching the ball and Croydon had the chance to score from the spot, Pratt stepped up again but this time the penalty was short and the attack couldn't score after the rebound. Croydon though continued to attack and Pratt made up for his earlier penalty miss scoring a 360 running in shot to give them an 8-5 lead. Nottingham hadn't looked dangerous in attack for quite some time but managed to pull one back again with a shot from long distance. Croydon's defence were all over the visitors and Pratt was managing to rebound well, with time winding down Croydon just had to stop Nottingham from scoring, the pressure was eased though as Barker grabbed her 2nd and Croydon's ninth to almost guarantee Croydon the win. Nottingham looked deflated and Croydon were just picking them apart in defence, intercepting and rebounding well to shut them out, the game ended soon after and Croydon came out 9-6 winners. Match Report by Sicknote | Updated by Andy Final Score: Croydon 2 9 vs 6 Nottingham City 2D Pratt (3)P Jeanes (2)A Champion (1)V Ellis (0)L Barker (2)J Johnson (1)E Butters (0)A Furlano (0)Submitted by Sicknote on 16 Feb 08
