Croydon secure top flight korfball with comfortable drawCroydon 1 travelled to Epsom to take on Nomads 1 in the final game of the season, the outcome would decide who finished in 6th and who would have to face a playoff game. For Nomads to leapfrog Croydon they would have to beat Croydon by 6 goals. Croydon started with Dave Butters, Zu Omar, Grace Stimpson and Dawn Aindow in attack, Vernon Ellis, Nigel Hudspith, Anna Jeanes(c) and Jane Belfourd in defence. Nomads started the brightest and it wasn't long before they gave their crowd something to cheer about, scoring with a long shot. The noise from the home support was good and it seemed to spur Nomads on as they scored another long shot to put them 2-0 up early on. Croydon looked to reply and Hudspith and Ellis both missed chances, Hudspith soon had the chance to score but was fouled shooting, he stepped up himself to take the resulting penalty and scored to get the visitors off the mark. Hudspith was attacking well and should have had a second soon after but Ellis was on hand to bury a long shot which levelled the scores at 2 a-piece. Croydon were soon in front with Omar scoring a running-in shot, the home crowd though were still right behind their team, Nomads equalised after Ellis over committed leaving his player to turn and score. Hudspith spurned another chance but the hosts looked edgy and needed to talk things over, calling a time-out. After the restart Croydon continued to create chances, they were awarded a free pass, Nomads stepped in too early and Croydon set up for the second attempt, Jeanes took it and buried the shot to give Croydon back the lead at 4-3. Croydon were finding gaps in Nomads defence but Ellis failed to capitalise, missing a runner, Nomads had chances of their own but barely missed from a long shot. Ellis was menacing his defender and after recieving the ball in the feed he turned and scored. Croydon had a small cushion now and their attacking play benefited, Omar breezed past his player but was held back trying to take his running-in shot, Butters stepped up and scored from the spot to give Croydon a 6-3 lead. Croydon had chances to go further ahead with another free pass was encroached by Nomads but Aindow couldn't score from the second. Nomads rallied and put Croydon on the back foot, Croydon were pushed hard and after a switch in defence the visitors hadn't picked up their players to leave Nomads an easy shot from close range. Nomads looked to change things early and subbed a young player for an experienced one. The substitute made an impact straight away providing the assist for a nice drop off shot. The home crowd were in fine voice but despite a mexican wave it was Croydon who looked stronger, Belfourd almost scoring with a runner before Hudspith found the net with a running-in shot of his own. Half time was approaching and both clubs looked nervy, Nomads managed to score before the half time whistle with a turning shot to leave the scores at 7-6 at the break. After half time Croydon carried on attacking well and Omar had a couple of chances, Nomads mounted an attack of their own, they had possession in attack for a long time but despite pressuring Croydon they somehow managed not to score. Omar looked to have been fouled taking a running-in shot but was deemed to have blocked his defender in the build up. The hosts brought themselves back into the game with a runner to level the scores and then went ahead with a long shot. The game was going back and forth and neither team could get away from the other, Croydon brought the scores to 8-8 with another Hudspith penalty after Jeanes was fouled running in. Omar missed from mid range after being left open, the pressure forced Nomads into their 2nd substitution but they couldn't stop Butters as he charged to the basket to score a runner. Croydon were doing well and an interception gave them a chance to break away but they failed to get the ball into attack and Nomads had a chance, Ellis was adjudged to have fouled his better half Andrea whilst she was trying to level things again for the hosts. Nomads scored from the penalty and it was equal again at 9-9. Nomads took their last time-out to try and steady themselves but Croydon were not going to let them settle, Ellis made up for conceding the penalty as he assisted Belfourd and her runner. Ellis was on form and he tried another audacious turning shot in the feed, it paid off with the ball ending up in the back of the basket. Croydon had given themselves a two goal lead, the first either team had since the first half. They edged further ahead when Stimpson scored from long range to make it 12-9 to the visitors. Nomads pulled one back soon after though with a long shot of their own re-igniting the crowd once more, they looked to change things again and brought on their final substitute but once again Croydon scored with Belfourd scoring another runner to make it 13-10. Croydon at this point looked to wind down the clock, it made their attack stale and Nomads had chances to score, they went close with a running in shot, but they found the back of the basket twice in quick succession with two great long shots. With Croydon only one goal ahead they stuggled to ignite in attack, they had a chance with a free pass but with the game winding down Croydon just had to keep Nomads out, with the clock winding down Ellis looked to have kept his player from scoring as he defended his drop off shot but the referee allowed the goal to count and Croydon had no time to reply. The full time whistle blew with the scores at 13-13, the draw was enough to keep Croydon away from the playoff spot and are guaranteed Premier League korfball next season proving many doubters wrong. Match Report by Sicknote | Updated by Zuton Final Score: Nomads 1 13 vs 13 Croydon 1V Ellis (3)N Hudspith (3)D Butters (2)Z Omar (1)J Hudspith (2)G Codd (1)A Jeanes (1)D Aindow (0)Submitted by Sicknote on 06 Apr 08Croydon 2 fight hard but end up on the wrong side of the result against Nomads 2Croydon 2 took on Nomads 2, they started with Paul Jeanes(c), Dan Moore, Emma Butters and Karen James in attack, Dan Pratt, Pete Lindsay, Julia Johnson and Lynda Barker. Croydon started badly, conceding twice ealry with long shots, they fell further behind as Nomads extended their lead with 2 drop off shots to leave Croydon 4-0 down. Jeanes responded soon after though with a penalty to get the visitors off the mark, Nomads though were not relenting in attack and scored 3 more unanswered goals, two long shots sandwiched another drop off shot to leave Croydon looking at a 7-1 defecit. The hosts lookd like they were cruising and Croydon needed to turn things around, Jeanes was the catalyst, working well in attack to free himself for a long shot which he scored for his and Croydon's second. The visitors continued to attack with emphaisis as Butters scored from distance. Pratt then earnt Croydon a penalty which he stepped up to score, Nomads replied with yet another drop off shot to make it 8-4. Nomads stretched their lead further with a long shot but Croydon replied straight away with Jeanes scoring from the penalty spot after 2 encroachments on a free pass. It was nomads though who closed the half out stronger, scoring just before the half time whistle to make it 10-5 at the break. From the restart Croydon looked intent on getting back into the game and it wasn't long before they scored, Pratt getting his second from the spot. Nomads though were able to reply straight away, James opened her account for the game with a good long shot but Nomads once again scored to make it 12-7. Moore who was back from university scored a great goal from distance, Butters then scored from mid-distance and Pratt scored from the side of the basket to bring Croydon right back in it at 12-10. Croydon though couldn't stop Nomads scoring for long and they scored 2 goals, Barker wasn't going to stop trying though as she scored from mid-range, Jeanes then got his fourth with a long shot but the full time whistle stopped Croydon's comeback, leaving the scores at 14-12 to the hosts.Match Report by Sicknote Final Score: Nomads 2 14 vs 12 Croydon 2P Jeanes (4)D Pratt (3)D Moore (1)P Lindsey (0)E Butters (2)L Barker (1)K James (1)J Johnson (0)Submitted by Sicknote on 06 Apr 08
Croydon 2 fight hard but end up on the wrong side of the result against Nomads 2Croydon 2 took on Nomads 2, they started with Paul Jeanes(c), Dan Moore, Emma Butters and Karen James in attack, Dan Pratt, Pete Lindsay, Julia Johnson and Lynda Barker. Croydon started badly, conceding twice ealry with long shots, they fell further behind as Nomads extended their lead with 2 drop off shots to leave Croydon 4-0 down. Jeanes responded soon after though with a penalty to get the visitors off the mark, Nomads though were not relenting in attack and scored 3 more unanswered goals, two long shots sandwiched another drop off shot to leave Croydon looking at a 7-1 defecit. The hosts lookd like they were cruising and Croydon needed to turn things around, Jeanes was the catalyst, working well in attack to free himself for a long shot which he scored for his and Croydon's second. The visitors continued to attack with emphaisis as Butters scored from distance. Pratt then earnt Croydon a penalty which he stepped up to score, Nomads replied with yet another drop off shot to make it 8-4. Nomads stretched their lead further with a long shot but Croydon replied straight away with Jeanes scoring from the penalty spot after 2 encroachments on a free pass. It was nomads though who closed the half out stronger, scoring just before the half time whistle to make it 10-5 at the break. From the restart Croydon looked intent on getting back into the game and it wasn't long before they scored, Pratt getting his second from the spot. Nomads though were able to reply straight away, James opened her account for the game with a good long shot but Nomads once again scored to make it 12-7. Moore who was back from university scored a great goal from distance, Butters then scored from mid-distance and Pratt scored from the side of the basket to bring Croydon right back in it at 12-10. Croydon though couldn't stop Nomads scoring for long and they scored 2 goals, Barker wasn't going to stop trying though as she scored from mid-range, Jeanes then got his fourth with a long shot but the full time whistle stopped Croydon's comeback, leaving the scores at 14-12 to the hosts.Match Report by Sicknote Final Score: Nomads 2 14 vs 12 Croydon 2P Jeanes (4)D Pratt (3)D Moore (1)P Lindsey (0)E Butters (2)L Barker (1)K James (1)J Johnson (0)Submitted by Sicknote on 06 Apr 08
