Croydon 2 vanquished by Invicta 1Croydon lined up for their first EKA Cup match of the day against current Haven Sports League contenders Invicta Sharks. In attack were Pete Lindsey, Mark Irving, Hannah Driver, and Steph Robinson. Croydon got on the score board first with a quick dash from Driver which resulted in a foul. Lindsey converted easily from the spot. Invicta's turn now to attack against defensive section Adam Champion (cap), Luke James, Julia Johnson, and Zoe Shewell. They duly scored, and ends switched. Johnson scored next with a cheeky number under the post. Invicta replied and then took the lead. As half time approached Shewell lost her girl and claimed a running in shot, ending the half with a 3-6 scoreline favouring the visitors. In the second half Invicta pulled further into the lead as their shots-up and goals-scored ratio continued to improve. Subs were made by Croydon - Hole came on for Shewell to add some height in the collect, and Chadd was given a chance to stretch his legs by replacing Lindsey. Invicta continued their assault, halted briefly by Johnson with another cheeky shot this time from the back of the post, and by Irving's accurate long shot. But Invicta had the last word claiming the final goal to close the game at Croydon 5 - Invicta 17. Great effort was made by all as everyone continued to push for goals right up until the final whistle. It was a tough call for MVP between Irving and Driver who both spent the match running their players ragged, but Driver came tops in the end for her repeated assist efforts. Match Report by Zoe | Updated by Andy Final Score: Croydon 2 5 vs 17 Invicta 1M Irving (1)A Champion (0)U Player (0)P Lindsey (1)S Chadd (0)J Johnson (2)H Robinson (0)S Robinson (0)Z Shewell (1)S Hole (0)Submitted by Zoe on 31 Oct 10Croydon 2 shot down by Nottingham City 2Croydon went into their second EKA Cup game of the day keen to improve on their efforts from the first. Attack lined up again with Pete Lindsey, Mark Irving, Hannah Driver, and Steph Robinson. In defence were Julia Johnson (cap), Luke James, Zoe Shewell, and (for his first start with Croydon) Geraint Davies. Nottingham brought a number of tall players with them for the match which they were able to use to great effect. Despite this it was Croydon who got on the scoreboard first as Driver claimed a running in shot. Nottingham replied and took the lead, before Lindsey had a chance to reply from the penalty spot. Croydon continued to seek goals but were heavily pressured throughout by Nottingham, who cleverly guarded the ball lines and intercepted a few long-passes to get the ball back to their attack and through the basket. Shewell replied with a long shot, but this was to be the last Croydon goal of the game. Half time, and Champion asked for tighter defending around the post as too many easy goals were being given away in this area. Champion subbed himself on for Davies early into the second half, and made an instant impact with a number of good intercepts. Croydon upped their concentration and stopped leaking goals from under the post, but failed to halt Nottingham entirely as the visitors continued to find the basket without reply. Ten minutes left and Croydon subbed on some fresh legs with Hole replacing Robinson, and Chadd kicked off his jogging-bottoms to replace James. A brief pause with 30 seconds to go as Johnson collided her bad knee against a Nottingham boy's good knee, and then the final whistle came leaving the score at Croydon 3 - Nottingham 21. - A number of Croydon players stuck around to watch the final decisive match between Invicta Sharks and Nottingham City 2. Both sides traded goals, unable to pull more than 1 goal ahead at a time. The game was energetic and highly-contested, which made it very entertaining for the spectators but did result in 2 yellow cards (Invicta for "mouthing off" to the ref, and Nottingham for physical contact whilst chasing down a ball). Eventually Invicta pulled ahead by 2 goals and Nottingham ran out of time to respond. Final score Invicta 14 - Nottingham 12, and Invicta head on into the next round. Match Report by Zoe | Updated by Andy Final Score: Croydon 2 3 vs 21 Nottingham City 2P Lindsey (1)M Irving (0)U Player (0)A Champion (0)G Davies (0)S Chadd (0)H Robinson (1)Z Shewell (1)J Johnson (0)S Robinson (0)S Hole (0)Submitted by Zoe on 31 Oct 10
Croydon 2 shot down by Nottingham City 2Croydon went into their second EKA Cup game of the day keen to improve on their efforts from the first. Attack lined up again with Pete Lindsey, Mark Irving, Hannah Driver, and Steph Robinson. In defence were Julia Johnson (cap), Luke James, Zoe Shewell, and (for his first start with Croydon) Geraint Davies. Nottingham brought a number of tall players with them for the match which they were able to use to great effect. Despite this it was Croydon who got on the scoreboard first as Driver claimed a running in shot. Nottingham replied and took the lead, before Lindsey had a chance to reply from the penalty spot. Croydon continued to seek goals but were heavily pressured throughout by Nottingham, who cleverly guarded the ball lines and intercepted a few long-passes to get the ball back to their attack and through the basket. Shewell replied with a long shot, but this was to be the last Croydon goal of the game. Half time, and Champion asked for tighter defending around the post as too many easy goals were being given away in this area. Champion subbed himself on for Davies early into the second half, and made an instant impact with a number of good intercepts. Croydon upped their concentration and stopped leaking goals from under the post, but failed to halt Nottingham entirely as the visitors continued to find the basket without reply. Ten minutes left and Croydon subbed on some fresh legs with Hole replacing Robinson, and Chadd kicked off his jogging-bottoms to replace James. A brief pause with 30 seconds to go as Johnson collided her bad knee against a Nottingham boy's good knee, and then the final whistle came leaving the score at Croydon 3 - Nottingham 21. - A number of Croydon players stuck around to watch the final decisive match between Invicta Sharks and Nottingham City 2. Both sides traded goals, unable to pull more than 1 goal ahead at a time. The game was energetic and highly-contested, which made it very entertaining for the spectators but did result in 2 yellow cards (Invicta for "mouthing off" to the ref, and Nottingham for physical contact whilst chasing down a ball). Eventually Invicta pulled ahead by 2 goals and Nottingham ran out of time to respond. Final score Invicta 14 - Nottingham 12, and Invicta head on into the next round. Match Report by Zoe | Updated by Andy Final Score: Croydon 2 3 vs 21 Nottingham City 2P Lindsey (1)M Irving (0)U Player (0)A Champion (0)G Davies (0)S Chadd (0)H Robinson (1)Z Shewell (1)J Johnson (0)S Robinson (0)S Hole (0)Submitted by Zoe on 31 Oct 10
