Croydon Korfball Club - Korfball in South London | Super Friendly and Competitive Sport

Last minute equaliser saves Croydon's blushes against Bec 2

Croydon 1 took on Bec 2 in the first game of 2011. They were sitting pretty, top of the league but had played a game more than their closest rival, including Bec 2. Croydon started with Zak Omar, Dan Pratt, Anna Jeanes and Julia Johnson in attack, Andy Withers (c), Vernon Ellis, Hannah Driver and Jane Belfourd in defence.

Despite Bec 2's numerous high fives before the first whistle it was Croydon who got off a to a perfect start with Pratt bamboozling Tom Brady under the post for a trademark goal from their first attack. Croydon conceded 2 penalties in quick succession, one of which was converted. Withers then scored when dropping off from a collect and Ian Buckle scored the first of what would be half of Bec's goals with a long shot. Pratt replied in kind but another penalty, conceded by Withers, let Bec in. Driver scored in this topsy-turvy first half but Buckle was on target. The final score of the half was a runner from Omar and so at half-time it was 5-all and all to play for. When play was restarted Croydon's 2nd attack was struggling to create chances and retain possession, this pressure eventually told and Bec were able to eek out a 2 goal lead as Bec's boys cashed in, Johnson and Ellis replied by Bec were maintaining a 2 goal lead and for a while the game looked like it was only heading one way but Omar was having a blinder in defence and his many inceptions were stifling Bec's attack while in attack, he scored a sweet veer shot that really got the crowd jumping as it restored parity at 9-all.

With 6 minutes remaining Buckle scored his final goal, a neat free-pass and some of Croydon's heads for some reason dropped but there was time for an equaliser. With seconds remaining, and Croydon's attack still not firing on all cylinders, Withers put up a long shot, sans collect, but it nestled in and the teams were tied at 10-all. Bec had a couple more attacks which Croydon just managed to keep out and so the final whistle went with the teams all-square.

A good point perhaps for both sides but Croydon need to keep their heads up in these tight games and fight to the end and indeed to the whistle. One key element that Croydon need to consider is that Bec scored 2 penalties (from 3 awards) and 2 free passes while Croydon had to earn all their goals through open play, so not giving away these chances is a lesson to learn. They may need to look at the balance of the team and will rue a few missing faces, because at times, one division wasn't clicking as well as it might.

Match Report by Andy | Updated by Andy