25Nov01: Croydon v Mitcham

In the match of the weekend Mitcham were the visitors to Royal Russell School. The two teams had already met twice in pre-season matches, and both were low-scoring affairs with one win apiece. Croydon have not beaten Mitcham in the Premier Division for several years now, and with several summer departures from the league champions, may have considered themselves favourites for this match. Jenny Lee-Jacobs made her Premier Division debut for Croydon in place of the absent Anna Tester.

Unlike previous games, Croydon made a reasonable start in this match. Steve Jones scoring the first goal, and Croydon were first to more than their fair share of the loose balls. Both teams traded goals all the way through to half time, and there was rarely more than a goal to divide the teams in the game during what was at times a frantic first half. For Mitcham, Leo Groetenboer scored three in the first half, and Karen Sparrow scored four. Ivan Aquino and Dave Butters each scored three. Croydon looked to be going into half time 11-9 up, until former player Dawn Aindow's last gasp long shot brought Mitcham's deficit to just one goal.

Croydon led by one or two goals for most of the second half, and when Ivan Aquino took the score to 20-18 with five minutes to go, after John Perrot over-committed. Peter Teague converted a penalty earned against Steve Jones, and then sank a long shot to level the scores. Mitcham coach then brought on Byron Atwell for Dean Woods, with the instructions to 'score two goals'. That didn't quite happen, but Atwell was able to draw a penalty from Andy Withers, converted by Groetenboer. Groetenboer converted another penalty, this time drawn from Butters, giving Mitcham a two-goal advantage. Even then the excitement was not over, as Andy Withers slotted a goal past Atwell. But this proved only to be a consolation as referee David Bond blew for full time.

Such a close, high-scoring match brought back memories of some of the magnificent close encounters of last season. The watching Invicta coach Dave Buckland will probably feel that both these teams could give the Kent club a good match, and may be capable of taking points off the 'champions-elect'.

Mitcham's young team demonstrated a maturity that will hold them in good stead for their Europa Cup adventures in January, as well as the hunt for a top three place. As a team they do lack height, particularly if Dean Woods does not start matches. In spite of being short of 'free-scoring' players, this match proved that the whole team can score goals when it matters.

Croydon will be disappointed to have lost this game after leading for most of the second half. Despite losing against Nomads and Mitcham, they are more than capable of winning the rematches after Christmas. For Croydon, Ivan Aquino has returned to form with a bang, scoring five goals from open play against one of the country's top defenders, John Perrot. Sadly Great Britain is one of the few countries Aquino is not eligible to play for, but the watching national coach Ronald van der Bunt may have been given some food for thought by the the defensive pressure of Janine Collier (Croydon, 3 goals), as well as the speed of Karen Sparrow (Mitcham, 4 goals).

25Nov01: Croydon 2 v Mitcham 2

After watching their first team triumph, a young Mitcham 2 made a buoyant start to this match and raced into an entirely deserved 16-4 lead by half time. Croydon lacked mobility and struggled to put together any sort of attack, while being apparently powerless to stop the Mitcham youngsters from scoring at will. After a stern half time talking-to, the home side looked considerably more motivated. Ryan Dring, Paul Jeanes, Nigel Hudspith, Jenny Allen and a Jeanes penalty scored five goals and brought some respectability to the scoreline, at 19-9. But Mitcham then picked themselves up off their laurels, and extended their lead. Ross Bower was taken off with an arm injury late in the game, after colliding into Paul Jeanes. The final score was 29-12 to Mitcham.

From a Croydon point of view, this was hopefully 'one of those days', not helped by the deflating effect of watching the first team game. Mitcham played very well, but coach Mike Humphries will have his work cut out keeping young feet on the ground. Whether this team develops into first team and international players will depend considerably on their willingness to continue learning. One player was overheard questioning the need to follow the coach's orders when the team was so comfortably ahead, to which a sideline wag quipped "that's why you're in the second team and not the first". Croydon 3 - Woking (6-16)

25Nov01: Croydon 3 v Woking

Croydon's blend of youth and experience was no match for a well-organised Woking team, who took an 8-2 half time lead. In the second half Croydon's play improved, but the final score was 16-6 in Woking's favour. Woking presented tough opposition for Croydon 3 on Sunday - in fact, probably tougher opposition than can be found in the National League Reserve Division at times. Disappointingly Mitcham failed to provide a referee for the first half of the match, despite playing in the same hall immediately afterwards. Croydon 4 - Supernova 4 (6-5)

25Nov01: Croydon 4 v Supernova 4

Both teams fielded some players from higher teams in a bid to provide some support to the new and inexperienced players. Doing what their first team struggle to achieve, Croydon made a good early start, scoring three goals without reply. However Supernova were able to pull back two goals by half time and levelled the scores shortly after half time at 3-3. Andy Withers was clearly saving himself for the later first team match, and missed a succession of chances close to the post. In the end, that did not prove too damaging, as with the scores at 5-5, Judi Sloman slotted home the winning goal. 6-5 was the final score.

Match Report by Andy

Final Score: Croydon 1 21 vs 22 Mitcham 1
There were no Croydon scorers in this game.
Submitted by on 23 Oct 05

25Nov01: Croydon v Mitcham

In the match of the weekend Mitcham were the visitors to Royal Russell School. The two teams had already met twice in pre-season matches, and both were low-scoring affairs with one win apiece. Croydon have not beaten Mitcham in the Premier Division for several years now, and with several summer departures from the league champions, may have considered themselves favourites for this match. Jenny Lee-Jacobs made her Premier Division debut for Croydon in place of the absent Anna Tester.

Unlike previous games, Croydon made a reasonable start in this match. Steve Jones scoring the first goal, and Croydon were first to more than their fair share of the loose balls. Both teams traded goals all the way through to half time, and there was rarely more than a goal to divide the teams in the game during what was at times a frantic first half. For Mitcham, Leo Groetenboer scored three in the first half, and Karen Sparrow scored four. Ivan Aquino and Dave Butters each scored three. Croydon looked to be going into half time 11-9 up, until former player Dawn Aindow's last gasp long shot brought Mitcham's deficit to just one goal.

Croydon led by one or two goals for most of the second half, and when Ivan Aquino took the score to 20-18 with five minutes to go, after John Perrot over-committed. Peter Teague converted a penalty earned against Steve Jones, and then sank a long shot to level the scores. Mitcham coach then brought on Byron Atwell for Dean Woods, with the instructions to 'score two goals'. That didn't quite happen, but Atwell was able to draw a penalty from Andy Withers, converted by Groetenboer. Groetenboer converted another penalty, this time drawn from Butters, giving Mitcham a two-goal advantage. Even then the excitement was not over, as Andy Withers slotted a goal past Atwell. But this proved only to be a consolation as referee David Bond blew for full time.

Such a close, high-scoring match brought back memories of some of the magnificent close encounters of last season. The watching Invicta coach Dave Buckland will probably feel that both these teams could give the Kent club a good match, and may be capable of taking points off the 'champions-elect'.

Mitcham's young team demonstrated a maturity that will hold them in good stead for their Europa Cup adventures in January, as well as the hunt for a top three place. As a team they do lack height, particularly if Dean Woods does not start matches. In spite of being short of 'free-scoring' players, this match proved that the whole team can score goals when it matters.

Croydon will be disappointed to have lost this game after leading for most of the second half. Despite losing against Nomads and Mitcham, they are more than capable of winning the rematches after Christmas. For Croydon, Ivan Aquino has returned to form with a bang, scoring five goals from open play against one of the country's top defenders, John Perrot. Sadly Great Britain is one of the few countries Aquino is not eligible to play for, but the watching national coach Ronald van der Bunt may have been given some food for thought by the the defensive pressure of Janine Collier (Croydon, 3 goals), as well as the speed of Karen Sparrow (Mitcham, 4 goals).

25Nov01: Croydon 2 v Mitcham 2

After watching their first team triumph, a young Mitcham 2 made a buoyant start to this match and raced into an entirely deserved 16-4 lead by half time. Croydon lacked mobility and struggled to put together any sort of attack, while being apparently powerless to stop the Mitcham youngsters from scoring at will. After a stern half time talking-to, the home side looked considerably more motivated. Ryan Dring, Paul Jeanes, Nigel Hudspith, Jenny Allen and a Jeanes penalty scored five goals and brought some respectability to the scoreline, at 19-9. But Mitcham then picked themselves up off their laurels, and extended their lead. Ross Bower was taken off with an arm injury late in the game, after colliding into Paul Jeanes. The final score was 29-12 to Mitcham.

From a Croydon point of view, this was hopefully 'one of those days', not helped by the deflating effect of watching the first team game. Mitcham played very well, but coach Mike Humphries will have his work cut out keeping young feet on the ground. Whether this team develops into first team and international players will depend considerably on their willingness to continue learning. One player was overheard questioning the need to follow the coach's orders when the team was so comfortably ahead, to which a sideline wag quipped "that's why you're in the second team and not the first". Croydon 3 - Woking (6-16)

25Nov01: Croydon 3 v Woking

Croydon's blend of youth and experience was no match for a well-organised Woking team, who took an 8-2 half time lead. In the second half Croydon's play improved, but the final score was 16-6 in Woking's favour. Woking presented tough opposition for Croydon 3 on Sunday - in fact, probably tougher opposition than can be found in the National League Reserve Division at times. Disappointingly Mitcham failed to provide a referee for the first half of the match, despite playing in the same hall immediately afterwards. Croydon 4 - Supernova 4 (6-5)

25Nov01: Croydon 4 v Supernova 4

Both teams fielded some players from higher teams in a bid to provide some support to the new and inexperienced players. Doing what their first team struggle to achieve, Croydon made a good early start, scoring three goals without reply. However Supernova were able to pull back two goals by half time and levelled the scores shortly after half time at 3-3. Andy Withers was clearly saving himself for the later first team match, and missed a succession of chances close to the post. In the end, that did not prove too damaging, as with the scores at 5-5, Judi Sloman slotted home the winning goal. 6-5 was the final score.

Match Report by Andy

Final Score: Croydon 2 12 vs 29 Mitcham 2
There were no Croydon scorers in this game.
Submitted by on 23 Oct 05

LDKA Premier League: Woking 1 vs Croydon 3

Final Score: Croydon 3 7 vs 15 Woking 1
There were no Croydon scorers in this game.
Submitted by on 06 Nov 05

LDKA League 1: Supernova 4 vs Croydon 4

Final Score: Croydon 4 6 vs 5 Supernova 4
There were no Croydon scorers in this game.
Submitted by on 06 Nov 05