06Jan02: Invicta v Croydon Buckmore Park was the venue for a meeting between last season's BKA cup finalists. Croydon have a good record against the Kent club, winning the last two meetings of the teams in a crucial league match that denied Invicta the Premier league title, and then victory in that cup final. However, Invicta proved to be much the stronger team this time and racked up a comfortable victory. Once again the Buckmore Park surface was dusty and slippery, despite being swept prior to the match. Invicta set out with an experienced line-up, with Andy Martinez, Mark Hickey, Candice Higgins and Sarah-Jane Hubbard all warming the bench. Croydon played their normal first team line-up, despite Andy Withers carrying a neck injury. Invicta raced into a 4-0 lead and then 5-1 lead, with captain Rob Williams scoring three of the opening five goals. At this time, Croydon were struggling to put together more than single-shot attacks, but two long shots from Janine Collier soon brought them back into contention. Steve Jones levelled the scores with a shot from behind the post, but two goals each from Natasha Trigg (Invicta), Jones (Croydon) and Corinne Buckland (Invicta) put Invicta 9-7 ahead. Croydon then conceded a soft goal just before half time to James Macdonald, after losing possession while playing the ball out of defence, taking Invicta into half time 11-9 ahead. The second half is one that Croydon will wish to forget. Invicta scored 7 goals without reply, and in fact the only goal Croydon did score was a penalty, converted by Dave Butters. Invicta were playing competently, without ever needing to move into top gear, as Croydon's passing fell apart. Towards the end, Kim Jones was replaced by Saida Hanine as a precautionary measure, after injuring her knee. For Croydon there is no shame in losing to Invicta, who have many talented players and still look favourites to win their first Premier League title. But at times, the south London club seemed strangely listless, particularly in the first half when they had clawed back the early deficit and Invicta, if not exactly reeling, were struggling to find their form. That may have owed something to the early start, or it being the first match after the holiday period, but as both factors applied equally to Invicta, that cannot be held up as an excuse. While there is plenty for Croydon to improve, there were a few bright spots. Janine Collier out-played GB international Rachel Olding, Steve Jones scored five first half goals, while Dave Butters' tight defence meant that Invicta's Dave Buckland made little impact in attack. Invicta meanwhile won this game comfortably without playing particularly well, which is of course the mark of a good team. What they do intelligently is play to their opponents' defensive weaknesses, and they have players who can convert chances into goals. In particular Rob Williams scored nine goals, including two penalties while Corinne Buckland scored five, including three free throws and a penalty. Invicta 2 v Croydon 2 Invicta's team of promising youngsters had a tougher match than many were expecting against a Croydon team that has had some rather variable results this year. In an entertaining match, Croydon managed to keep up with Invicta for most of the time, but only twice actually went into the lead. One of those occasions was when Jenny Allen scored the opening goal of the match, but Invicta soon recovered through a penalty conceded by Paul Jeanes and an Andy Martinez goal. Paul Jeanes equalised with a quick-thinking lay-up, but Invicta then went 5-3 up. Croydon surged ahead with goals from Allen, Amanda Furlano and Jeanes, before Sarah-Jane Hubbard and Mark Hickey took Invicta 7-6 up. Further goals took Invicta to 9-7 up at half time. Allen scored the first two goals of the second half to level the scores at 9-9, and after replies from Martinez and Hubbard, her fifth of the game to cut Invicta's lead to 11-10. Candice Higgins extended the lead to 12-10, Nigel Hudspith replied for Croydon to make the score 12-11. Then came the crucial period of the game, as Invicta were able to open up what was to prove an insurmountable lead. Martinez scored, Hudspith gave away a penalty and Higgins scored again. Hudspith redeemed himself by earning a penalty which Jeanes converted, but Hubbard and Michael Beckett took Invicta's lead out to 17-12. Croydon at least finished the game strongly, with two goals from Gary Heath and one from Hudspith, and the final score was 18-15 to Invicta. This was a tough game for Invicta, but they showed sufficient resolve to complement their ability against a Croydon side that clearly did not wish to emulate their first team's muted performance. Invicta's players will need more games of this standard if they are to keep their young stars motivated - barring injuries, breaking into a winning first team is not going to prove an easy task. For Croydon, Jenny Allen stood out and clearly showed that she has the ability to push for a first team place. Match Report by Andy Final Score: Invicta 1 20 vs 10 Croydon 1There were no Croydon scorers in this game.
06Jan02: Invicta v Croydon Buckmore Park was the venue for a meeting between last season's BKA cup finalists. Croydon have a good record against the Kent club, winning the last two meetings of the teams in a crucial league match that denied Invicta the Premier league title, and then victory in that cup final. However, Invicta proved to be much the stronger team this time and racked up a comfortable victory. Once again the Buckmore Park surface was dusty and slippery, despite being swept prior to the match. Invicta set out with an experienced line-up, with Andy Martinez, Mark Hickey, Candice Higgins and Sarah-Jane Hubbard all warming the bench. Croydon played their normal first team line-up, despite Andy Withers carrying a neck injury. Invicta raced into a 4-0 lead and then 5-1 lead, with captain Rob Williams scoring three of the opening five goals. At this time, Croydon were struggling to put together more than single-shot attacks, but two long shots from Janine Collier soon brought them back into contention. Steve Jones levelled the scores with a shot from behind the post, but two goals each from Natasha Trigg (Invicta), Jones (Croydon) and Corinne Buckland (Invicta) put Invicta 9-7 ahead. Croydon then conceded a soft goal just before half time to James Macdonald, after losing possession while playing the ball out of defence, taking Invicta into half time 11-9 ahead. The second half is one that Croydon will wish to forget. Invicta scored 7 goals without reply, and in fact the only goal Croydon did score was a penalty, converted by Dave Butters. Invicta were playing competently, without ever needing to move into top gear, as Croydon's passing fell apart. Towards the end, Kim Jones was replaced by Saida Hanine as a precautionary measure, after injuring her knee. For Croydon there is no shame in losing to Invicta, who have many talented players and still look favourites to win their first Premier League title. But at times, the south London club seemed strangely listless, particularly in the first half when they had clawed back the early deficit and Invicta, if not exactly reeling, were struggling to find their form. That may have owed something to the early start, or it being the first match after the holiday period, but as both factors applied equally to Invicta, that cannot be held up as an excuse. While there is plenty for Croydon to improve, there were a few bright spots. Janine Collier out-played GB international Rachel Olding, Steve Jones scored five first half goals, while Dave Butters' tight defence meant that Invicta's Dave Buckland made little impact in attack. Invicta meanwhile won this game comfortably without playing particularly well, which is of course the mark of a good team. What they do intelligently is play to their opponents' defensive weaknesses, and they have players who can convert chances into goals. In particular Rob Williams scored nine goals, including two penalties while Corinne Buckland scored five, including three free throws and a penalty. Invicta 2 v Croydon 2 Invicta's team of promising youngsters had a tougher match than many were expecting against a Croydon team that has had some rather variable results this year. In an entertaining match, Croydon managed to keep up with Invicta for most of the time, but only twice actually went into the lead. One of those occasions was when Jenny Allen scored the opening goal of the match, but Invicta soon recovered through a penalty conceded by Paul Jeanes and an Andy Martinez goal. Paul Jeanes equalised with a quick-thinking lay-up, but Invicta then went 5-3 up. Croydon surged ahead with goals from Allen, Amanda Furlano and Jeanes, before Sarah-Jane Hubbard and Mark Hickey took Invicta 7-6 up. Further goals took Invicta to 9-7 up at half time. Allen scored the first two goals of the second half to level the scores at 9-9, and after replies from Martinez and Hubbard, her fifth of the game to cut Invicta's lead to 11-10. Candice Higgins extended the lead to 12-10, Nigel Hudspith replied for Croydon to make the score 12-11. Then came the crucial period of the game, as Invicta were able to open up what was to prove an insurmountable lead. Martinez scored, Hudspith gave away a penalty and Higgins scored again. Hudspith redeemed himself by earning a penalty which Jeanes converted, but Hubbard and Michael Beckett took Invicta's lead out to 17-12. Croydon at least finished the game strongly, with two goals from Gary Heath and one from Hudspith, and the final score was 18-15 to Invicta. This was a tough game for Invicta, but they showed sufficient resolve to complement their ability against a Croydon side that clearly did not wish to emulate their first team's muted performance. Invicta's players will need more games of this standard if they are to keep their young stars motivated - barring injuries, breaking into a winning first team is not going to prove an easy task. For Croydon, Jenny Allen stood out and clearly showed that she has the ability to push for a first team place. Match Report by Andy Final Score: Invicta 2 18 vs 15 Croydon 2There were no Croydon scorers in this game.
LDKA Premier League: Croydon 3 vs Nomads 3 Final Score: Croydon 3 8 vs 17 Nomads 3There were no Croydon scorers in this game.
