Croydon 1 defeated by Bec 1Croydon 1 took on Bec 1 at Royal Russell, a win would mean Croydon could end up in a mid-table position come the end of the season. The hosts started with Vernon Ellis, Nigel Hudspith, Anna Jeanes(c) and Jane Belfourd in attack, coach Dave Butters, Zu Omar, Dawn Aindow and Grace Stimpson in defence. Both sides started well and were creating chances, Ellis went close with a running in shot but it was Bec who scored first with a runner of their own. Croydon responded with the next attack, Jeanes scored with a lovely drop off shot, the game slowed down soon after and it was a fair time before either team scored, again it was Bec who edged ahead with a long distance shot, Croydon though once again responded positvely and Aindow got on the score sheet with a lovely turning shot. Croydon began to run out of options in attack and chances dried up, Bec though continued to attack well and a middle distance drop off shot put them ahead again, Croydon were struggling and Ellis was blocked trying to take a running in shot, Bec were getting frustrated in attack and had to take a time-out to talk things over. The quick break got Croydon going again and Belfourd almost scored after leaving her marker for dead but Bec scored twice in quick succession firstly with a running in shot and then a drop off on Ellis whilst he was complaining to ref Woods, Omar went close with a runner of his own but the half time whistle blew leaving the scores at half time 5-2 to the visitors. After the break Omar continued to attack well, almost scoring from a turning long shot and then went close with a runner but it was Aindow who got Croydon a break through being fouled on a runner, Butters stepped up to the spot and cooly slotted away to bring the scores to 3-5. Bec didn't stop finding chances and after Omar tried to intercept his player was free but missed the resulting shot, but they weren't to be denied, a smart free throw as the collect dropped off with no defenders ready to leave Croydon 6-3 down. It was made worse as they scored an all too easy running in shot to give them their biggest lead of the game. Croydon started to waste possession and Butters resorted to shooting with no collect, Stimpson though dashed past her player and drew Aindow's marker to leave Aindow free for a middle distance shot which she duly scored. Aindow was involved in Croydon's next goal as she was fouled trying to assist Butters as he ran in, Butters stepped up to the spot and scored his second penalty to bring the hosts back within 2. Croydon looked bouyed by cutting Bec's lead and had some good chances in attack but it was the visitors who scored the next goal after Stimpson was faked into leaving the floor. With the scores at 5-8 it was important that Croydon got the next goal. Ellis stepped up and breezed past his player to score a neat runner to bring Croydon back into the game at 6-8, at this point both teams seemed to score from every attack, first Bec scored a middle distance shot then Omar replied instantly with a long shot, Bec though scored again to leave the scores at 10-7. Omar was performing on the defensive end as well, intercepting twice at vital points to stop Bec edging away, Bec knew that they were in a battle and brought on fresh legs and had to take a time-out to talk things over, the game reached a stalemate and both sides' defences were on top, this forced both sides into changes, Croydon bringing on Paul Jeanes for Ellis. It was Bec's new faces that got the game going again scoring a drop off shot to bring them 11-7 in front and the 4 goal deficeit looked too much for the hosts to overturn in the last minutes. They didn't give up though, Butters scoring a trademark long shot, it was to be the last goal of the game and Croydon ended up on the wrong side of the 11-8 scoreline. Match Report by Sicknote | Updated by Zuton Final Score: Croydon 1 8 vs 11 Bec 1Dave(3)Zak(1)Nigel(0)Vernon(1)Paul(0)Dawn(2)Anna(1)Grace(0)Jane(0)
Croydon 2 lose to Bec 2Croydon 2 went out looking to reverse the 1sts result, they started with Dan Pratt(c), Ben Hale, Emma Butters and Julia Johnson in attack, Pete Lindsay (who was carrying a slight injury), Adam Champion, Karen James and Lynda Barker in defence. It was the visitors that got off to the best start flying into the lead, with Ian Buckle who has guested for Croydon at tournaments, scoring 2 long shots to give Bec a quick 2-0 lead, things got worse from there as Butters' player rounded her twice to score running in shots. With Croydon looking at a whitewash they needed to start creating chances, they did just that and Hale benefited scoring with a long shot to get Croydon off the mark. Bec though were in no mood to stop scoring and they carried on their impressive start scoring another two unanswered goals, firstly a turning shot from the feed and then a drop-off after the feed turned again. Croydon were 6-1 down and were looking out already, this looked to relax the team and they found some rhythym, Pratt sent his defender the wrong way and had an easy running in shot to score Croydon's second. Bec replied with a long shot but it was Champion who was to have the last say of the half scoring from distance to leave the scores going into the break at 7-3. The break didn't interupt Bec's scoring as they scored a long shot soon after the restart but Jeanes replied from the spot after Champion was fouled taking a shot. Bec responded again soon after scoring from under the post. In attack the section was working together well and Pratt found Butters running in to bring the scores to 10-5. Bec though went on a scoring run, firstly scoring a long shot followed by another goal from under the basket. Buckle added his 4th long shot of the game and then set up a middle distance shot to leave the scores at 14-5. Bec added another from under the basket to give them an unassailable 10 goal lead. Pratt though was not finished and despite missing previous chances Hale found him with a great pass to score from short distance. Bec had the last action of the game scoring a great shot which almost touched the roof before coming down through the korf with ice on it. The final score 16-6. Match Report by Sicknote | Updated by Andy Final Score: Croydon 2 6 vs 16 Bec 2Daniel(2)Adam(1)Ben(1)Paul(1)Peter(0)Emma(1)Lynda(0)Karen(0)Julia(0)
Zoe scores her first goal!For some reason my brain is worse than usual trying to remember the game so no one take offense if anything is wrong. Please feel free to contact me and I will make changes. With a wealth of experience in the team we stepped up and took on Northdowns 2. Starting in attack was Becki P, Dave S, Mandy and Sean leaving defense of Andy, Steve Palf, Zoe and I. We scored first with Dave but sorry can't remember how. I let in a running in shot of all things so all change. It then went to stale mate. Passing good, movement good, we were looking good but just couldn't put the ball in the basket. Luckily neither could Northdowns, but then they did. Come on Becki who had lots of cheeky shots, she's obviously not cheeky enough for little ones as missed, she's more a long power girl!! So let's call on Zoe... her girl switched to mark me under the post, she rightly stepped back to receive a nice drop off GOAL!!! her first of the season, flowing and (this is a true fact) no edges, straight through the basket. Good job. Unfortuately a goal let in and then another. We missed two penalties and we always take them at the begining. More of those next week team I think! But back to facts (written loosely) half time and we are down by ?1 Mandy scored a gorgous running in shot care of a priceless pass from Mr Smith as the ball sailed past her player who wasn't thinking, Mandy caught it and shot woo hoo goal! In fact Steve gave me a lovely height and speed pass to my run for a come drop shot from the post and yes goal! Oh the team work... Andy saving energy scored a long shot from the place he kept calling for the ball from everytime I took (and missed) drop offs. Steve scored a goal that at the time I thought ha ha he hasn't lost it and I scored but the final score was 8 to them and only 7 to us. Boo hoo. We had lots of interceptions and very good collecting at the post (esp Steve) just not the goals. I did enjoy the game, but winning would've been a better feeling xxMatch Report by Lorna | Updated by Jane Final Score: North Downs 2 0 vs 10 Croydon 3Andy(1)Steve(1)David(1)Sean(0)Lorna(2)Amanda(1)Zoe(1)Becky(0)
