BackSat 24 Oct 2015 · Premier Division
Croydon
First Team
B Mankelow (90')M Craveiro (91' Sent Off)
1
3
J Biddlecombe (37' Pen), (59'), (62')
BIDDLECOMBE SPEARS THE TRAMS DEFENCE.
Malcolm Boyes27 Oct 2015 - 07:47
The Trams had no answer to the slick play of the Crows and barely got out of the slow lane on Saturday once the gun went.
Ridley never dropped the baton all afternoon.
If you've never been to the Arena Stadium in Croydon before, you may not be aware that the football pitch is situated in the middle of an athletic running track and whilst sometimes this lessens the watching experience, it didn't deter the enjoyment of the Crows fans on Saturday.
Croydon might be at the bottom of the league at the moment and have lost all their home league games to-date, however, the Crows went there with some apprehension as they are performing well in the FA Vase and in the SCEFL Challenge Cup.
Also, the Crows were depleted slightly as Carrington, Butler, Treleaven, Waterman and Everest were not available for selection, however, it was evident from the start that the Crows would be able to scale any hurdle or high jump the Trams could put in their way.
In a first half largely controlled by the Crows where their quick, flowing moves meant they held on to the ball for long periods, it was strange that any clear chances were few and far between, with neither goalkeeper troubled too much with any efforts that came their way.
The flow of play for both teams was interrupted too much, as it took an eternity to get the ball back in play when it went off due to the running track or for a replacement ball to be supplied so play could be resumed.
However, it was the Crows who took the lead in the 37th minute, referee Indyk upsetting the home side by awarding the Crows a penalty for handball by a Trams defender. I have to say that I've seen them given and I've seen them not given, to me it seemed a bit harsh as the ball was hit ferociously and from a very short distance and to say the defender had his hands in a unnatural position or hit the ball with his hand intentionally did stretch credulity a bit far to me.
There was no disappointment on the Crows side of course and with Carrington suspended, Biddlecombe took on the responsibility of taking the penalty and duly despatched it past the despairing dive of the home 'keeper, 1-0 to the Crows and deserved as well.
The second half mirrored the first, Crows largely dominating possession, looking the most likely to score the next goal but Croydon did look like they may threaten on the break if they could get the ball to their two wide players more often.
Similarly, clear cut chances were in short supply but, as in most games, you sat watching the game and saying to yourself "the next goal will be the important one" and thankfully in the 59th minute the Crows got that all-important goal.
Shea sent Biddlecombe away with a great through-ball and even though he still had plenty to do, he beat the defender and hit a tremendous shot across the goal and into the far corner, much to the delight of everyone involved with CAFC.
From this moment on the Crows took control of the game and 2-0 became 3-0 in the 62nd minute, Biddlecombe completing his hat trick with a sublime lob over the advancing goalkeeper from some 20 yards out after outpacing the home defence.
The home side did not really help themselves from the moment the penalty was awarded in the first half when it came to the referee and it would be fair to say that they felt he did not give them too much throughout the rest of the match.
However, they rather lost their discipline in the second 45 minutes and in the end ended up with four bookings and a player sent off in the dying embers of the game. Referee's are left with very little discretion these days and bookings for dissent and pulling shirts are easy yellows and in reality, players only have themselves to blame, as do their benches.
It was a shame that the defence could not earn the clean sheet their performance deserved, Mankellow scoring for the Trams with a good shot from the edge of the area, however, the three points made up for any disappointment and the beer still tasted nice in the bar afterwards.
The MOTM choice was between a few players, Biddlecombe, Tear, Ridley and Taylor, to name a few, but the award went to Ridley in the end for his total control of the midfield area, never seeming to have to hurry and never wasting a ball when passing, all in all, a great day out beside the trams.
If you've never been to the Arena Stadium in Croydon before, you may not be aware that the football pitch is situated in the middle of an athletic running track and whilst sometimes this lessens the watching experience, it didn't deter the enjoyment of the Crows fans on Saturday.
Croydon might be at the bottom of the league at the moment and have lost all their home league games to-date, however, the Crows went there with some apprehension as they are performing well in the FA Vase and in the SCEFL Challenge Cup.
Also, the Crows were depleted slightly as Carrington, Butler, Treleaven, Waterman and Everest were not available for selection, however, it was evident from the start that the Crows would be able to scale any hurdle or high jump the Trams could put in their way.
In a first half largely controlled by the Crows where their quick, flowing moves meant they held on to the ball for long periods, it was strange that any clear chances were few and far between, with neither goalkeeper troubled too much with any efforts that came their way.
The flow of play for both teams was interrupted too much, as it took an eternity to get the ball back in play when it went off due to the running track or for a replacement ball to be supplied so play could be resumed.
However, it was the Crows who took the lead in the 37th minute, referee Indyk upsetting the home side by awarding the Crows a penalty for handball by a Trams defender. I have to say that I've seen them given and I've seen them not given, to me it seemed a bit harsh as the ball was hit ferociously and from a very short distance and to say the defender had his hands in a unnatural position or hit the ball with his hand intentionally did stretch credulity a bit far to me.
There was no disappointment on the Crows side of course and with Carrington suspended, Biddlecombe took on the responsibility of taking the penalty and duly despatched it past the despairing dive of the home 'keeper, 1-0 to the Crows and deserved as well.
The second half mirrored the first, Crows largely dominating possession, looking the most likely to score the next goal but Croydon did look like they may threaten on the break if they could get the ball to their two wide players more often.
Similarly, clear cut chances were in short supply but, as in most games, you sat watching the game and saying to yourself "the next goal will be the important one" and thankfully in the 59th minute the Crows got that all-important goal.
Shea sent Biddlecombe away with a great through-ball and even though he still had plenty to do, he beat the defender and hit a tremendous shot across the goal and into the far corner, much to the delight of everyone involved with CAFC.
From this moment on the Crows took control of the game and 2-0 became 3-0 in the 62nd minute, Biddlecombe completing his hat trick with a sublime lob over the advancing goalkeeper from some 20 yards out after outpacing the home defence.
The home side did not really help themselves from the moment the penalty was awarded in the first half when it came to the referee and it would be fair to say that they felt he did not give them too much throughout the rest of the match.
However, they rather lost their discipline in the second 45 minutes and in the end ended up with four bookings and a player sent off in the dying embers of the game. Referee's are left with very little discretion these days and bookings for dissent and pulling shirts are easy yellows and in reality, players only have themselves to blame, as do their benches.
It was a shame that the defence could not earn the clean sheet their performance deserved, Mankellow scoring for the Trams with a good shot from the edge of the area, however, the three points made up for any disappointment and the beer still tasted nice in the bar afterwards.
The MOTM choice was between a few players, Biddlecombe, Tear, Ridley and Taylor, to name a few, but the award went to Ridley in the end for his total control of the midfield area, never seeming to have to hurry and never wasting a ball when passing, all in all, a great day out beside the trams.
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