Sunday 30th January 2005

Croydon Corinthians 3 v 2 Wickham Wanderers II

Not really much to say on this one. From the previous week where I said it was our worst performance this surpassed it. As one spectator put it to me ‘i can’t really see where we’re going wrong but we have got all 11 players playing badly’. A game that on paper we really should have won we didn’t, a draw was a bad result but a defeat un-thinkable. We did have one or two players turning up expecting to hit the oppo for six despite our performance the previous week (the wrong frame of mind!). We led at half time 2-1 but being half asleep from kick off gifted Corithians an equaliser a minute into the second half. We didn’t create at all in this half and previous mistakes came back to haunt us as on the 90th minute a rushed goal-kick hit the back of a centre-back and dropped kindly to a Corinthians striker who slotted home.

A cruel way to lose but not necessarily un-deserved.

MOM: Craig Munro (scorer of both our goals)

Sunday 6th February 2005

Wickham Wanderers II 0 v 3 Waddon

A nightmare fixture considering recent form. Waddon came looking to extend their own excellent form and that’s how it panned out. They had the best of the first half although there were chances that fell to us as they hold a high, and sometimes risky line at the back. Unfortunately we failed to capitalise on this HT 0-2. A double blow was losing Craig (our top scorer) to injury five minutes into the second half (and sadly for at least the rest of the season). On top of a couple of no-shows and players leaving at half-time (due to the late kick-off) we played the second half with ten men, not ideal against probably the best attacking team in the league.

Nevertheless, the second half was something to be proud of, we battled away with ten men and only conceeded a third with about five to go. Excellent team defending saw us through a tough half.

MOM: Chris Fisher (tireless running in both half’s with no complaints)

Sunday 13th February 2005

Junior League Cup

Woodcote Rovers 1 v 2 (aet) Wickham Wanderers II

The junior cup saw us paired with Woodcote in Caterham. An earlier trip yeilded a 2-2 draw so an even contest was on the cards. Back to full numbers (without the injured Craig) we felt more confident. There was a strong wind against us in the first half to contend with but we battled well.

We had a re-shuffle and it proved to work. Woodcote had the best of the first half down wind. They took the lead after a few scary corners. The ball was swung in and a melee of bodies eventually ended up with the ball in the net. There were a few cries of foul on the keeper by us and the ref asked the linesman (ours) what he thought. In true Sunday league style he told him he thought it was a foul and the goal shouldn’t stand, naturally the ref then turned and gave the goal!? (why ask?). Anway it stayed that way til half time. I was convinced we should have had a penalty for a foul on Chow, but not given. HT 1-0.

We started the second half much brighter. As Woodcote tired against the wind we really made the most of the space and passed well. Despite creating a host of good chances we just couldn’t get the equaliser. Chances came and went the most notable an excellent volley by Andrew that spanked the bar. But just when it seemed like time was running out the goal came. Chow got himself into the box to strike the equaliser. Slightly mis-kicked (sorry Chow) and up into the top right-hand corner 1-1. The whistle was blown on 87 minutes (don’t even ask!) so into extra time. A fairly even affair as both teams tired. The first period (12.5 minutes!) didn’t get a goal. As we were looking to penalties the match took a strange turn. After a few tired tackles a Woodcote player swung a punch at the back of Chow’s head and promptly got sent off. We then created a few clearer chances, a ball into the box was knocked back by a defender for our right-winger to slam home. 2-1. Celebrations ensued as this was in the last minute of extra time.

Personally I thought the result was a fair one on the balance of play, but Woodcote will feel agrieved at the last ditch nature of the winner. An excellent passing display, much more like our old selves. This will need to continue and improve further if we are to get this sort of result in the league.