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Lineups / Goalscorers
 This
error strewn game matched the surroundings of the mist shrouded
Croydon Sports Arena - bleak, cold and uninspiring. Boro, missing
five first team squad players, were forced to include David Howell
on the subs bench.
The
pattern was set in the first five minutes. Mark Cooper trying to
shepherd the ball out of play was robbed by Ben Judge who then dragged
his shot into the side netting from three yards. Another mistake
allowed Harper a chance but Danny Nwaokolo managed to hook the ball
away for a corner.
Home
striker Nic McDonnell, apparently being looked at by Wolves, did
his prospects little good by wasting a good chance following a corner.
Boro managed to weather this initial storm and Dwain Lewis ran at
the Croydon defence before hitting a weak shot wide. Then Mark Xavier
latched on to a Pat Gavin header but his low drive was turned away
by keeper Wastell diving to his left.
Another
corner won by Xavier was claimed by Wastell under his own cross
bar and his quick throw sent Croydon on a counter attack which finished
with Judge driving wide from 20 yards. Andy Rose went close with
two long range efforts but Boro were finding it difficult to get
any rhythm into their play on a bumpy surface.
The
only prolonged passing movement of the first half led to Croydon's
opening goal after 37 minutes. The ball was worked down the right
with Dundas prominent before being played inside to Judge who this
time found the corner of the net from the edge of the box. The referee,
who in keeping with the game made his share of mistakes, blew up
early for half time.
No-one
complained and the general feeling was one of relief. Boro started
the second half more purposefully. Gavin headed down a cross from
Otis Roberts but Nikolaj Lund drove wide. At the other end Judge
shot wide and then Rose, under pressure, did well to clear an excellent
cross by Harper. Another cross by Roberts was headed over by Gavin
before Lund's low shot was claimed by the keeper at the foot of
the post.
After
57 minutes, with the ball near the corner flag Allen ran across
Cooper in the penalty area and went down. The linesman decided contact
had been made and awarded the penalty. But "on-loan" keeper James
Robinson threw himself to his right to claim Dickson's kick. At
the other end Wastell's weak goal kick went straight to Xavier 30
yards out and although the striker outpaced Dickinson he drove just
wide from Boro's best chance of the afternoon.
After
an hour manager Ed Stein decided something drastic was needed and
sent on his assistant David Howell, a high quality defender in his
regular playing days, to play up front. After one of the few flowing
passages of football from Boro, Nwaokolo's high cross was dropped
by Wastell but he managed to fall on the ball before a Boro foot
could get near it. Croydon's Dickinson twice headed wide from set
pieces and Robinson brilliantly turned Dundas' header over the bar.
Coming
into the last 20 minutes Boro were dominating possession without
looking convincing. They won a string of corners but almost all
their crosses were finding defenders. Xavier did get behind Croydon's
defence to pick up Howell's flick but Wastell was off his line quickly
and managed to deflect the shot away with his leg.
If
Exxie needed proof that it was not his day he even managed to get
himself booked after a mistimed challenge on Dickinson. Robinson
again showed up well with an excellent save from Allen before Croydon
added a second in injury time. McDonnell, with three Boro defenders
around him, still managed to turn and curl the ball into the top
corner for a goal striker's dream about - and causes defenders nightmares.
This
gave the scoreline a slightly flattering look but Croydon deserved
their win. They scrapped better than Boro winning mostof the 50/50
balls in midfield. Boro could never get their passing game together
and in the first half particularly, they continually gave the ball
away. Too many players were below their best.
Hopefully,
a good helping of Christmas pudding and Earlsmead's decent playing
surface will mean normal service will be resumed on Boxing Day.
A
Merry Christmas to all our readers!
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