NON-LEAGUE NEWS: You win one, you lose some.

Well, that’s the way it’s been this week for Croydon, who on Saturday finally ended one of the worst starts to the season by any side in English football, having lost their first 12 matches in the Southern Counties East Football League.

The Trams enjoyed an emphatic 4-1 win at Glebe, a side sitting nine places above them in the league table. The goals were scored by Tre Daley, David Owusu, Mohammed Dabo and Princewell Ogumekon.

Dabo’s goal was a bit special. He’d made an interception on the halfway line to break up a Glebe counter-attack before charging off, brushing aside challenges from opposing players before blasting a shot through the goalkeeper.

There was a lovely touch by the players after the game, coming over to shake all the hands of the dedicated fans who had travelled to Bromley to see their side’s first league win of the season.

Lance Roberts, the club chairman, said, “Saturday was the culmination of a great team effort. Anybody who has watched us over the last few weeks have agreed we have been unlucky with results not going our way.

“New team members and staff always take some time to gel, and we are hopeful the progress off the park continues to aid the progression of this team.

“We will use Saturday as a base to continue our progress and thank our supporters for sticking by us over the last few weeks.”

The SCEFL league table as at Nov 23, 2018, with Croydon finally having registered some points

But that first league home win of the season remains elusive, as on Wednesday night the Trams lost again, 3-1 this time at Croydon Arena, this time to Erith Town. In fact, Croydon were three goals down in just 33 minutes.

Tomorrow sees Croydon in Kent Senior Cup action, when they take on high-flying Beckenham Town at the Arena, 3pm kick-off.

And here is our round-up of managers’ notes from Croydon’s other non-league club…

Kevin Rayner – Croydon Athletic

There’s no such thing as a quiet match with Croydon Athletic. After their recent game which saw five players sent off, and them still losing against opposition who finished the game with just seven players on the pitch, on Saturday there was a six-goal thriller which enabled the Rams to move back into the top half of the SCEFL table. Athletic were 4-2 winners against Bearsted after Abbas Agoro scored twice with Bankole Koroma and Jordan Boateng scoring one apiece.

“Over the last couple of weeks we had gone out of the FA Vase when we should have really got through but couldn’t convert a number of late chances, and that disappointment spilled over to our last away league game at Erith Town as we lost away again. Our away form will need to improve for the remainder of the season if we wish to stay at the top end of the table.

“Our last home game before Saturday was a great win over league leaders Beckenham Town and on Saturday our home league form continued as we brushed aside a decent Bearsted team.

Scored twice: Abbas Agoro

“We have only lost in the league on our travels, so it was good to get a home league game and we have another couple to come so hopefully we can carry that on and remain unbeaten.

“I fully expected to beat Bearsted and we proved too strong running out worthy winners.

“The league the year is wide open and will go to the wire. We can stay up there if we can find that consistency

“Away from the performances on the pitch we have recently lost two players to financial offers: Luis Medina to Beckenham Town and Tayler Maddocks to Uckfield.

“We have recruited a few players to add to the squad. Left back Dammy Bada, who was with me in the championship-winning side at Guildford City, has joined us, as has Liam Coates, an ex-Crystal Palace scholar who joins from Chipstead. We have also recruited Jordan Boating Anderson, who scored when making his debut as a substitute on Saturday.”

Fixtures

Croydon
Sat Oct 24: v Beckenham T (H) – Kent Senior Trophy Rd2

Croydon Athletic  
Sat Nov 24: v Corinthian (A) – SCEFL Challenge Cup Rd2
Sat Dec 1:  v Crowborough Athletic (A) – SCEFL Prem Div

Whyteleafe
Sat Nov 24: v VCD Ath (A) – Bostik South East Div 1
Tue Nov 27: v Hastings Utd (H) – Bostik South East Div 1
Sat Dec 1: v Faversham T (H) – Bostik South East Div 1

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