Up for the London Senior Trophy: the Trams squad celebrate their win last night
NON-LEAGUE NEWS by ANDREW SINCLAIR at the War Memorial Sports Ground
Croydon FC are cup-winners!
Croydon won the London Senior Trophy last night, beating Wimbledon Casuals 1-0 in an often tense encounter staged at Carshalton Athletic’s ground.
The winner was scored two minutes into the second half by Fred Obasa. “This one was for the fans,” Obasa said. “Happy to score the match-winner and secure this trophy for the club.”
It is Croydon FC’s first silverware for 15 years, and comes after some tough times and disappointments, including relegation and dealing with the covid lockdown. Which made last night’s victory all the sweeter for the Trams’ loyal supporters.
Pre-game nerve-settler: last night was Croydon FC’s second cup final in four days
Croydon’s London Senior Trophy campaign was remarkable, in that the Trams went through the entire competition without conceding a single goal.
The cup win also followed quickly on the back of Sunday’s bitter disappointment, losing to Erith and a very late winner in a five-goal thriller in the Kent Senior Trophy final staged at Maidstone, with a crowd of 650 fans.
With goals by Ryan Palmer, in the first minute, and Uli Fischer, the Trams led twice in a game against opposition from a division above them. “We deserved the win but it wasn’t to be,” according to one fan who made the journey to Kent.
“Our performance on the pitch and incredible support shows just how far this club has come in recent years.”
Trams supporters could not have been happier after last night’s final whistle.
“Delighted for all connected to Croydon FC,” one said. “Tangible reward for some great progress across the club. Huge well done to manager Liam Giles and all the team.
“Enjoy tonight and then heads on promotion chase please!”
Another said, “Great night. The Casuals were worthy opponents and it was a tight game but The Trams prevailed. So pleased for everyone connected to the club.
“The sheer joy of the players and supporters was special. Here’s to many nights like these.”
And Liam Giles, in his second managerial spell with his boyhood club, could not have been more delighted. “Croydon FC’s support absolutely unbelievable again,” Giles said. “Fifteen years without a trophy – we will celebrate with the trophy and some beers after Saturday’s home game. Focus back on the league another big game against Bridon.”
In last night’s game, having had the better of the first half, best highlighted by Ryan Hall firing over when one-on-one with the Wimbledon ‘keeper, the Trams made an electric start to the second through their experienced forward Obasa. Receiving the ball on the right, Obasa drove into the box and fired a right-footed shot low into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
Playing in front of a crowd of more than 200 – about twice the size of crowd for their regular non-league fixtures – the Trams retained a level of control for the rest of the game and probably should have gone further in front when both Lauris Chin and Sammy Morgan found themselves well positioned in the opposition box.
Trams goalkeeper George Kamurasi was vocal throughout the game and he came up trumps late on, making two big saves to deny Wimbledon an equaliser and a way back into the tie, with referee Alistair Potter eventually blowing his final whistle after 96 minutes to seal a memorable victory.
Croydon’s last trophies were a Kent League Cup and Shield double in 2009.
Manager Giles’ task now, over the next 48 hours will be to get his part-time players up and fit for their Southern Counties East Division One game, where Croydon face Bridon Ropes at the Arena on Saturday, their last home league game of the season, and where a place in the play-off places is not beyond the Trams’ reach.
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