Yes that’s right we drew against top of the league unbeaten Mitcham with just 10 players.

Goals: Gina x 2, Claire x 1, Andrea x 1

POM: Team, everyone was great and we worked really well together as a team

Goals: Fiona Loxton x 2

POM: Fiona Loxton for scoring both goals and running her a$*e off!!!!

I’m sulking because we lost…so am not going to write a match report, I’m watching X Factor with a glass of wine instead.  The good news is that we are still 3rd in our division which is great to see! I’m sure we’ll bounce back next week. x

Goals : None

POM:  Wendy, who so kindly offered to go in goal and was fab!

Gina Eley – 3
Jill Hopper – 3

Becks Young – 2
Fiona Loxton – 2

Hannah Duncan – 1

Andrea Vicari – 1

Jenna Freeman – 1
Fliss Henstock – 1

Unfortunately for THD they were keeperless for this match, but that gave us a great opportunity to reduce our negative goal difference. Claire Austin notched up a well deserved hatrick, Jill Hopper managed to put two away, including a cracking short corner strike and Jenna Freeman also scored her first of the season.

Goals – Claire Austin x 3, Jill Hopper x 2, Jenna Freeman x 1
POM – Jill Hopper

Goals – Becks Young x 2, Hannah Duncan x 1
POM – Becks Young

Undeterred by last week’s hammering at the hands of Mitcham the L2′s bounced back with a 2-1 victory over Wanderers, a team they had failed to beat for several years.

Newcomer Gina Eley slotted comfortably into centre midfield and created some great play. For the first 15 minutes the “COWS” were unlucky not to score with a few near misses and a couple of good saves by a decent Wanderers keeper, until finally Gina managed to slot one in. This gave the girls the extra boost they needed and they picked up the game considerably until finally after a bit of a scramble in the “D” a very well postitioned Jill Hopper calmly tapped another one. Croydon had to work extremely hard in the second half with a bare 11 there was no opportunity for anyone to take a break. Lisa Phillips took a nasty knock on the ankle but limped on and continued to do a great job of organising the solid Croydon defence from her sweeper postion. Wanderers managed to get a consolation goal on the final whistle when they were awarded a penalty flick.

Player of the Match: Bronwyn Wyatt
Goals: Gina Eley (1), Jill Hopper (1)

Croydon ladies 2′s lost 8-0 in their first league game of the season against Mitcham 1′s. Mitcham were strong particularly on the fast break but despite the scoreline there were some real opportunities for Croydon and some positives to be seen in the play. Jenna Freeman played some great supportive work at right mid and helped reinforce the Croydon attack. Claire Austin at centre forward had few opportities but when they arose her determination and skill created some exciting runs on the goal. Sophie Knott was a real stabilising influence in centre back and provided some strength against the wave of Mitcham 1′s players. Fliss Henstock took on a self sacrificing role in man-marking number 51 and did well to mute that player’s impact on the game. Fran Jones, Becks Young and Andrea Viacari showed persistence in their wing roles and Helen Baxter in goal made a number of key saves. Croydon have a team of great individual strength. Utilising those individual skills into more of a joined up cohesive team effort is the next step.

Player of the Match: Sophie Knott

Match report by Pammy

Croydon ladies 2’s racked up a 7-1 win against Kenley on Saturday taking them into the start of the season on a high. Nicky Robinson led her team by example by controlling the midfield and Player of the Match Bronwyn Wyatt and newcomer Sue Cunningham followed her lead with some creative play-making allowing the forwards to take goal after goal. Elizabeth Uglow led the charge with an early goal from the top of circle, and Felicity Henstock followed her lead with a cracking strike from the top of the D. Emma Livingstone-Jones took 2 goals, one of which was particularly skilful as she allowed the goalie to commit before slipping the ball past her. Fran Jones in her debut game proved that she was a force to be reckoned with as she took 2 goals and Helen Anderson finished off the tally to slide another past the goalie. It was a roaring start from Croydon ladies 2’s and with a fantastic selection of players Nicky Robinson has a task ahead of her to pick her team.

Match report by Pammy

We are sitting 2nd in the league table at the moment, with 4 wins out of 5, let’s hope we can keep it up.

Have a good week everyone, don’t work too hard!

Nicky x