2006/2007 Season - Under 14's

Aldershot & Farnborough Schools U14's  1  Croydon Schools U14's  0 (17th March)

There were few memorable moments in this scrappy encounter at The Wavell School, Farnborough on Saturday morning in a Surrey Schools' FA Lawrence Edwards Memorial Shield league fixture.

Croydon found themselves too often out muscled by a physical and well organised Aldershot team who were content to defend in numbers, pack the midfield and frustrate Croydon's free flowing football, which had seen Croydon comfortable 2-0 winners when these sides met in the Autumn.

Aldershot had not a single meaningful effort on goal in the first half whilst Croydon were left to rue the Aldershot keeper's good fortune when a goal bound effort from Ibra Sekajja (Ashburton) was cleared off the line following a deft pass from Johnny Pitt (Woodcote).

Croydon were caught napping almost immediately from the restart after the half-time interval when George Robe (Whitgift) and Dean McQueen (Coulsdon), a solid and effective centre back pairing throughout, for once failed to cut out a speculative ball forward allowing the Aldershot striker to nip in and score.

Croydon dominated possession but to little effect until Piers Hannifan (Royal Russell) was introduced into the attack with skipper, Sam Driver (Whitgift) switching to the right and Elliot Welch (Royal Russell) moving into a central midfield role.

It was the creative work of Driver and Welch that almost prised open the Aldershot defence as Welch's through ball set up Hannifan whose stinging close-range effort was superbly saved by the Aldershot keeper.

A fine acrobatic save from Croydon keeper, Lawrence Higgins (Edenham) from a long-range Aldershot effort at the death prevented an even more flattering score line for the hosts.

Croydon manager David Lomas was pleased with the spirit and discipline shown by his team and said "we deserved something from this game. There will be occasions in the future when we might play much worse than this and win. But we are still in with a chance of winning the league and live to fight another day".

Croydon squad:  Lawrence Higgins (Edenham), Dean McQueen (Coulsdon), George Robe, Sam Driver (both Whitgift), Johnny Pitt, Dominic Lugard, Cameron Watt (all Woodcote), Josh Turner, Ibra Sekajja (both Ashburton), Gary Andrew (The Archbishop Lanfranc), Elliot Welch, Piers Hannifan (both Royal Russell), Juevan Spencer (Selsdon), Eamon Gaughan (St Joseph's College)

Croydon Schools' Under 14s 2  Barking & Dagenham Schools' Under 14s 2 (13th January)

Croydon Schools' Football Association's Under 14s borough side produced an impressive performance in gaining a 2-2 draw in a friendly fixture against Barking & Dagenham at Greenacres Sports & Leisure Club, Warlingham on Saturday morning.

Both teams tried hard to master the heavy conditions underfoot. Neither side deserved to lose this hard-fought match but Croydon will probably rue missed chances which could have clinched a win.

Croydon showed little sign of being weakened by the absence of no fewer than five academy players and the squad of sixteen players responded positively to their opportunity to make the team.

Croydon took the lead in the twelfth minute when stand-in striker, Juevan Spencer (Selsdon) scored with a superb diving, glancing header from an Elliot Welch (Royal Russell) cross.

The goal spurred on the home side and Piers Hanifan (Royal Russell), Johnny Pitt (Woodcote) and the tireless Gary Andrew (The Archbishop Lanfranc) proved a handful for the Essex team's defence, whilst at the other end Croydon's back four of Eamon Gaughan (St Joseph's), Dean McQueen (Coulsdon), George Robe (Whitgift) and Arron Toovey (Riddlesdown) played as a solid and dependable unit.

Lewis Higgins (Edenham), making his first appearance of the season in goal for Croydon, was in good form, making vital saves to thwart the Barking attacks.

Barking drew level with a goal from inside the six yard box but Croydon's lead was restored when Andrew scored a similar-type goal.

Croydon manager, David Lomas, brought on all five substitutes at half-time.

Barking's equaliser came ten minutes from the final whistle, when a header from a free-kick found its way into the top corner of the net.

Efforts by Pitt, Welch and Brendan Kiernan (Woodcote) tested the Barking goalkeeper but there were no further goals.

Goal scorers:
Left: Juevan Spencer Right: Gary Andrew

Under 14s Squad

Croydon squad:  Lewis Higgins (Edenham), Arron Toovey (Riddlesdown), Eamon Gaughan (St Joseph's), George Robe (Whitgift), Dean McQueen (Coulsdon), Gary Andrew (The Archbishop Lanfranc), Piers Hanifan, Elliot Welch (both Royal Russell), Juevan Spencer (Selsdon), Johnny Pitt (Woodcote), Robert Appiah (Ashburton)
Substitutes:  Louis Chin, Brendan Keirnan, Dominic Lugard (all Woodcote), Tyler Notice-Howes (Coulsdon), Shaun Brown (Thomas More)

Croydon Schools' Under 14s 2  Aldershot & Farnborough Schools' Under 14s 0 (6th December)

Croydon Schools' Football Association's Under 14s 2-0 win over Aldershot & Farnborough Schools in a Surrey Schools' FA League fixture at Croydon Arena last Wednesday extended the sequence of wins by the Association's borough teams to four, boosting a season which had started with some disappointing results.

The Croydon boys had to work hard for their win and although the visitors had the edge in the first half there were no goals by half-time.

Several players turned in good performances and Croydon's play was built on the uncompromising back four of Arron Toovey (Riddlesdown), Dean McQueen (Coulsdon), George Robe (Whitgift) and Eamon Gaughan (St Joseph's College).

Sujit Dadar (Riddlesdown) produced his best performance in goal for Croydon and made several outstanding saves which maintained a clean sheet.

Croydon were restricted to a single chance in the first period, which came when Ashburton striker, Ibra Sekajja, found himself on a one to one with the visiting goalkeeper, but his attempted lob fell short and his effort was blocked.

The deadlock was broken twelve minutes after the break when substitute, Piers Hanifan (Royal Russell) slotted the ball home from just inside the penalty area with his first touch of the ball, following good work by Sekajja and skipper Sam Driver (Whitgift).

Goal scorers
Piers Hanifan (left) and Ibra Sekajja

Croydon involved three more substitutes, one of which was enforced when hard-working central defender, McQueen, left the field through injury, ten minutes from the end.

Aldershot looked dangerous but Croydon were in no mood to surrender and in the second minute of stoppage time a defence-splitting through ball from midfield player, Gary Andrew (The Archbishop Lanfranc) set Sekajja on his way to make no mistake and ensure Croydon's win.

Croydon's joint team manager, Peter Yates (Ashburton) felt that Croydon were worthy winners and that the performance and result bodes well for the New Year, when Croydon face at least four tough matches, including an away trip to Brighton.

Croydon Schools' Under 14's Squad
v Aldershot & Farnborough Schools'

Croydon squad:  Sujit Dadar, Arron Toovey (both Riddlesdown), George Robe (Whitgift), Dean McQueen (Coulsdon), Eamon Gaughan (St Joseph's College), Elliot Welch (Royal Russell), Gary Andrew (The Archbishop Lanfranc), Johnny Pitt (Woodcote), Sam Driver (Whitgift), Ibra Sekajja, Josh Turner (both Ashburton)
Substitutes:  Piers Hanifan (Royal Russell), Louis Chin, Brendan Kiernan (both Woodcote), Tyler Notice-Howes (Coulsdon)

Thurrock Schools' Under 14s 3   Croydon Schools' Under 14s 2 (aet) (14th October)

Croydon Schools' Under 14s must be wondering just how they were dumped out of the London Schools' Football Association's Sun Shield first round tie, away to Thurrock Schools at Corringham, going down 3-2 with virtually the last kick of extra-time, after looking good at one point, being 2-0 up.

Although this was a more than disappointing result, it was overall a good performance which pleased joint managers, David Lomas and Peter Yates.

Newcomer, Piers Hanifan (Royal Russell) linked up well with established Croydon captain, Sam Driver (Whitgift) in the early part of the match, and it was this combination that prised open the Thurrock defence after 25 minutes, with Driver scoring from close range.

Croydon looked in trouble two minutes later, when no whistle came for offside, but custodian, Sujit Dadar (Riddlesdown) pulled off a fine save, tipping a goal bound shot over the crossbar, with a deft one arm flick.

Johnny Pitt (Woodcote) lobbed the keeper after a defence-splitting pass by George Robe (Whitgift), putting Croydon 2-0 up, three minutes before half-time.

But Thurrock reduced the arrears two minutes later with a direct free-kick over the statuesque Dadar's head.

The home side drew level five minutes into the second period. Croydon tried hard to restore their lead, creating numerous chances, but the keenly-contested encounter went into extra-time.

Driver, who had earlier claims for a penalty turned down, was in the thick of things in the second period of extra-time, whilst Dean McQueen (Coulsdon) probably had his best game for Croydon, in the central defender's role, paired with the resolute George Robe (Whitgift).

With only six minutes remaining, Driver was brought down in the penalty area but the referee - for the second time - failed to award a spot-kick Thurrock bagged the winner in the last minute for a win they hardly deserved.

Yates described the non-award of the second penalty as a "diabolical decision", whilst Lomas likened the result to the "biggest robbery since the Great Train Robbery".

Croydon will rue their missed opportunities but live to fight another day in Surrey and South-East England competitions.

Croydon Schools' Under 14's Squad

Croydon squad:  Sujit Dadar, Arron Toovey (both Riddlesdown), George Robe (Whitgift), Dean McQueen (Coulsdon), Louis Chin (Woodcote), Tyler Notice-Howes (Coulsdon), Elliot Welch, Piers Hanifan (both Royal Russell), Johnny Pitt, Dominic Lugard, Josh Peck, Dane Johnston (all Woodcote), Gary Andrew (The Archbishop Lanfranc) Sam Driver (Whitgift), Eamon Gaughan (St Joseph's)

Back to Previous Seasons

Thursday, 20 November, 2008

Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Submit a Comment / Question to the Webmaster