England secures Rams vital win (From Surrey Comet)

England secures Rams vital win

9:31am Monday 31st October 2011 in Ryman League By Karen Muir

A late penalty gave Croydon Athletic a much-needed win as they beat Sittingbourne 2-1 on Saturday.

Some good early play from the Rams saw James Fray and Peter Afolayan with opportunities to open the scoring, but they both went just wide of the target in the first 10 minutes.

Jordan Cheadle had a good debut for Croydon, linking well and using his height to be first to the ball on many occasions.

At the other end of the pitch Joe Goldsmith for Sittingbourne had a chance in the penalty area but Justin Hemmings was on hand to bliock the shot. Croydon had the ball in the back of the net in the 22nd minute when Jamie England’s free kick found Cheadle’s head, but it was judged to be offside. In the second half, the hardworking Fray got the first goal of the game in the 59th minute when a great ball in from Tony Cuff fell to Fray in the box and he made no mistake in putting the home side ahead.

The equaliser from Sittingbourne came via Ryan Golding in the 83rd minute, before Fray was brought down in the box at the other end of the field in the 88th minute.

England stepped up to the mark to give the Rams three points and move them up the league.

Croydon Athletic: Dave King, Colin Hartburn, Peter Wedgeworth, Jordan Cheadle, Justin Hemmings, David Graves, Tony Cuff (90 mins Elliott Jones), Jamie England, Connor French, Peter Afolayan (84 mins Billy Marshall), James Fray Subs not used: Michael Corbett, Ramon Whorms, Kery Kedze