Time for us to check in with the non-league team that we have been lending our support to for the season, Croydon.
Since we last caught up with the Trams, they remain unbeaten at the Arena but have let in plenty of goals in two away games.
In mid March Croydon hosted Sevenoaks Town in what was the fifth game in a row unbeaten. The game finished goalless and Croydon keeper Francis Ameyaw had a quiet day with no saves to make from the visitors.
Croydon had several chances to take all three points. Fray James with a couple, one which the Sevenoaks keeper put past the post. A couple of long range shots from Karl Douglin over the bar and a late chance from James which the keeper had to touch over the bar.
Next up was a trip to Lingfield where Croydon lost 6-1. The Trams had high hopes as Lingfield had lost 7-0 in midweek. However, there was a changed side and Lingfield had most of the possession. The hosts opener was just before the half hour mark and they carried on scoring as if it was out of fashion.
Karl Douglin (erroneously in the programme as Karl Douglas!) scored the only goal for the Trams during the short period that they did did well. The only consolation for travelling fans was a visit to the village pub in Lingfield where they met club officials which ended in a very late night.
The following week meant a trip to the Kent coast to take on Deal Town. It was not a good start for Croydon as they conceded two goals in the first two minutes. At half time the score was 4-1 to Deal, with Lauris Chin scoring for the Trams. The game ended 6-2 with the second Trams goal scored by Fray James. All this and a long journey home with three train changes.
It was a Happy Bank Holiday Monday for Croydon in their game against Greenwich Borough. Borough, who used to have Ian Wright in their ranks, were contenders for promotion.
The game looked like an entertaining goalless draw, but it took until injury time for Croydon to score, anyone from what looked like a scrum of players could have got it but in the end it was Hamid Bangura who bundled the ball over the goal line. That meant three very useful points and plenty of cheers from the fans in the stand. Incidentally, the crowd was buoyed with Palace fans looking for a football fix.
The final game of the season was last Saturday against Erith Town. Both teams needed a win to avoid relegation to the Kent Invicta League and stay in the Southern Counties East League Premier Division.
Unfrotunately for the Trams it was a narrow 2-1 defeat with the Croydon goal coming from Tristan Toney. They do have two remaining games this season. At Tunbridge Wells on 18 April and at Lordswood, who are based near Chatham, on 25 April. If anyone lives near either of those towns, please come along.
All you need to know about Croydon is on their website www.croydonfc.com and you can follow them on Twitter www.twitter.com/croydon_fc.
