At last we’ve got over the line .
I keep on about fine margins in games and today wasn’t any different . In all honesty my view on the game was the same as so many that have gone against us . I thought we did ok in the first half . I think we were a bit better than Croydon , asked a few more questions definitely and scored a goal that we probably deserved albeit we had a slice of fortune with a deflection seeing a wayward shot going in . We definitely had a bit more about us and weren’t troubled too much at the back , but when we were , we did ok and I don’t remember any real dangerous moments against us .
It was again unusual at the break to be in front this season and we’ve not been used to that so much that we never really know what to do and how to manage the second 45 .
We expected Croydon to push us in the second half and of course they did . We were on the back foot but comfortable for long periods until about the 70th minute but then it changed . We had to make some changes for fitness reasons and Croydon were absolutely on top . We had huge slices of luck , defended well , made some good saves and you name it it went our way . On another day Croydon would have scored and probably deserved to , but it was our day and I don’t apologise for that . We’ve had too many where we’ve deserved better and not got it .
Somehow we got through and won and it was our day . At long last . I even forgot we played against 10 for the last 10 minutes as we were so much on the back foot and it looked like Croydon had 5 more players than us but that’s football .
I have to say Croydon throughout the day were brilliant . I wouldn’t often mention this . Their committee before the game were polite and engaging . Their players and management a credit . One of the few clubs we ask to warm up in certain areas having respect for the pitches we set aside for youth football . Their on field attitude , their sincerity in wishing us well when it must have been difficult to take and the banter between the teams in the bar afterwards when we were giving out our man of the match award . Their supporters who engaged with our bench in proper football opinion . Thank you for all of that . Classy from all associated with Croydon on and off the pitch .