Croydon MO 1

Epsom 0

Croydon faced a team riding high in the league above them at Richmond's neutral ground.

Croydon maintained possession in and around the Epsom D and applied the pressure to win a series of short

corners. From one of these, Helen put the ball in the net only for the controversial Epsom umpire to award a further short corner rather than the goal.

Two minutes later Jennifer Milligan scored only for a further short corner to be awarded before the ball had crossed the goal line.

Frustrated but not downhearted Croydon stuck to their task and made the breakthrough on 65 minutes. A short corner was controlled by Sam Blair who beat one defender and was then heavily stick tackled as she attempted to shoot on goal. Blair scored the resulting penalty flick with ease.

Epsom were helped back into it by further curious decisions, one of which was a penalty flick awarded to Epsom after the goalkeeper saved a shot that cannoned dangerously off an Epsom foot. Complaints from the players and the crowdwere overruled but Justice was served with a Tonia Hopkins save.

Croydon progress to meet Oxted or Wanderers in the final in late March.

January 29, 2003 12:30