Greenwich Borough 2-0 AFC Croydon Athletic - When you win championships when you win promotion there's no better feeling, says Greenwich Borough player-boss Gary Alexander

Greenwich Borough 2 – 0 AFC Croydon Athletic
Location	Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT
Kickoff	09/04/2016 15:00

GREENWICH BOROUGH  2-0  AFC CROYDON ATHLETIC
Southern Counties East Football League
Saturday 9^th April 2016
Stephen McCartney reports from Princes Park Stadium

GREENWICH BOROUGH player-manager Gary Alexander says the club want to move forward as quickly as possible after winning the Southern Counties East Football League title in only his seventeenth game in charge.

Club secretary Norman Neal confirmed before the game that the club will be playing in the Ryman League Division One North next season after winning promotion, after claiming their first title in 28 years, their third Kent League/SCEFL title overall.

Greenwich Borough crossed over the winning line courtesy of two goals inside the opening 30 minutes from striker Mohamed Eisa, taking his tally for the season to 34 goals.

Greenwich Borough won the title having collected 24 wins, eight draws and three defeats in the league and Danny Young lifted the silverware with his side 10 points clear of Hollands & Blair, who were the surprise leaders in their debut season after winning back-to-back Kent Invicta League titles.

Only 75 people bothered to turn up to see Greenwich Borough’s title win in what was the club’s penultimate game at Dartford’s Princes Park, before taking over as landlords at Cray Valley’s Badgers Sports Ground at Middle Park Avenue in Eltham.

Alexander who joined the club as a player at the start of last season when Ian Jenkins was in charge, came on for a six minute cameo role at the end of this game.

“Unbelievable! Obviously three months ago we were chasing eight points. The change has been unbelievable.  We’ve kept eight clean sheets in a row. I don’t know how many points we’ve picked up but we’ve closed the right points and we’ve gone 10 clear.

“It’s an unbelievable achievement from everyone at the club, the lads in there and now we’re going to enjoy it.

“Listen, at this time of the year it’s about results, I don’t care about the performance.  We knew we had to go out there and do a job.  We’ve got ourselves 2-0 up and just making sure we won three points. If we go for three points we’re champions and that’s exactly what we’ve done!!”

Greenwich Borough certainly missed midfielder Jake Britnell, who suffered pain to his back during training on Thursday night and 25-goal striker Michael Power was away. They subbed midfielder Ryan Johnson at the break through a hamstring injury.

AFC Croydon Athletic manager Antony Williams reflected on his side’s 16^th league defeat of the season that has seen the club drop a place to 11^th in the table, having won 12 games, drawn six of their 34 games in their debut season in this league.

“First half we gifted them two goals but it’s mistakes across the field,” said Williams.

“Second half we gave a little bit better account of ourselves but they’re a good side and they moved us about pretty much all game. 

“The boys were hurt in there afterwards as well. It was a fair result I think.

“When you get that kind of investment and backing you expect to win the league but they’ve gone on and done it and they’re definitely the best side that we’ve played this year so it’s only fair they’ve gone up as champions. I’m sure they’ll kick on as well next year!

“We’ve come up here, we haven’t got a budget, not a penny so we don’t pay anybody. The boys actually pay £50 each at the start of the season.”

Greenwich Borough created the first chance of the game against an AFC Croydon Athletic side that were clearly missing injured strike trio Raheem Sterling-Parker (17 goals), Louis Blake (8) and Lee Jansen (6).

Eisa crashed his free-kick into the advertising boards after only just missing the near post from 25-yards, with Rams goalkeeper Dan Burnett rooted to the spot.

Tom Youngs played the ball out of Greenwich Borough’s half into Yacine Gnahore’s feet, who swept the ball out to Eisa on the left.  Eisa cut into the box and cut the ball back for Ryan Johnson, whose right-footed shot from 25-yards bounced once into Burnett’s hands for a comfortable catch.

But Ryman League referee Alex Winterbotham made a big mistake when he failed to award Greenwich Borough a clear-cut penalty in the ninth minute.

AFC Croydon Athletic left-back Jamie Pearson clearly tripped Youngs inside the box which both managers admitting after the game that he got his decision wrong.

“I think we should’ve had a penalty, I think it’s a penalty and a red card but he’s not given it and we had to move on,” said Alexander.

“We responded and we went and scored. It’s one of those things you know but we can’t look back on it. We won 2-0 and that’s all we have to do!”

An honest Williams agreed, saying, “Definite penalty in my view, so either book the lad for diving or it’s a penalty! It’s a blatant penalty.

“I think the ref missed quite a few blatant things to be honest with you. He was inconsistent both ways so it wasn’t just our way at all but it was definitely a penalty and probably a sending off actually.”

Galore then shrugged off the attentions of Fred Fleming and Elisa stroked his shot past the far post from the edge of the penalty area.

But visiting goalkeeper Burnett gifted Greenwich Borough the lead, with 16:18 on the clock.

Peter Sweeney fed Eisa down the left and the striker cut into the corner of the penalty area.  The striker scuffed his right-footed angled shot towards goal but Burnett embarrassingly allowed the ball to bounce underneath his body, the ball nestling inside the bottom near corner of the net.

Alexander said: “If you don’t shoot, you don’t score! Mo gets enough shots off in a game. Today, it’s not the greatest of strikes but it’s crept into the bottom corner. He’ll take that all day long.”

Williams just couldn’t believe the ball actually went in!

He said: “It bounced about 30 times, didn’t it, so I don’t know how he let that go in there!

“He’s disappointed with himself in there, he’s definitely got to do better for me there and we also lost possession in the middle of the park as well so poor goal all round that one.”

When asked what was going through the mind as his players eased any nerves with an early goal, Alexander, the former Millwall ace, replied: “We’re 1-0 up, score again, score again, score again, be relentless.”

A clinical Greenwich Borough doubled their lead with their next attempt, timed at 29:49.

Nathan Paul played a sublime curling low pass from right-back down the line which Rams’ central defender Jack Higgins failed to cut out and this ball released Eisa through on goal.

Eisa cut into the penalty area and Fleming’s sliding tackle took the man down instead of the ball and referee Mr Winterbotham got this decision right by pointing to the spot.

Burnett went to his left but Eisa maintained his composure to slot his right-footed penalty just left-of-centre to ensure Greenwich Borough had one hand on the trophy.

Their manager said: “Great penalty from Mo. He’s on a high, he’s scored, he’s scored plenty of goals this season. As a centre forward you want to see him fighting for the ball to take it. That’s clearly what he did and he’s slotted it away to give us a 2-0 lead.

“Thirty-four goals, 30 in any season, 20 goals in a season is great. Mo’s scored over 30 this season and scored 30 last season. He’s got to keep working hard and I’m sure something will happen for him.”

Williams, who celebrated guiding his club to the Combined Counties League Division One title last season, added: “So we gave away possession on the edge of the box which we should’ve delivered the ball in.  We didn’t do that. We choose the wrong pass. We played it inside. Callum (MacLean) then got caught on the ball inside, bad information. Jack Higgins then dived in down the line after a last ditch tackle, Freddie made a rash decision.

“Four mistakes for the second goal so you can’t be gifting sides of that quality goals like that and we’ve done that too many times this year and we get punished for that.”

AFC Croydon Athletic’s first opening arrived in the 37^th minute when skipper Tony Martin played a low pass up to striker Jordan Martin, who swept his first time shot harmlessly wide from 25-yards.

“We came here without a centre forward, no Raheem (Sterling-Parker), no Louis Blake, no Lee Jansen (though injury) so we ended up playing Jordan Martin, a centre half up front, which didn’t help things,” admitted Williams.

Former Bolton Wanderers and Erith Town midfielder Youngs cut the ball back to left-back Lewis Clark, who was given time and space to whip the ball into the Rams’ penalty area.  The ball wasn’t dealt with well by the Rams defence and Sweeney’s left-footed shot was parried by Burnett, diving to his left, but he allowed the ball to spill out of his grasp and was relieved when Gnahore poked the loose ball past the foot of the near post.

Youngs released Gnahore down the left and Burnett got a vital touch as the ball flashed across the face of his goal-mouth.

Otherwise untroubled Greenwich Borough keeper Craig Holloway was forced into punching the ball away towards safety high to his right after Callum MacLean smashed his angled drive towards goal after the striker was released down the right.

Alexander said: “Craig’s had one save again to make and that’s been the whole progression of us.  We’ve not conceded many chances, we’ve not given many goals away (Greenwich have scored 115 goals, conceded 47). At these levels if you don’t give goals away, you win games.”

Williams said: “The goalkeeper done very well there. He was brave actually. I think we got in twice second half in those areas, half chances, nothing.

“Their goalkeeper’s very good as well isn’t he? He’s played at a good level so he was nice and brave there, which is what you ask from your goalkeeper.”

Greenwich Borough comfortably went into the half-time break with a two goal lead and Alexander said: “Forty-five minutes, 0-0, go again, finish the game off, work your socks off and you’re champions!”

Williams said: “What did we say to them? We need to tighten up a little bit certainly that’s what we wanted them to do.

“We gave them too much space so we asked the boys to tighten up collectively all round. Let them have it wide. They were pulling us around too much so we wanted to shut up shop then see if we can build ourselves and get into the game a little bit rather than be on the back of another 6-0 hiding so there was questions at times where we felt that could happen.”

It took nearly 12 minutes for the first chance of the second half to arrive and it came Greenwich Borough’s way.

Danny Young clipped a long ball out of defence to release Youngs down the right and he powered his angled drive which forced Burnett to dive low to his right to make a smart save.

Alexander said: “We had a few chances and a little bit more quality we would’ve been out of sight by even further.”

Williams added: “They moved us around again. I thought Tom Youngs’ was excellent today. I thought he was their stand-out player.”

AFC Croydon Athletic’s best chance of the entire game came in the 65^th minute.

Skipper Tony Martin fed the ball into substitute left-back Fergus Ward, who moved into the middle of the park to clip his ball into the penalty area which MacLean’s flying header at the far post from inside the six-yard box screamed over the top of the near post.

Williams said :”That was probably our best move of the game to be honest with you and Callum was unlucky.

“The boys grew into it a little bit second half. You could sense them (Greenwich) being a bit nervous as well but it was a half chance really. We didn’t test the goalkeeper at all.”

Alexander added: “Obviously it weren’t good enough! You’ve seen the reaction from the boys, they weren’t happy with it with what’s gone on before it but that’s the way we’re producing the team now, make sure when we do make mistakes we let people know about it, but they never pick them up again after that, they never took another shot, only from range and we was never in trouble.”

This was a flat performance from the champions – but they created chances to replicate their 6-0 win at Mayfield Stadium on 12 March.

Holloway’s kick found substitute Ryan Dolby, who released Eisa down the right and his initial shot was blocked and rolled out to Dolby, whose shot was saved by Burnett, diving to his right again.

Alexander added: “The game was dead at half-time, 2-0. It was about going out there and making sure we got the result.

“We had a few efforts. It could’ve been a few more but it wasn’t to be. We would’ve taken 1-0 today knowing we only needed to win to get three points.”

Talented Youngs pinged a delightful 50-yard diagonal cross onto Eisa’s right-foot but the striker looked up to the heavens in despair after hooking his shot over the bar when left unmarked inside the box.

Good wing play from Dolby saw him cut the ball back to Youngs, who hit his first time shot straight at Burnett, who caught the ball at the second attempt.

AFC Croydon Athletic substitute Joel Lumeya hit a speculative right-footed effort from 35-yards, which bounced harmlessly wide, as Holloway went on to maintain his eighth clean sheet in the league on the bounce.

“Two-nil up, it’s all about being solid and that’s exactly what we were and that’s what we’ve been,” said Alexander.

“We’ve been a unit from 26^th December, we said if we don’t concede goals we’ll win games and that’s exactly what we’ve done.”

Burnett pulled off a fine diving save to prevent Greenwich Borough getting their party started in the final seven minutes.

Paul and O’Connor started the move by linking up well down the right and Eisa centred to O’Connor via a deflection and his right-footed drive was tipped around the post by Burnett, diving swiftly to his right to make the fine save.

Williams said :”He does that, unfortunately for goalkeeper’s if you make mistakes it often ends in a goal doesn’t it?

“Unfortunately he’s making too many mistakes lately. You expect him to save that. The last save was a very good save I have to say, other than that that’s what he’s there for.”

Alexander added: “It would’ve been nice for Pat to score. He’s been brilliant in their working his socks off leading us.  We’ve got some men in there. He’s a good work-horse.

“It wasn’t a great performance. It wasn’t a great game but a solid performance and three points, which we knew we had to do.”

AFC Croydon Athletic never looked like scoring, had they scored towards the end of the game, it would have completely changed the home side’s approach.

Greenwich Borough won the corner count 3-1, but Borough’s three corners all came in the final six minutes of an uninspiring game.

“I think they’re nervousness but there was a lot riding on it today for them but we said to them at half-time there could be an opportunity from a set-play or something,” said Williams.

“But I thought their two centre halves (Rob Gilman and Young) won everything as well – they were exceptional!

“They’ve got a lot of experience through that side and I’m sure that side will do alright at Ryman level.”

The Rams’ poor day was summed up when in the final minute Ward cracked his right-footed free-kick from 35-yards high over the bar and towards the roof of the stand behind the goal.

Greenwich Borough certainly have the financial power to be challenging for the Ryman League Division One North title at the first attempt next season.

“We took over on 26 December. We had one thing in mind and that was to chase Hollands & Blair, we did that,” said Alexander

“As I said a few weeks back we’ll enjoy that pressure. There’s no better pressure than being a team to be a shot at and we’ll take that and we’ve responded to it brilliantly and go clear and win the league two weeks early is fantastic.”

Second-from-bottom Croydon visit on Tuesday night, before a trip to third-placed Ashford United on the last day of the season.

“We want to win games obviously but it will be nice to be able to have a look at some of the other lads and go and enjoy it,” said the championship winning Alexander.

“We’ve done our job, we’ve won the league, we’re going up a league next year and it’s credit to the boys in there.

“We’ve got a long summer progression wise. We want to do the best we can in that league and as a club we want to move forward as quickly as possible.

“Without putting any pressure on ourselves we want to be up there and challenging for promotion. We’re showing the club has to move on so it’s brilliant.

“You can’t beat any promotion. I said to the lads before. I sent them a message this morning. When you win championships, when you win promotion there’s no better feeling whether it’ll be the Southern Counties or be League One. Promotion, any promotion is a good promotion. We’ve got to enjoy it.

“Some lads may never get promotion again, so you’ve got to enjoy it – it’s a special feeling!”

Next Saturday AFC Croydon Athletic host bottom-seven side Erith Town – who ended a run of 16 games without any win with a 6-0 win at Canterbury City today – before going on a trip to fourth-placed Lordswood on the final day of the season.

“We had a bit of a dull game down their place last time so hopefully I’ll have a centre forward to pick next week,” said Williams.

“We’ve just said to the boys in there, it’s six without a win now. We want to stop that little rot and certainly finish the home game with something and hopefully three points. Otherwise we’re going to fall off to 11^th or 12^th.

“We certainly want to win at least one of them. Lordswood away will be tough because they’re doing alright as well.  Erith’s definitely the one we’ll be focusing on trying to get something out of.  The last game we’ll certainly look at as many youngsters as I can.

“We don’t want the season to finish on a negative.

“We need to get a win out of that (Erith game) and if we can get a win then we can go into the last game and have a look at a few boys. It’s always easier to see if the under 18s can step up in a competitive game than it is in a friendly I think so yes we want to build on that.

“As far as the season’s going? Would we have taken tenth at the start of the year? We’ve given a good account of ourselves, considering people below us are on some good money as well.”






CHAMPIONS: Greenwich Borough captain Danny Young receives the Southern Counties East Football League champions trophy from Ray Brown.
Photo: Dave Adkins



CHAMPIONS: Greenwich Borough celebrate their first title in 28 years after winning the Southern Counties East Football League title after beating AFC Croydon Athletic 2-0 in their penultimate home game at Dartford's Princes Park.
Photo: Dave Adkins

Greenwich Borough: Craig Holloway, Nathan Paul, Lewis Clark, Peter Sweeney, Rob Gilman, Danny Young, Tom Youngs (Remel Lake 90), Patrick O’Connor, Mohamed Eisa, Yacine Gnahore (Gary Alexander 84), Ryan Johnson (Ryan Dolby 46).
Subs: Gary Borrowdale, Scott Kinch

Goals: Mohamed Eisa 17, 30 (penalty)

Booked: Ryan Dolby 64

AFC Croydon Athletic: Dan Burnett, Sampson Djimah (Luke Tan 55), Jamie Pearson (Fergus Ward 46), Jack Higgins, Fred Fleming, Tony Martin, Josh Smith (Joel Lumeya 72), Danny Cumber, Jordan Martin, Callum MacLean, Bradley Wilson.
Subs: Haydn McLean-Hayles, Danny O’Rourke

Booked: Tony Martin 82

Attendance: 75
Referee: Mr Alex Winterbotham (Islington, London N1)
Assistants: Mr Mark Jenkins (Welling) & Mr Ashley Barnes (Bromley)