Banstead Athletic 4 Croydon 2

A COMBINATION of a decent Banstead performance, a moderate Croydon one and some crucial interventions by the match officials left this result in no doubt.

Banstead came out strongly and took the lead in the ninth minute, ex-Croydon player Simon Mitchell netting with ease but he seemed to receive the ball while standing well offside.

The hosts scored another 20 minutes later, again in a controversial manner. This time, Ross Chalk appeared to be a long way offside when he got the ball, finishing easily.

Mitchell hit the post in the last minute of the half, but Croydon improved markedly after the break.

However Banstead went further ahead in the 64th minute when Mitchell converted a penalty.

The Trams strove on eventually pulling one back when Ikocodo forced the ball home after Tidy had parried Mark Roberts' shot.

Wright scored a good header at the far post to make it 4-1 but the visitors had the last word, Page finishing neatly after a flamboyant Goddard flick set him up.

Croydon: Lidbury, Goddard, Gladwin, Law, Bartley (Headley), Babalola (Ikocodo), Shuga'a (Pitt), Grant, Page, Roberts, Chincharo. Unused subs: Cupit.