9:43am Wednesday 3rd October 2001
Ouse Valley Schools Under 15s 2 Croydon Schools Under 15s 5
Croydon Schools' Football Association's under 15s produced an impressive performance to win the English Schools' Football Association's Wizards Inter-Association First Round tie against Ouse Valley at Crowborough on Saturday.
The Ouse Valley goalkeeper had a torrid time as Croydon scored five times in a 15- minute spell in the first half.
Striker Joshua Findlater (Woodcote) was in superb form notching a hat-trick and was well supported as Croydon upped the tempo to leave the home side facing a mountain to climb in the second half, trailing 5-0 at the interval.
Findlater opened Croydon's account in the 17th minute, pouncing on a defence-splitting pass from Daniel Griffiths (Edenham).
Five minutes later it was 2-0 as Findlater turned provider for Joe Compton (Stanley Technical) to score from close range.
Croydon then really rammed home their advantage with three goals in four minutes.
Findlater netted his second goal on 28 minutes, taking advantage of a mix-up by the Ouse Valley defence.
A minute later Jason Mabbs (St Joseph's) got in on the act and three minutes later Findlater completed the scoring for Croydon, making it 5-0 in their favour as he scored the best goal, latching on to a fine pass by Arnold Sarfo-Kantanka (St Andrew's).
Ouse Valley improved in the second half, pulling a goal back after three minutes with a well-struck 25 yard free kick, but Croydon were well on top and efforts by Mabbs and Scott Ricketts went close.
Ouse Valley got a consolation goal in the last minute but New Croydon managers, Anthony Williams (Haling Manor) and Carlos de Matos (Selhurst), were well pleased with their team's display, especially as four players were making Croydon district team debuts.
Croydon entertain Bromley in the second round.
Croydon Schools' Football Association's under 11s district team kick off their fixtures on Saturday (October 6th) when they entertain Woking Schools in a Surrey Schools' Sydney Black league match at Croygas, Mollison Drive, Wallington. The match starts at 10.30 am.
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