Division One
Croydon 2 Staines 0
A last-minute goal from Barry Ferdinand sealed a nail-biting opening day win for Croydon at the Arena on Saturday.
Despite going a goal up through Ben Judge's well taken effort in the 22nd minute the Blues nearly allowed the visitors to come back into it in the second period and only sub Danny Moody's excellent goalline clearance prevented Staines drawing level late on.
But with seconds left on the clock, Ferdinand fired in the killer second to give Croydon a perfect start to the new season.
Whyteleafe 0 Oxford City 1
Whyteleafe endured a frustrating day as they paid the price for a succession of missed chances at Church Road on Saturday.
Missing several key players, a lacklustre opening saw neither side threaten. But a spell of pressure by Oxford just before the break proved vital and a missed penalty was soon forgotten as the visitors made amends with the winner on 42 minutes. Whyteleafe's shaky defence allowed Chris Fontaine time and space in the box and he smashed home from eight yards.
A much improved performance saw Whyteleafe create plenty of chances after the interval but despite dominating they couldn't find the breakthrough. Paul Scott and inspirational skipper Phil Dawson both went agonisingly close but the goal just wouldn't come.
Division Three
Lewes 1 Croydon Ath 1
Croydon Athletic gained a creditable point away to Lewes on Saturday.
Lewes have a host of new faces and are expecting at least a mid-table position this term. But a 47th minute penalty by John Kennedy earned a draw for the visitors and denied their hosts a dream start. Lewes took the lead through John Lockheart and continued to exert pressure, forcing teenage keeper Stewart Horn into making two magnificent saves.
Saturday's fixtures
CROYDON Vs Braintree Town (a)
WHYTELEAFE Vs Chertsey Town (a)
CROYDON ATHLETIC Vs Epsom & Ewell (h)
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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