Friendly

Thursday 20th July 2023

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.39

A.F.C. Croydon Athletic 4 Lingfield 2, attendance 35

27’ 1-0

35’ 2-0

45’ 2-1

46’ 2-2

56’ 3-2

65’ 4-2

@ Mayfield Stadium Training Pitch

off Mayfield Road

Thornton Heath

CR7 6DN

No Admission or Programme.

This was a Step 5 clash, as Combined Counties League Premier Division South hosted Southern Combination League Premier Division. I had been to the main stadium here (known then as NFC Sports Ground) back in March 1995 when I saw Croydon Athletic lose 1-2 to Hillingdon Borough in a London Spartan League Premier Division match. Tonight’s game was played on the training pitch here, which is on the right as you drive down the potholed track that leads to the stadium off Mayfield Road. Despite there being no floodlights, it was scheduled to kick off at 19.30, finally getting underway nine minutes late, due to Croydon making no effort whatsoever to get themselves out onto the pitch, even though they were out warming up when I arrived around 18.50.

It was a decent game, which threatened to boil over a couple of times following some hard, but fair, challenges. Croydon looked to be coasting when they led 2-0, but a goal a minute each side of halftime saw Lingfield draw level at 2-2, having offered very little up until this point. Croydon edged back in front when a block by the ‘keeper was followed in at the near post, before wrapping it up with a fourth goal nine minutes later, when a driving run from the left was played inside and finished with a shot on the turn.