In a meeting between sides both in need of points at opposing ends of the SCEFL Division One table, the spoils were shared at the Croydon Arena on Saturday afternoon. 

On a dry bumpy surface, with a blustery breeze blowing across the Arena and in low bright early spring sun, both sides took a while to adjust to the conditions.

The first real chance fell to Trams striker Kameiko Pop-Campbell whose low shot was well saved by James Boughtflower despite it kicking up in front of him off the pitch.

Lewisham had more of the ball as the half went on, but struggled to get through the home defence.

Croydon went close when Jack White set up Joedon Gugas-Cowin, but he dragged his shot wide across the goal.

Lewisham’s first chance fell to their lively winger Noah Hamelburg, but his shot at the near post was well saved by Ryan McCourt. There were chances at both ends heading towards the break, Croydon went close when White fired a long range free kick just wide, while Borough’s Emanuel Logan just missed the target with a tight angle as The Trams failed to clear a set piece.

The last chance of the half fell to the home team when Tom Barton played in Edward Dwyer, but the Croydon midfielder blazed the ball over the bar from close range with the keeper stranded.

The second half saw Lewisham start well, but then the home side came back and started to dominate the play. Barton put a chance wide and then had another shot from range well saved by Boughtflower.

Dwyer was next to test the Borough keeper, before Lewisham went close when Nicholas Nunez was denied by McCourt. With Lewisham now back into things, inspired by Montel Williams the hard working engine room in midfield, Billy Wells struck the post with an audacious long range lob over McCourt from 40 yards out, the ball bouncing back out and scrambled away to safety.

In a wide open scrappy finish, the last chance of the game fell to the home side, but Kieran Rufus headed the ball into the side netting at the far post from a corner and it ended all square, which as probably a fair reflection of the game.   

Croydon – McCourt, Lewis, Rufus, Clark, Dwyer (Green 82), Pope-Campbell (Fitton 78), Gugas-Cowin (McDonald 82), Barton, Deakin (Macmillan 57), White, Walters.

Subs Not Used: Cormack.

Lewisham – Boughtflower, Brown (Blongo 90), Hechachena, Williams, Harvey, Gough, Hamelburg (Sineen 78), Adeyinka, Paul (Nunez 70), Logan, Samuel (Wells 85).

Subs Not Used: Innocent.    

Att: 135