CROYDON ATHLETIC 1 v 1 WALTON & HERSHAM

The points were shared at the KT Stadium on Saturday as Croydon Athletic finished the season with an unbeaten run of 13 games and just two defeats in the last 27 matches under Tim O’Shea’s guidance.

The game started brightly for the home side with Shabazz Baidoo coming close in the opening minutes with his shot well saved by Antony Hall in the Swans’ goal.

In the 10th minute Jon Boswell was judged to have handled in the Walton & Hersham penalty area, and the spot kick was award to Croydon.

Danny Waldren made no mistake, striking the ball sweetly in the back of the net to put the Rams 1-0 up.

With the home side looking confident, Michael Gordon had a close range shot but the keeper was there again to deny the goal.

Walton also had their chances, with Julien Thompson forcing a good save out of Ross Flitney in the Croydon goal in the 24th minute.

The Rams continued to push forward though, and a throw in was flicked on nicely by Ben Godfrey to Baidoo, but his goal attempt was wide.

Towards the end of the half a great ball in from Joe Howe came to Gordon but his shot was blocked by the keeper, and the rebound shot from Baidoo was just over.

In the second half the Swans picked up the pace with Troy Ferguson producing a great shot on the turn which went just over the crossbar, and Walton continued to look dangerous on the attack.

After three straight corners for the visitors, it was Thompson who managed to level the score for the Swans in the 54th minute.

For the Rams, substitute Scott Todd cracked a shot which ended up in the Rams Army behind the goal, but Croydon never really troubled the keeper in the second half.

Walton had a great chance to go ahead when the ball past Flitney on the edge of the box but Howe saved the day by intercepting the ball before it went over the line.

The Rams now look to concentrate their efforts on the London Senior Cup Final against Hendon, and hopefully the players suffering knocks in this game will be fit for Wednesday at Kingsmeadow.

Croydon Athletic: Ross Flitney, Joe Howe, Robbie Ryan, Karl Murray, Richard Blackwell (68 mins Sam Clayton), Bradley Duke, Michael Gordon, Danny Waldren, Ben Godfrey, Shabazz Baidoo (45 mins Scott Todd), Serge Makofo (63 mins Tom Bolarinwa). Subs not used: Romauld Boaudji, Jeremy Williams