Down to ten men for 56 minutes of this match, Worcester Park still made light work of struggling Croydon Municipal.

All looked rosy when Richard Ingham’s deflected shot trickled into the net after just 18 minutes but the match was turned around on 34 minutes when Peter King brought down the Croydon striker after a mistake in defence.

A penalty was awarded and a card was expected but it was a slight surprise to see a red card with James Williams covering the line behind the keeper.

Williams it was who took the keeper’s jersey, not for the first time, and had no chance with the resulting penalty.

Croydon failed to make the most of the numerical advantage and five minutes before half-time the prolific Gary O’Leary made it 2-1 from a Richard Ingham lay-off.

The second half was all Worcester Park as Croydon heads seem to go down very easily.

James Williams kept the Croydon strikers at bay from their numerous but blunt attacks including one highly eccentric diving header clearance inside his own penalty area when catching the ball seemed an easier option!

Gary O’Leary made it 3-1 after 74 minutes with a cheeky toe-poke from the touchline with a Croydon defender and the keeper looking at each other to take the ball.

Substitute Joe Cheeseman made the game safe with a fourth goal seven minutes from time.

Worcester Park: King, Drew, Beale, J Williams, Gardiner; Chaney, Lucas, Ingham (Cheeseman, 54), G Knowelden; O’Leary (Gauld, 86), J Dunning (D Dunning, 78).