CROYDON SCHOOLS' UNDER-14s 2 bt BROMLEY SCHOOLS' UNDER-14s 1

Two amazing 25-yard strikes by fulback Joe Chandler saw Croydon Schools' Under-14s ease to a 2-1 win over neighbours Bromley at Shirley High School in a friendly fixture last Thursday.

Chandler (Woodcote School), making his Croydon debut, put his side a goal up on the stroke of half-time when a long range shot sailed over the keeper's head. He repeated the feat 14 minutes from time to give Croydon a comfortable lead.

Bromley hit back with a well-taken goal by Jordan Kiffin (Kelsey Park) seven minutes later and pressed hard for an equaliser but Croydon bravely held on with some resilient defending until the final whistle.

Meanwhile, Croydon Schools' FA's Under-11s came within a whisker of qualifying for the South-East Regional stage of the national seven-a-side competition on Saturday.

But they narrowly lost out to home side Woking Schools, the only side to beat them on the day, and finished runners-up in the Surrey Schools' qualifying stage at Ockham Rovers.

Croydon opened with a 1-1 draw against Caterham & Warlingham thanks to a Jonathan Docherty (Oval) goal and he was on target again in his side's 2-1 win over favourites Sutton, with Louis Headley (Woodside) notching the other goal.

However, a 2-0 defeat to eventual winners Woking cost them dearly and a hard-fought 1-0 win against Kingston in which Sonny James (The Hayes) scored was not enough to take them through.

Croydon Schools' Under-15s take on Gravesham Schools at Powerleague, Norbury, on Saturday, October 27 in a friendly fixture. Kick-off is at 10.30 am.

October 24, 2001 16:00