Robbins gets his Croydon career off to a winning start

Tuesday 07th July 2009

MIKE ROBBINS says he’s pleased with the outcome of his first game in charge of Croydon - a 2-1 friendly win over higher league Dulwich Hamlet tonight, writes Stephen McCartney.

Jamie Findlay had given Hamlet a first-half lead, in front of a crowd of around 100, but goals from a trialist and Tim Murdoch ensured the Trams got their pre-season campaign underway with a morale boosting win, as they prepare for their forthcoming Combined Counties League campaign.

It was also Gavin Rose and Junior Kadi's first game in charge of Dulwich Hamlet.

“It went well,” Robbins, the former Tunbridge Wells manager told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“It was (against) a very, very good side and they moved the ball about very, very well and it was an excellent work-out for both teams, I would imagine.”

Robbins was happy with the condition of the Langley Park pitch, despite many parts of London and the south east being bombarded by storms during the day.

He said: “Very playable, in fact it was more like a late September fixture than an (early) July one.

“The pitch took a stud and the ball was slipping around. Both teams tried to play some good football.”

Speaking about team personnel, Robbins added, “I used sixteen (players), I literally used 16, I didn’t change my keeper.

“I had about eleven new players play, there were a few familiar faces, Ryan Watts, Aaron Smith, Timmy Murdock, amongst others.

“To be honest, it was more about the football, the result was irrelevant. It’s always nice to get a win, but it was nice, it was a good workout, a hard workout, probably harder than I would have planned had it been my pre-season.”

Croydon lock horns with Vandanel Kent County League side Coney Hall at Croydon Postal on Saturday, the game kicking off at 4:30pm.

“We’ve got a few players coming on for Saturday,” said Robbins. “They’re training Thursday, we weren’t far off tonight.

“There was a couple of boys who missed a couple of sessions who weren’t involved tonight, it’s about fairness, about the boys hitting the other three sessions.”

And Robbins added that he will unveil his summer signings once the paperwork has been completed.

Visit Croydon’s website: www.croydon-fc.co.uk