Kent Premier League

Lordswood 1 Croydon Athletic 4

LORDSWOOD'S little run of success came to a grinding halt as Croydon dominated the game and won convincingly at Martin Grove.

The visitors signalled their intentions in the first minute when Dave Waters connected with a header and keeper Rowan Arnott was forced to punch clear.

Thereafter the visitors dominated possession and the only surprise was that they failed tom score in the first half.

Ben Yiadom forced a save out of Arnott, Ray Freeman's perfectly legitimate strike was ruled out by a linesman's flag and the Lords keeper was again called into action to deal with a Ryan Watts belter.

Another glorious chance came in the 34th minute when Yiadom raced clear on the right and provided a low cross from which Tony Atkins was denied by Arnott's legs.

Lordswood's one real attempt came on 41 minutes when a curling free kick by Mike Holliday was easily saved by Croydon keeper Tim Roberts.

Croydon were still in charge at the start of the second period and with 51 minutes gone they finally went ahead through Ray Freeman from close range following a poor clearance.

Seven minutes later Yiadom provided a cross and Ray Broad deflected it past his own keeper, Arnott, for 2-0.

All over then? Not quite, because Nicky Minshull gave Lords a 68th minute lifeline which perhaps should have acted as a springboard.

Instead, Croydon added a third when a corner taken by Ryan Watts somehow wound up in the back of the net.

Gareth Broome wrapped it up with a simple finish from another Yiadom cross, but Lords' woes were compounded when Micky Pearce was sent off for a foul on Freeman a minute from the end.