MATCH REPORT: PHOENIX 2-1 CROYDON

Phoenix win their last home game of the season thanks to Belford's late strike

Phoenix Sports brought the curtain down on their home season with a spirited 2–1 victory over Croydon Athletic rounding off an entertaining afternoon at the Christopher Russell Stadium.

The hosts made three changes from their previous outing, with Bradley Pritchard, Jerson Dos Santos, and Will Efambe coming into the starting XI in place of Dom Morgan-Griffiths, Richard Pingling, and Will Grieveson. Isaac Thompson was handed a start at right-back

Phoenix came flying out of the blocks and were nearly rewarded inside the opening 10 minutes. Kiye Martin tested Croydon’s goalkeeper Amadou Tangara with a fierce volley, before Thompson followed up with a powerful strike from distance that also called the keeper into action.

The early pressure finally told though as Phoenix took a deserved lead in the third minute. A long throw into the box wasn’t properly cleared, and Dos Santos pounced with a stunning half-volley into the top corner—his third goal for the club and a fantastic finish to cap a dominant opening spell.

Despite Phoenix’s control, Croydon found a way back into the game. Nya Kirby tried his luck from range, and his effort bounced awkwardly in front of Andrew Zambrano and found the net to level things up at 1–1.

Phoenix continued to push. On 28 minutes, Jamarie Brissett showed great footwork to create space for a shot, but his powerful effort was straight at Tangara.

Just four minutes later, Brissett came even closer, meeting a square ball from Martin on the stretch, only to see his shot come back off the crossbar and into the keeper’s arms.

The sides went into the break level after an entertaining and open first half, with Phoenix left to rue missed opportunities.

Just moments into the second half Croydon almost capitalised, Ghassimu Sow’s dipping effort from distance rattled the woodwork again.

Phoenix were forced into a change on the hour mark, as goalscorer Jerson Dos Santos was forced off through injury and replaced by Cam Andrews.

However, they continued to look the more dangerous of the two sides, dominating possession and creating chances but unable to find the crucial second goal—until a moment of quality broke the deadlock.

A brilliant move down the left saw Will Efambe burst past his marker and deliver a pinpoint ball across the face of goal. Charging forward from central defence, Ahkeem Belford met it with conviction, rifling home what proved to be the match-winner.

Phoenix nearly sealed the result in the closing moments as substitute Tyler Anderson raced through one-on-one, but Tangara once again produced an excellent save to keep Croydon just about in it.

A composed and confident performance from Phoenix earned them a deserved three points in their final home fixture of the season. With some standout performances across the pitch and a strong attacking display, it was a good way to close out the home campaign.