MATCH REPORT

PLAYER PROFILE

POST-MATCH INTERVIEW with Michael Kamara – Vs. Broadbridge Heath

Michael Kamara Talks About Our 2-2 Draw at Broadbridge Heath: “We Showed a Lot of Heart Today”

Croydon Athletic assistant manager Michael Kamara expressed a mixed sense of relief and frustration after his side earned a 2-2 draw against Broadbridge Heath on Saturday, highlighting the contrasting performances between the first and second halves.

The first half had seen Croydon fall behind after missing a penalty, and Kamara reflected on how the miss could have changed the course of the match. “Obviously, if we had scored the penalty, it might have been a different game. We would have had a lead to protect, but we missed it, and they capitalised, scoring twice,” he said. “It felt like we were on the back foot, and it was a tough first half.”

However, a tactical shift at half-time and a more determined approach from his players saw Croydon come out strongly in the second half. “We came out a completely different team in the second half,” Kamara noted. “We changed the shape to 4-4-2, moved Ibby up front, and brought Brandon back on. That made us more solid and allowed us to get at them.”

The second half saw Croydon dominate, with Kamara praising the fight and grit his side showed. “We pinned them in for large parts of the second half,” he explained. “It was only in the final ten minutes that it could have gone either way, but we managed it quite well.” He acknowledged that despite the drop in intensity towards the end, the team deserved credit for staying in the game after a poor first half. “At half-time, we would have taken the point, especially given how it looked at the break. Credit to the boys – they showed great character and came back strongly.”

Kamara was also pleased with his team’s overall performance, especially after a solid showing in their previous match. “We showed a lot of heart today,” he continued. “It was a good performance, like we had on Saturday. If we had a little more quality in the final third, we could have won it, but away from home, you take a point and move on.”

When asked about what was said at half-time, Kamara pointed to the need for more intensity and a change in approach. “It was all about a bit more fight, a bit more grit. We needed to make the game simpler and focus on getting the ball to Ibby and Shay quickly. I thought they did well, and we got our reward.”

The assistant manager also highlighted the importance of character and resilience, which he feels his team showed. “In previous games, we probably would have been out of sight by now, but we stuck with it today. The attitude was excellent, and that’s what you need moving forward.”

When pressed on his choice for man of the match, Kamara was quick to single out one player. “I’d go with Ibby,” he said. “I thought he was excellent. He worked hard and contributed significantly to our improvement in the second half.”

Kamara’s assessment was clear: while the performance was not without its flaws, the team’s resilience and attitude were the positives to take forward as they prepare for their next match. “We’ll regroup for Saturday and look to build on this,” he concluded. “The character showed today was a step in the right direction.”