Ryman League Division One South

Croydon Athletic 3

Chipstead 0

TABLE toppers Croydon continued their promotion push with an emphatic victory at the KT Stadium on Monday.

However, Chips boss Mark Tompkins found plenty of plus points, believing that the score flattered their hosts.

A negative point was Sean Rivers breaking the clavicle bone in his shoulder, increasing Chipstead's injury worries.

Croydon mounted the early pressure with a free-kick from Joe Dolan in the first minute falling to Gareth Williams, but he failed to get any real contact on the ball.

A long-range shot from Rory Hill which was well blocked by the Chipstead defence.

The Rams had to wait until the 14th minute for a goal.

Former Rams' youth team keeper Adam Peck, now playing at Chipstead, parried the ball out at a corner only for it to fall to Jacob Erskine in the box.

He made no mistake in putting the hosts ahead and getting his first goal since being back at the club where he started his career.

Chipstead's best chance in the early stages was a free-kick by Jason Thompson which was blocked by Bentley Graham.

Rams top scorer Gary Noel had a great long-range shot from 30 yards that just skimmed the bar, and five minutes later Hill had a chance in the 18-yard box that went over the crossbar.

In the 38th minute Joe Dolan cleared the ball when it looked like it was bound for goal at a rare Chipstead attack.

In the second half Chips pushed forward with Callum McLean slicing the ball across the goalmouth and Anthony Morrison putting an 18-yard shot just wide.

For the first 15 to 20 minutes Chipstead looked like they were going to level, but as the half wore on Croydon looked the stronger.

Chris Piper went close, then in the 76th minute Gareth Williams was through in the box only to be fouled by Dan Dudley and a penalty was awarded.

Danny Waldren placed the ball and calmly slotted it home to put the home side two up.

Just two minutes later Crystal Palace loanee Taurean McDonald-Roberts got his first goal for the Rams, pushing the ball past the keeper and seeing it slowly roll into the net for Croydon's third.

Tompkins said: "We were more in the game than a 3-0.

"The scoreline flatters them.

"We let in three sloppy goals but it was a positive performance.

"We had a couple of chances at 1-0 down.

"The Croydon pitch is not very long and it was hard to get in behind them."

Injuries required that right-back Dudley was thrown in from the reserves, playing 90 minutes.