AFTER four years of trying to get pregnant, Magda Belle feared she would never have the baby she longed for.

Mrs Belle, 32, from Selsdon, and husband Andy, 34, also went through the heartbreak of a miscarriage.

But now, after more than four years of trying, Magda and Andy are expecting a baby girl in March, and Magda has claimed that a "bootcamp" she joined in Selsdon is the reason.

She explained: "We wanted a baby so badly, I went to get tests and they said everything was fine. I didn't understand why I wasn't getting pregnant.

As a last ditch attempt I decided to join Fitness Croydon, a bootcamp in Selsdon.

"I knew I needed to lose weight but I didn't know it would help me conceive as it did.

"I lost two stone thanks to the bootcamp sessions and eating healthier. After only a couple of months I fell pregnant.

"We are absolutely thrilled."

The bootcamp includes Zumba, a nutritional plan and morning and afternoon sessions with a trainer

Sam Markey, who runs Fitness Croydon, has put it down to healthy natural food and exercise.

She said: "When I first met Magda I remembered her saying how much she and her hubby wanted a baby, they were desperate to have kids and they had been trying for years.

"I set her up on our plan which isn't faddy, it's just a great and healthy way to lose weight.

"She wanted to lose some so not only could she have a baby but she could also be a healthier parent for when one did eventually come along.

"I'll never forget when she told me she was pregnant, she was so happy and I'm so happy for them. I can't wait to meet their baby girl."

Magda said: "I was eating takeaways all the time; pizza, curries.

"I was really fat, but as soon as I lost the weight I got pregnant."

The Fitness Croydon bootcamp lasts four weeks and costs £75 for bootcamp sessions, recipes, and nutritional information, as well as other tools to get started on your weight loss.

Sam said: "Lots of friendships have been made in camp too and that helps for added support.

"We're based in Selsdon but run an online version too."

E-mail fitnesscroydon@aol.co.uk

ALLSTARZ gymnasts pulled together for a "faultless" display to leave Liverpool with the most prestigious domestic title in amateur gymnastics.

Following last year's third place finish, the senior display team came away from the British gymstrada as national champions this time around, with the juniors placing third, also recognised with the award for best use of colour.

Amid a stellar year for the sport in this country, director of coaching at the New Addington-based club, Kay Ongley, praised the dedication of the competitors and the outstanding impact of their final performance.

"It's the one everyone wants to win, so of course we are very proud," she said. "It was a tough run up to the gymstrada. We trained three times a week for the display and then we had four weeks of competition in a row.

"Vicky Gibbons, our director of displays, is the person who did it all - she put so much work into getting it right and choreographed a fantastic display.

"Everyone was nervous before - we wanted to win it - but to be honest we were so well prepared, they took it in their stride." The junior team were first up to represent Croydon, and on the floor were (left to right, back to front in photo) Jolie Miller, Jessica Welsh, Kesmai Fennell, Megan Thompson, Radha Singh, Daisy Stacey, Nicole Cameron, Chloe Ellis, Taegan Fennell, Honor Welsh, Sita Singh.

The senior team of 20 - containing Paige Newbury, Lina Endo, Hannah Wren, Dean Murrell, Claire Ongley, Rachel Dunne, Jack Rees, Emily Watson, Courtney Suter, Mia Wilkins, Satresha Spence, Stephanie Curtis, Jane Diedrick-Wilson, Shannon Newbury, Jessica Greenslade, Megan Dale, Nicole Blackwood, Erin Eastmond, Jarred Dunford, Sharna Alleyne then took the floor with glory in mind, performing a dynamic display to the music of Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

Lasting three to four minutes on average, judges mark the performances in key artistic areas, namely choreography, overall display, use of floor, use of colour and difficulty.

"It was excellent - one of the best displays I have ever seen," said Ongley. "The timing was fantastic, the performance was faultless. It was just outstanding - it really was."

Ongley added that the club was in good health in all areas at the moment, particularly since the Olympics, which saw the number of members swell from 80 to more than 120.

"The numbers are up dramatically. Some of it's down to the Olympics, but some of it's down to our own success. One of our boys, Dean Morrell (14) is British champion in his age group.

"Allstarz has been going for nine years and we are in our strongest position ever. I think it's the effort from the coaches and organisers, and of course the gymnasts who seem to have thrived on it this year. It's been a partnership of hard work from both sides."

Last year Allstarz travelled to Switzerland for the World Gymstrada as part of a Great Britain team, and the club have their sights set on more international success in the near future.

THE Government's decision to exclude religious studies from the new English Baccalaureate could lead to a lack of cultural understanding in Croydon, it is claimed.

On a visit to Trinity School, in Shirley, on Friday, eminent philosopher Dr Peter Vardy told the Advertiser education reforms could result in fewer young people taking the subject, with disastrous consequences for society.

"It is a tragedy. In an increasingly multicultural world people need to understand one another," he said.

"Young people are naturally interested in life's big questions and really respond to the opportunity to address them with intellectual rigour, developing high-level skills in critical thinking as well as understanding of the insights of the world's greatest thinkers.

"Religious studies and philosophy help young people to listen, to discuss, to appreciate different points of view and deal with complexity."

Education reforms spearheaded by Michael Gove will put a greater weight on the EBacc, which incorporates what the Government has deemed the "core subjects" of English, maths and science.

But critics including Dr Vardy fear the move will result in arts subjects being sidelined as schools and students increasingly focus on the EBacc.

"Well-placed people I have spoken to say Michael Gove is adamant that this is the way things should be going and will push it through," Dr Vardy explained, adding: "I fear that it is because he wants to create economically effective units who will encourage growth, but that is short-sighted.

"Look at the financial crisis. We need young people with a broad range of skills and understanding, not a narrowing of education."

Dr Vardy was speaking after addressing around 250 sixth-form students from 12 schools who had gathered at Trinity School to take part in a day of presentations and debates, covering topics such as the "Cosmological and ontological arguments" and "Freud, Jung and the psychology of religion".

Trinity's head of religious studies Esmond Lee said his subject was very popular with students, with 95 of the 125-strong Year 11 planning to take the GCSE next summer.

Upper sixth-former Sarah Bingham believes the subject should have a place in the EBacc.

"It should definitely be included," she said.

"Religious studies is really important to help us understand one another. There's also a lot of philosophy involved and it gives you analytical skills."

The 17-year-old added the subject was "definitely not" just taken by those who followed a religion.

Jamie Lambert, 16, is in the lower sixth and studied RS at GCSE.

"I really enjoy the debating side of things when you look at issues like the existence of God. It has definitely broadened my view on life," he said.

NEW UK Athletics head coach Peter Eriksson insists he will be searching inside Lawrence Okoye's head as he bids to help him put London 2012 firmly behind him.

Okoye was in with a genuine shout of a podium finish on his Olympic debut at London 2012 this summer, heading to Stratford ranked fourth in the world in the discus.

But, despite matching his world ranking in qualifying, it all unravelled for the 21-year-old and he finished 12th and last in the final, leaving him questioning his future in the sport.

Okoye decided to stick with athletics, shunning a return to rugby, and will be looking to prove to Charles van Commenee's replacement that he made the right choice.

Eriksson is already impressed by what he sees in Okoye, although he admits that talent is only half the fight and that he must win the battle in their mind first and foremost.

"I think we have a lot of great young athletes and coaches on the Olympic side like Lawrence and I think we can do better and better as we continue," said Eriksson, who won the High Performance Coach of the Year award at the recent UK Coaching Awards.

"I think we have a lot of athletes under the age of 23 that we can take from medal contenders to medallists. The ground roots are already there and although it is a big leap I believe that we can do it.

"We have brought in Dr Steve Peters to work on the psychology side of things like he did with British Cycling and he will be important to help us out and prepare for the future because I think we can do much better on the psychology side of things.

"It is something that we have done really well on the Paralympic side of things and I think it is something that we can do more on the Olympic side of things.

"With his help and the coaches we have, we will do all right."

The first real chance that Okoye will have to impress new boss Eriksson will be at next year's World Championships in Moscow.

But it's very clear to Eriksson what he's working towards, with the success of London 2012 still firmly in everyone's mind.

"My new task is a big task, a complex task, but I look forward to it and I think it is going to be great," he added.

"We have some time to work now until the Rio 2016 Olympics and, although it will be hard work, time is on our side.

"So we need not rush things as the big goal is obviously the Olympics and building on our London successes."

Gillette's support of the UK Coaching Awards follows its partnership with sports coach UK earlier this year as part of the 'Great Starts' campaign.

 by Aishah Mehmood (reporter for the Croydon Peace Tree)

Croydon artist and anti gun and knife campaigner Valerie Beddington-Hooker is trying to promote a unique project. A project she wishes to embed within the national educational curriculum, through her paintings entitled 'Disarming Innocence'. The aim is to educate and bring a rise of discussion and debate within all classrooms throughout the UK on the issues of gun and knife crime.

'Disarming Innocence' was recently exhibited at the House of Lords in October. The paintings resonated many positive responses, to which, Richard Ottaway, MP of Croydon South hoped "many young people will have the opportunity to see them and reflect on the powerful messages".The thought-provoking paintings reveal the brutal truth of life on the streets. Loosely based on the Stations of the Cross, its fifteen metres in length and in the form of a Medieval Altar piece.

Horrified by the levels of gun and knife crime affecting many young people today, Valerie explains that "our society has serious issues to deal with and my series of paintings are a tool which can be used to raise awareness amongst young people of the terrible dangers that exist today. If only one life is saved as a result of this work, it will have served its purpose". In this case, art is not distanced from the public, by being hung only in art galleries, but rather art hopes to inspire students in the classroom to reflect upon issues that affect our society. Supported on the project by Brigitte Landon who has twenty-five years experience in Education and Public relations, Valerie intends to make the exhibition available to all schools, community colleges and educational establishments within the UK. The aim is to also develop and provide a teaching package, which would be age appropriate for seven and thirteen year olds. This package includes a DVD based on the sequence, utilising animation and music to engage and influence young people. Another possibility is to also develop a fully interactive website, which would provide a mechanism for young people who might be at risk of gun and knife crime, to confidentially seek support if they need to. 

The project hopes to partner with other organisations to combat issues that affect gun and knife crime, as well as making the package available to them. At the present moment, Valerie is currently seeking support and guidance from individuals within parliament and the educational community to make this project possible. As the project will be run on a 'not for profit basis', funding is desperately needed.

Valerie asks for your support in making this project a possibility. For more information on Valerie and 'Disarming Innocence' please visit the following links: www.valeriebeddingtonhooker.co.uk/

 www.facebook.com/DisarmingInnocenceNoToGunAndKnifeCrime

A NOVEL campaign has been launched to stop St Mark's Church in South Norwood from crumbling.

The fundraising drive seeks to encourage people to buy a brick for either £10, £50 or £100 to raise funds for the church's unexpected renovation work.

For every brick brought, the church will recognise the generosity of the sponsor by building a paper wall made of bronze, silver and gold paper bricks with the donor's name on them, inside the church

The 160-year-old church, which is built of Kentish ragstone, underwent restoration work in the 1960s but, due to builders using the wrong type of water in the cement, the walls of the building are eroding faster than expected.

The parish had to resort to putting an iron grill over one window that was rapidly crumbling as a result of the Sixties restoration.

Unable to delay the repairs for any longer, church leaders decided to arrange for the building work to be carried out but, as builders started the work, they soon discovered a string of further problems that grew beyond the church's budget.

Facing a bill of £82,000, the church cleaned out all its bank accounts and reserve funds and was faced with a £10,000 deficit.

Treasurer Penny Smith-Orr said the church had a fluid congregation as people often move in and out of South Norwood.

She said: "People think churches have an abundance of money, we certainly do not."

To try to raise the funds, the church decided to send out letters to all of the congregation and received a fabulous response.

Despite the donations, the church still needs to raise about £6,000 to pay the builders.

The church plans to eventually erect a plaque listing all the people who helped in the hour of need.

Ms Smith-Orr said: "We cannot even afford a Christmas tree at the moment, but we hope things will soon change."

Seventeen of the stores have been set up in high streets up and down the borough, anchored by supermarkets and superstores at each end. More are on their way in Saffron Square, West Croydon, Thornton Heath and Purley.

Unsurprisingly, their rise is often met with opposition from independent traders and their supportive neighbours. They say there is no way they can compete with the purchasing might and brand pull of the supermarkets.

Amir Shahid, who runs Shop Right supermarket at 71-73 Thornton Road, said: "I can't explain to you what traders are feeling. The supermarkets have the big guns out and for the people with the smaller shops it is becoming impossible to survive."

At Pond Late Shop in nearby London Road, the manager spoke of working in a "dying industry".

"The only thing we can do is try to lower our margins, but it gets to a point where you cannot lower them anymore or there is no point in doing it," he said.

"I do not know what the future holds, but I would say we will see the end of these kind of independent stores within the next ten to fifteen years."

Speaking on Tuesday evening, he was selling produce over the counter in shopping bags from nearby Tesco. "Hey, we are trying to save money where we can," he explained.

Blaming the supermarkets, the supermarkets argue, is unfair. After all, they are only giving the people what they want and fulfilling most businesses's mission of growth. Even if their size makes it an unequal contest.

Tesco spokesman Matthew Magee points out the company employs roughly 1,000 full and part-time staff in supermarkets across Croydon – and a further 1,000 in its dotcom warehouse.

He added Tesco staff were paid 5 to 12 per cent more than at the other big supermarket names. He would not reveal how much, saying it was "unfair to the staff".

In response to a question about the company's ability to undercut others with its massive buying power, he said Tesco does not set prices in comparison with local stores. So if a neighbouring trader can beat Tesco's price, Tesco won't retaliate.

He added: "Express stores can increase the footfall in the local area so we bring customers into the area.

"We give them a reason to shop in their local area instead of getting in a car and going elsewhere. Once they are there they will use the butchers and the bakers."

He is not the only one to see the potential benefits of the chain convenience stores.

Annabel Fogden, general manager of the Croydon Chamber of Commerce, says the stores can be a catalyst for change rather than a force of destruction.

She said: "It is very important that local businesses stay strong because they have the connection with the community.

"A good range of shops also means the high street is a more attractive place for people to come.

"But supermarkets and convenience stores can be a catalyst to make independent shops think differently about what they supply.

"People find the express stores very convenient, so they are bringing people into the area. If shops can complement that, that can be a good thing."

Be that as it may it is, scant comfort to those caught in the eye of the change, such as Sunny Patel in Brighton Road, Purley.

His Good News newsagent and basic grocery store is one of the few remaining retailers in a town where the arrival of Tesco superstore 20 years ago has banished the butcher and baker.

He is now operating on dwindling margins to compete with the superstore, while a Sainsbury's Local is set to open down the road soon.

He said: "We get four two-litre milk bottles in a pack for 95 per bottle. I am selling them each for a pound.

"So I am making 20p on a whole case, just to draw people in," he added.

"I will just have to try and pull my finger out and sort something out."

• Croydon George Street Express, 30/34 George Street;
• Croydon Leon House Express, Leon House, Croydon;
• Croydon Southend Express, South End Road;
• Croydon Whitehorse Road Express: 111 Whitehorse Road;
• South Norwood Express, 156-162 Portland Road;
• Thornton Heath London Road Express, 1076 London Road;
• Croydon London Road Express: 369-373 London Road;
• Shirley Express, 10/14 Bywood Avenue, Shirley; and
• Coulsdon Express, 2-4 Chipstead Valley Road, Coulsdon

• New Park Esso Express, 847-853 London Road, New Park, Thornton Heath;
• Croydon Esso Express, 23-41 Shirley Road, Croydon;
• Croydon Addiscombe Esso Express, 100-102 Lower Addiscombe Road, Croydon;
• Shirley West Wickham Esso Express, Wickham Road, Shirley

• Purley Road, Purley;
• 32 Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath

• Central Croydon, 19 Whitgift Centre;
• Purley Way, Trafalgar Way;
• Crystal Palace, 120-122 Whitehorse Lane;
• Selsdon, 130 Addington Road, South Croydon;
• Upper Norwood, 66 Westow Street

• George Street Local, 1-3 Suffolk House, George Street;
• Croydon High Street Local, 59 High Street;
• Addiscombe Local, 261 Lower Addiscombe Road;
• South Norwood Portland Road Local, 122 Portland Road

• Site of Blockbusters, 6-8 Purley Parade, High Street, Purley;
• Site of Ship of Fools Pub, 9-11 London Road, Croydon;
• Garage site at 187 Parchmore Road, Thornton Heath

• Saffron Square, Wellesley Road, East Croydon

WITH his father working the wine industry and later running a pub in Worcestershire, it was always likely Duncan Woodhead would follow the family tradition.

But he admits that from the age of 18, he decided that his first love in the world of alcohol was real ale – not something "basically just made from grapes".

The ensuing years have seen Duncan develop his passion for downing the odd pint of ale into learning about the brewing business, culminating in him opening his own micro-brewery in Neville Road, Croydon, six weeks ago.

He is running the new venture with his partner Victoria Barlow.

The idea of Clarence & Fredericks – named after the couple's home road in Sutton and their three-year-old son – was born when Duncan started his own home brewing set-up from his house two years ago.

It was enough to prompt him to enter the commercial market and learn the brewing ropes from Ian Burgess, who runs W J King Brewers in Horsham, the man Duncan still looks to as a mentor.

Duncan said: "The catalyst for the whole idea was the birth of Frederick. Once you have had a child you can do anything."

So the decision was made to set up the company and hunt for premises, much of which he has done in his spare time while working as a union organiser for the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.

Already from the converted industrial premises, Duncan is brewing once a week, producing around 40, 72-pint casks a week.

The mainstay of the business so far are Best Bitter and Golden Ale, although he is about to start on a new seasonal ale for Christmas, called Redcurrant Stout.

Clarence & Fredericks has been successful in getting its beers into a number of pubs in Central London as well as in Croydon and neighbouring Sutton.

Duncan said: "My ambition is to get into more pubs in Croydon and to brew at least twice a week."

Expansion will depend on establishing a reputation which is passed by word of mouth from one pub to another.

Duncan said: "My belief is that if you put out good-quality beer with sensible branding you will succeed."

But he has no notions of getting rich quick, not least because of the amount of money swallowed by the Government in VAT and beer duty.

Duncan said: "In October we turned over about £3,000 but a third of that went in VAT and duty."

On that basis, he said, it was going to take longer than for most businesses to break even or looking further ahead, make a surplus.

But he is confident the market is there and quality will out in the end.

More information about the brewery can be found by going to its website at www.cfbrewing.co.uk

A WOMEN'S golf club that has been teeing off for 65 years is calling on more people to develop a love for the game while raising crucial funds for a lifesaving charity.

Elaine Cann, vice-captain and member of Coulsdon Court Ladies' Golf Club for nine years, says the group is a great way to make friends while raising money for the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance.

Last week the club, founded in 1947, celebrated the "drive-in" of its new captain, Judith Macleod, when the decision was made to donate all funds raised during the next year to the air ambulance.

Mrs Cann said: "It is a very sociable time and throughout the year we have different meetings where we have meals and everyone is very friendly.

"As far as our club is concerned, it is a very caring club. We care about the other members, so if they are in need of support in any way our ladies will be there for them.

"It's also a time when we have a lot of fun and some people will come down to join us just for sandwiches and a chat, even if they don't play. It's not just the exercise opportunity, it's the social side too."

The group has about 50 members, about 25 of whom tee off every Wednesday morning, when the group meets at 8.30am for a four-hour session on the 18-hole course at Coulsdon Manor Hotel.

Joining the club costs in excess of £50 but three events will take place in the next year – a Bourne Society talk, a music hall evening and summer tea party, to raise funds for the air ambulance.

Mrs Cann, from Purley, added: "The air ambulance is a wonderful charity, but it shouldn't be a charity, because this is a service that is saving lives in the three different counties."

For more information on the club, or to join, call Mrs Cann on 020 8660 6143.

SOUTH Park are dreaming of another big day out in the FA Vase, but know they face a tricky task to get there.

Park travel to Rye United this Saturday looking to progress to the national stages of the competition for the second year running, having lost out to four-time winners Whitley Bay in the last 32 of the competition last season.

If they win, Park will guarantee themselves a place in the second round again next season, but manager Joe McElligott knows it is likely to be a tough encounter for his side.

"Rye are one of the more experienced Sussex County League sides and have done well in the Vase before," he said.

"We know it is going to be a difficult task, but we are looking forward to it - we love the opportunity to test ourselves against teams from other leagues."

Park were originally due to face Spartan South Midlands Division One side Amersham Town after they defeated Rye in the last round 1-0.

But the Buckinghamshire outfit were removed from the competition after they were found to have played an ineligible player in that match.

However, McElligott said that Rye would be difficult opponents, with the Sussex side currently third in the Sussex County League Division One.

The Park boss said: "They have one or two very good players and we understand that they play quite a direct game.

"But we go there with no fear, we just love playing in these cup competitions. Of course we would love to get as far, if not further than last year."

MAX CHILTON says he only has eyes on securing a Formula One drive for 2013.

The 21-year-old from Reigate is favourite to take the vacant seat at Marussia Racing after French driver Charles Pic moved to Caterham at the end of the season.

However, Chilton said if a deal didn't come off in the next few weeks, he will not be going back to GP2 and will look to stay in the F1 paddock as an official reserve driver.

"I was happy to see Charles go because it opened up a seat a Marussia," he said. "I'm still working on that side of things, but I want to step up as a race driver and not just a reserve.

"I don't think anyone can say you are ready for F1 unless you feel you are personally ready and I want to get that seat. I don't think I'd do GP2 again.

"If things don't come off, I'll look for a reserve driver somewhere to get more free practice, more time in a car. But I haven't spent much time thinking about that to be honest, because I want that seat at Marussia."

Chiton was named Marussia's official reserve driver towards the end of the season and took part in the first practice session at Abu Dhabi where he impressed, finishing just a second down on team-mate Timo Glock.

It came off the back of a breakthrough season in GP2, where he took his maiden podium in the first race in Malaysia and then took his first wins in Budapest and Singapore.

"They say GP2 is the feeder series to F1," he said. "I've done three years there and feel ready. Last season I was the highest points scorer in the second half and I think it's a good stepping stone up to F1.

"Marussia haven't said when they are making an announcement. I know they were hoping to do something before Christmas. The team at the factory want to know and hopefully it will be soon, but there's no deadline."

If Chilton does get the seat it will make him the fourth British driver on the grid in 2013.

TABLE TENNIS: Royal Russell School's U13 table tennis team, which consisted of Reiss Vydelingum, Liam Smith, James Smith and Charlie Jones, performed extremely well to win the South London and Surrey Championships last week.

The competition, held at Wilson's School, was for Year 8 pupils and below, but this didn't stop the team who had an incredibly young group with two students from Year 7, one from Year 6 and one from Year 5.

In the initial group stage, Royal Russell beat Hayes (Bromley) 7-1 and Coombe (Merton) 7-1. Then there was a close encounter with Wilson's in the semi-finals but Royal Russell came out on top, winning 5-3.

After a tense and exciting encounter, the boys went on to beat Coombe again in the final to qualify for the Jack Petchey zone finals, which will be held in Redbridge on January 19.

The U13 team will also be joined by the school's U11 team, who qualified for the same stage by beating Bishop Gilpin 5-3.

HUNDREDS of pupils were told to stay away from school for two days after their school's heating broke down in mid-winter.

Castle Hill Primary School, in Dunley Drive, was closed on Friday and Monday while leaking heating pipes were fixed.

The Early Years Centre attached to the school was not affected and has stayed open throughout.

Councillor Simon Hall, chairman of governors, said the school had no choice but to close given the plunging winter temperatures.

He said: "We cannot expect the children or indeed the adults to operate in these conditions

"It is not something that we want to do because we know it is a disadvantage to the children's education and to parents and carers, but the school had no choice."

The school planned to re-open on Monday but closed after plumbers fixing the first problem found a second.

The closures angered some parents, many of whom were kept up to date with the situation by text message.

Dean Messenger was among the parents discussing the closure on the Facebook page of community group New Addington Pathfinders.

He said: "Disgraceful – as cannot afford more time off work.

"I for one certainly can't afford to lose a day's pay or pay for childcare from 8am until 8pm."

Cllr Hall said the school has long raised concerns with the budget-stretched council about the building's maintenance.

He said: "One of our concerns is that if we have ageing infrastructure and equipment then these things will happen. The school has been pushing for some time to try and get some improvements and some maintenance.

"Like a lot of these things, [it joins] a list of things the council is aware of and one assumes there will come a point at which it may go up the priority list.

"In the meantime we do everything we can to make sure as much as possible it does not affect the pupils. These circumstances were out of our control."

He added that the school will try and make up for the two lost days of education, possibly during some of the five annual inset (teacher training) days.

The council announced in April that one block (A) of the school would be getting a new roof as part of £2 million spending on repairing the borough's schools.

AFC CROYDON Athletic got their league campaign back on track with a 4-1 victory over basement club CB Hounslow United last weekend.

Despite the scoreline, this was not a vintage performance, and after the stunning display against Badshot Lea the week before, which ensured the Rams progressed in the Premier Challenge Cup, hopes were high against a side that had only one win to their name.

The sides had already met back in August, when on the hottest day of the summer, AFC Croydon won 6-3.

The game started slowly but the hosts took the lead after just ten minutes when Danny Penfold crossed from the right for Lee Jansen to flick on and Joe Loyza fired home from a narrow angle.

Any hint of further goals disappeared as both sides struggled to find cohesion in their passing.

However, on the half-hour mark, the home side nearly grabbed their second when Penfold latched on to Dean Rose's long clearance but shot wide.

As the half came to an end, Croydon did get a second goal. Tony Martin linked with Loyza and Jansen in a passing move, which ended with the ball being laid off to Edward Cardona, who slotted past Hounslow's keeper.

And they made the game safe in the 52nd minute when Jansen was fouled 30 yards from goal, before he picked himself up to fire the free-kick goalwards, and after a fumble from the Hounslow keeper caused a scramble, Croydon players tried to force the ball home.

However, the assistant referee had signalled the ball had crossed the line.

The visitors had not really posed a threat all game but on 59 minutes, a free-kick was played into the danger area and was fired in by Akinfenwa. But Croydon made sure of the points late on when Martin found the back of the net shortly after Danny Cumber had a header tipped over.

Tomorrow, they travel to face Feltham (3pm).