Two stunning first half free kicks proved to enough on an historic night for Punjab United in the Gravesend rain on Monday night. 

First Sam Wood curled a stunner into the bottom corner before skipper Wayne Bushell did the same into the opposite corner ten minutes later as the Gravesham side edged toward the first ever win in the Isthmian League. 

However, AFC Croydon Athletic who have flattered to deceive too many times already this season – Saturday saw them humbled seven one in the Trophy by Waltham Forest – reacted to a degree in the second half and were able to bundle one back after a melee as Brandon Pierrick netted as the game seemed to edge back towards the visitors.

But before the game could restart Croydon substitute David Bretang was rightly shown a red card for raising his hands in the direction of Punjab skipper Bushell who was rightly shown a yellow card himself for hanging onto the ball. 

But there really was no excuse for the Croydon man to react the way he did, especially as he’d only been on the pitch for fifteen minutes. 

The moment of stupidity handed the impetus back to the home side and with Bushell and his central defensive partner Roman Campbell outstanding, putting their bodies online more than once, this really wasn’t going to be Croydon’s night and indeed but for a couple of fine blocks to deny Will Johnson Cole, the final scoreline would indeed have been greater. 

The home side started brightly, and Zak Bryon looped an early chance over Amandu Tangara in the Croydon goal. But on five minutes the keeper was helpless as Wood magnificently curled a free-kick beyond Tangara and into the net – a stunning strike! 

Croydon still trying to recover from that weekend drubbing were rocking, and when Wood went down the left, his centre was kneed goalwards by Harry Ottaway only for the ball to crash to safety off the bar with Tangara motionless. 

The keeper was beaten again on twenty-one minutes when Wayne Bushell this time arrowed a free kick across the keeper and into the bottom corner – amazingly rock-bottom Punjab had stunned one of the title favourites who simply didn’t have any answers kicking up the Steve Cook slope – possession yes, but limited chances on Owen Bushell’s goal. 

Punjab could have had more chances before the break – Ottaway twice went close and Jordan Campbell was denied by a really brave save after battling through, but the question was as referee Scott blew the half time whistle, did Punjab have a big enough lead? 

Well, Byron went close with the second half’s first chance as he whistled a ball across the face of goal, whilst at the other end Josh Williams was denied by one of Roman Campbell’s superb blocks. 

With twenty minutes left, the game turned in different directions twice following the same incident – Williams caused havoc in the home box and when the ball fell to him, Perrick blasted home. The ball was then not released in the back of the net resulting in an ugly kerfuffle which resulted in Bremang clearly raising his hands in the direction of Wayne Bushell’s face. 

Referee Scott consulted with his assistant and the Croydon sub was sent off despite ridiculously trying to plead his innocence. 

It made the last twenty minutes a real spectacle for the fans now soaked to the skin in the pouring rain. Wayne Bushell was denied his second with a fine block from the keeper whilst only Sam Blackman will know how he didn’t hit the Punjab goal with a clear header.

Johnson-Cole then roared through twice up the slope before Tangara denied him and saved his shot, and in the final action of the game Kadell Daniel’s ball into the Punjab box fell to Cian McCarthy who was denied by both Wayne Bushell and Roman Campbell and the ball just lolloped into the keeper’s arms. 

But no-one in Punjab red will forget Monday 28th September in a hurry, the night that Punjab United won their first game ever at Step Four in the Isthmian League… 

PUNJAB UNITED – Owen Bushell, Lewis-Thomas, Wood, Wayne Bushell, Roman Campbell, Hopkins, Ratcliff (Scudder), Singh (Johnson-Cole), Ottaway, Bryan, Jordan Campbell.

Subs not used – Carey, Dawson, Oluwaserno. 

AFC CROYDON ATHLETIC – Tangara, Blackman, Daniel, Paxman, Cundle (Bremang), Taylor (Watson), Dreher (O’Neill), Williams, McCarthy, Perrick, Boateng. 

Subs not used – Johnson-Palmer, Thompson.