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Combined Counties League - Premier Division Match

MATCH REPORT

Chertsey Town continued with their opening league game against newcomers Badshot Lea, in the manner promised during their pre-season build up with an emphatic six goal win, their best start to any previous season. It was not that the host side were poor but more that Chertsey played sweet football which will bring the good times back to Alwyns Lane if the standard set can be maintained.
 
The game began with a couple of probing crosses from both sides that gave no trouble to either defence but it was the home side that began to feel the pinch by conceding a succession of corner kicks. But it was Lea that might have taken the lead when a high cross into the Chertsey goalmouth was about to be headed home by Darren Blake only a foot or two out before a desperate Steve Gibson lunge diverted the ball away.
 
Darren Dobinson eventually hit a Chertsey hat trick. It looked like his scoring exploits were to commence in the 15th minute but a defender's toe saved the day for the Hampshire side. John Pomroy too, took longer to find the net than seemed likely when he headed wide on the near post two minutes later.
 
Dobinson had two more unsuccessful efforts at goal before an inevitable Chertsey lead was established on 26 minutes as Paul Brooker took advantage of a ricochet on the half way line. Although he found himself in a fortunate situation, he still had plenty of work to do but once in the penalty area, there was only going to be one result, that being a firmly struck strike from 15 yards.
 
Soon after, Gavin Bolger had to be prematurely substituted, having sustained two blows to the jaw in separate incidents, allowing Anthony Vine on the park for his Town midfield debut.
 
Pomroy was still looking for goal and in turning well three minutes from the break was unlucky to see his goal attempt blocked. But Chertsey managed their desrved two goal interval lead with another tremendous display of passing that saw Pomroy feed Dobinson. He passed out to late signing Leon Johnson who returned the ball inside for Dobinson to plant home.
 
Chertsey were not so dominant for the third quarter of the game but the defence continued to combine well with a back line of Steve Gibson, Simon Langley, Luke Muldowney and Marcus Moody mopping all that came their way. Goalkeeper David Tidy still had a bit of work to do though by tipping aside one dangerous poke at goal.
 
But Chertsey soon returned to the attack with a goal out of seemingly nothing when Dobinson raced at the ball, some 40 yards out, that looked about to be comfortably seized by full back Paul Andrews. But speed won the day and Dobinson honed in to the Badshot Lea goal to fire home his second of the afternoon to give Town a thumping three goal lead on 72 minutes.
 
It took only five more minutes before the same player struck again after more clever approach work from Brooker. Badshot Lea were then reeling and within a minute found themselves five down with John Pomroy volleying home a Dobinson cross.
 
Town's midfield also played their full part in this comprehensive win with John Hamsher truly playing a captain's role in his central position. Kevin Cooper came on to replace Dobinson. Kris Chin also came off the bench for Johnson and they all played their part.
 
John Pomroy, frustrated earlier in the game at not converting chances, came good again in the final minute after receiving the ball from Gibson. He took two swipes at the ball but was rewarded the second time round from 12 yards to round off a highly successful afternoon for manager Spencer Day.