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Combined Counties League - Premier Division Match

MATCH REPORT

In returning to the ground where, at the very start of the season, Chertsey Town imposed an emphatic league victory over hosts Badshot Lea, they again emerged triumphant, this time in the Surrey Senior Cup. Despite his side winning again, Gavin Bolger will not have fond memories of the Cherrywood Road venue for he was forced off the park prematurely with an elbow induced fractured jaw in the original fixture, then, in only his second outing since that injury, he was red carded only two minutes after coming off the bench following a fracas involving him with two Badshot Lea defenders, both of whom managed to stay on the park.
 
It was with some irony therefore, that the reduction to ten men lifted Chertsey's game further, and they went on to take an eventual comfortable passage into the next round. With scores level at that point, Chertsey hit two late goals on the break as Badshot Lea appeared to have given themselves too much licence to push up field in looking for a winner against perceived depleted opposition, leaving fatal gaps in the rear.
 
Chertsey were without regulars, Lee O'Leary, John Pomroy and Paul Smith, plus impressive new signings Mu Maan and Josh Lennie who were unable to beat the seven day signing deadline. Dan Smith, Jordan Griffiths were two starters that benefited from the absentees. The re-arranged line up perhaps account for a less than cohesive first half display in which Badshot Lea deserved their one goal lead.
 
They pressed hard at the beginning with long throw ins to compliment a series of corners. Marcus Moody might have twice got his name on Lea's score sheet with two attempted clearances that looked more likely to count for a goal a piece rather than actual corner kicks. The home side piled on some pressure at times but it was Chertsey who created the better chances in the first quarter of the game.
 
Paul Brooker broke through but, in good position, was unable to engineer enough venom into his strike to beat Alex Brown in goal. An even better opening was created ten minutes later, on 24 minutes, when Kevin Cooper found space and unselfishly squared the ball to Griffiths, but his hurried shot did not exploit the situation and again Brown was in command.
 
Badshot Lea's goal arrived on 29 minutes when a neat set of ten yard passes opened up Chertsey's rearguard and Brad Smith gave his namesake in the Chertsey goal no chance with a low rifled shot that perfectly dissected the gap between outstretched hand and upright. Spurred on by their acquired advantage, the home side pressed Chertsey back with hurried clearances finding only brief respite.
 
Town survived this power play come half time, and save for an initial burst of energy from Badshot Lea after the break, began to wrestle control of the game. Their position was underlined on 54 minutes when a penalty kick was awarded after a defender had climbed all over Martin Beard as he shaped up to meet a cross from the right. The ball was put neatly away, low, by Cooper who sent Brown in the wrong direction as he levelled the scores.
 
Chertsey were reduced to the ten men on 63 minutes but playing one short seemed to have an opposite effect to that hoped by the recharged home side. For it was Chertsey that reaped the benefit of the changed dynamics of the contest as space was found on the ample pitch in greater quantities. Chertsey exploited this broadening of the game with their second goal on 73 minutes.
 
Darren Dobinson flashed forward a thirty yard pass into the path of Brooker who timed his run precisely and beat the offside flag on this occasion to advance into space and then curl the ball round and over the beached Brown from well outside of the penalty area. Chertsey increased their influence on events and padded their lead to even more comfortable proportions. Griffiths may have spurned that first half invitation by Cooper to score but he made up for the lapse with an inch perfect pass at distance to his previous provider.
 
The move was decisive enough for Cooper to make a promising situation to look simple by collecting the pass and almost ambling round Brown to dribble the ball into the net and give his side a comfortable final six minutes. This tie could have swung in the home side's favour but resolute defending, although desperate at times, gave way to a more familiar Chertsey brand of crisp football which was thus suitably rewarded with victory.