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Combined Counties League - Premier Division Match

MATCH REPORT

The embers of Chertsey Town’s faint hopes of the league title suffered a further dousing on Saturday on an arid bumpy Dorking pitch that proved to be a great leveller. Victory was snatched away from the travellers within moments of them believing themselves to just about to be the outright winners. From an untidy looking goalless draw, the last three minutes of play underlined how unpredictable the game of football can be and final outcomes should not be taken for granted, be it for 90 minutes or for a season’s campaign.

This ethos may well form a good basis for never giving up on lost causes, for Town, looking for all the world to be this season’s nearly team might well spring a surprise or two, come next May. Even their expulsion from playing in the final tie of the League Cup for breeching an obscure player qualification rule may yet have a twist in the tale.

Nothing but straight wins to the end of the season would seem to be the only chance the Curfews have of catching leaders Bedfont Green or second placed Epsom & Ewell, so this draw against middle of the table opposition Bookham was a bitter blow. Chertsey had already beaten them twice this term in cup football but a sense of daja-vous returned in league competition as the Alwyns Lane fixture with this week’s opponents also ran unexpectedly to a draw.

Paul Brooker retuning to the side was the only change to an ever more stable line up these days. But Chertsey’s strong squad just could not master the conditions with the ball running away from feet too easily on the grass starved surface. It was therefore likely to be a game of attrition and percentages. Just hoisting the ball into the opponents penalty area and hope for a lucky break looked the favourite tactic for both sides.

Town might have looked the more cultured side but they had no more success in achieving strong openings than did the hosts. Pouncing on mistakes was another viable option. Indeed, it was Bookham that might have benefited from that aspect in the first half when, on 15 minutes, a weak back pass by Richard Harris put Michael Lidbury in goal under severe pressure but Stuart Bamford’s timely intervention saved the day.

Defender Harris was more positive when in attack with his powerful throw ins and it was from one of these, won just after Town had secured their first corner of the contest as the half hour loomed, that caused mayhem in the Bookham goalmouth. The ball broke to Gavin Bamford but at an awkward angle of attack and under pressure, his snap volley at goal, although inside the actual goal area, was directed past the two uprights and well away from danger.

The concentration of Chertsey’s defence was lacking a couple of times as their side seemed to be continually pressing forward and gaps were left but weak application from Bookham when in advanced positions and in space failed to punish. Town’s clear up rate improved markedly after the break with more awareness at the back.

Chertsey’s first on target strike to be despatched with venom had to wait until the 43rd minute when a neat move through the middle broke for Brooker who unleashed a promising 25 yard shot that goalkeeper Warren Auburn did well to stop. The home side had the last say of the half though when Lidbury just managed to tip away a William Ramsey lob created out of another break into space.

Frustration grew in a bitty second half with both sides conceding free kicks aplenty, perhaps with the unpredictable surface playing its part in awkward challenges. Chertsey played the better looking football after the break but still could not find a way through. Meanwhile, Bookham were content to garner a point and were happy to see the game break down with the myriad of stoppages.

It was with great relief therefore that Chertsey at last broke through a minute into stoppage time. A Gavin Bamford cross from the right flank looked to have by-passed everyone in the crowded penalty area but not John Pomroy who, with his back to goal, completed an overhead volley that sent the ball into the back of the Bookham net.

Town’s delirium at snatching their long sought for victory was cruelly smothered 90 seconds later. The home side had hardly come close to seeing where the Chertsey goal posts had been planted at any time in the second half but a deep free kick was catapulted into the Chertsey penalty area with just second remaining. Lidbury was unable to reach the ball which found the head of Chris Woodward who headed in a most unlikely equaliser. A real heartbreaker for the visiting throng.