HT 1-1

FT 4-1

Att 96

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Combined Counties League - Premier Division Match

MATCH REPORT

It may have taken six months, but it looks like Spencer Day has at last assembled a balanced, motivated and skilful Chertsey Town side. His quest for promotion looked dead in the water, even as late as two weeks ago, but such is the sea change in how the side is now connecting, anything possible in the next three months; championship ambitions have been reawakened.

Goal machine John Pomroy was near unstoppable on Saturday and, in notching another four goals, has almost welded his hands onto the league's top goal scoring trophy - again! But it is in defence where the main advancment has occurred. The signing of Stuart Bamford may have been surrounded in controversy but his contribution as the rock in central defence is just what Day has been seeking all season. Bamford was imperious, particularly with his head as he firmly cleared everything that came his way.

The midfield too has accelorated through the gears with Marcus Moody, on the brink of strolling away from football only a few weeks ago, galloping through anything coming his way to compliment the quiet efficiency of Luke Muldowney who has, to date, maintained standards throughout the current campaign.

It would be invidious to omit any player's contribution from this display, from the speed of Aaron McLeish, so often the attacking provider off the flanks, to Michael Lidbury's assuredness in goal. In only making one, forced, team change in the last four league outings, the present line up look odds on to at the very least make league leaders Bedfont Green and Epsom & Ewell sweat a bit in the intriging weeks to come.

Opponents Ash United engineered an early scoring chance but Lidbury got down well to a near post poke by Sean Lydon. It was then pretty well one way traffic for the next forty minutes. Chertsey's comfort was multiplied by easing into an 8th minute lead with a goal that illustrated why Ash have shipped so many goals of late. A free kick, 20 yards out and five from the touch line was lofted in from the left by John Pomroy. Both defender and the Ash goalkeeper went for the ball but must have distracted each other. The result was that the ball entered the net for a bonus home lead.

Chertsey continued to press, winning a battery of corners that were mostly, it must be said, defended comfortably. Aaron McLeish came the closest to increasing the lead, but not off a corner kick. His free play shot vigously rippled the Ash side netting, but on the wrong face.

It looked like Chertsey were going to have to settle for just a slender one goal lead as half time approach. But then, quite against the run of play, Ash struck back with an equally fortuitous goal when an off target strike from Lydon took a vicious deflection and trundled over the line despite Lidbury getting an outstretched touch.

So it was a bonus goal apiece after 43 minutes but by the 44th, Chertsey had again nosed ahead. With the ball lose in the Ash penalty area Alan Hanning inexplicably decided to pat it down at chest height. Pomroy's inch perfect spot kick justly restored the gap.

It was as if a switch had been thrown during electric shock treatment in the Ash dressing room during the interval for they resumed the game in a far more positive and determined mood. In reaction, Chertsey also had to increase the amps, especially in defence but, apart from allowing one inviting low cross to curl across their goalmouth that only a touch from either a blue and white or green shirt would have resulted in a goal, defending was of the highest order.

Ajuna Adlam was far more busier in the Ash goal in having to first tip one shot over his bar then watch another, this time from Gavin Bamford, graze along the same piece of woodwork. Goal attempts were not at the top of the agenda for most of the second period for, with the game becoming ever more speedy, hustling opponents took a higher priority with the result that errors became more common in a predominantly midfield battle.

Chertsey were able to enjoy the final moments as soon as their third was scored, on 84 minutes. A ball was fed in from the left to Pomroy. He turned in classic style and hooked the ball from 15 yards into the top right hand corner of the Ash net. Two minutes later Adlam was forced into block a fierce McLeish drive. The ball sped out to Pomroy who thumped it back with equal venom, making sure that even the most outrageous piece of luck would not reap the Alwyns Lane visitors any of the points on offer.