HT 1-0

FT 1-1

Att 89

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Combined Counties League - Premier Division Match

MATCH REPORT

In laying siege of their visitors’ penalty area in the last quarter of the game, Chertsey Town did all they could to secure three points in a highly competitive evening encounter with Badshot Lea at Alwyns Lane, but had to settle with just one. The final score and the last minute dismissal of Dominic Worthington apart, this was exactly the preparation the Curfews needed to sharpen up their play in readiness for their forthcoming FA Vase tie, four days hence.

Exchanges with Badshot Lea have frequently been bruising encounters and this match was no exception. Competition for ball possession could not have been harder fought from either side, a situation that led to too much aggression at times which was rarely addressed by the referee and culminated in Worthington raising his hands after another foul went unpunished, provoking an argument between combatants from both sides.

The matter also lead to the banishment of the Lea’s manager who had been allowed to operate on a long leash throughout the encounter. The incident, in coming so late, bore no influence on the match or its result but was an unsurprising outcome to quite a battering contest which Chertsey, on percentages of chances, might have won, had one more of a plethora strikes at goal been successful.

Ironically, Chertsey’s only goal did not come from open play, but from the boot of John Pomroy’s penalty kick on twelve minutes after Dave Tarpey’s forging run into the Badshot Lea penalty area was halted prematurely with tackle from behind. The defender was perhaps fortunate not to have been dismissed at that time as he was the last man with the goal at Tarpey’s mercy.

A long throw soon after put Pomroy away to find space, but the shot hit the inside of the Lea post with Matt Watson in goal beaten. Watson did not need as much luck as the game wore on and must have enjoyed his inspired performance which undoubtedly kept the hard won point in his back pocket.

The first half was a tight affair with little of the share of opportunities that were carved out over the 90 minute. Town’s defence again did exceptionally well. A headed attempt at goal from a corner by Jon Boswell and a momentary ball scramble at the heart of Chertsey’s defence was closest either side came to moving the score along.

In a bright start for the visitors after the interval resumption, Liam Stone needed to be sharp to tip over a speculative long range looped shot at goal. But Badshot Lea had better success in the 62nd minute when a long free kick was sent through the middle of the park. Marcus Moody, who had just seen a shot of his own deflected wide, could not gain enough height and the ball skidded through to Matt Griffin right in front of the Chertsey sticks where he bundled the ball, in ungainly but still with a devastating result, over the line for the equaliser.

Chertsey hit back strongly and had the lion’s share of the action as the minutes mounted. Kwabana Agyei came on for the muscle strained Pomroy and looked strong He had two good chances to put the ball away for a winner in the late Chertsey surge. One was sliced wide and another headed wide. He also stole the ball to set up Tarpey but his shot was just too high.

Efforts from Gavin Bamford twice, Jon Boswell and Dave Tarpey with a well directed free kick that was scooped away from the top corner of the Badshot Lea goal, all looked like winning candidates but somehow either went inches wide or were palmed away by Watson for Town to be eventually beaten by the clock, and lady luck perhaps!