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Combined Counties League - Premier Division Match

MATCH REPORT

Although being Chertsey Town’s least impressive performance to date, their home win over a very moderate Dorking side exemplified how the Curfews have progressed over the past twelve months. Such a performance might well have ended up with two or three points dropped but on this occasion a first half stale prologue was all that had to be endured before the real show began in Saturday’s Combined Counties League encounter.

Town’s most accomplished performance was perhaps that seen of only four days previous at fancied North Greenford United and although the line up was unchanged, the side’s presentation was of a far more inferior standard. The change in accomplishment was stark. However, Chertsey’s class showed sufficient shine and that they were never under any real threat of failure.

Not scoring the first goal until well over two thirds of the contest had gone still gendered discomfort but in the final analysis, practically every spectator must have eventually wondered what there was to worry about. As in almost every football match, half chances to create an upset were on offer but Dorking’s weakness in front of goal never really looked like taking advantage.

It took some time before any sort of shot at goal on target was seen. It came from a John Pomroy volley, followed by Dorking’s Phil Page’s effort that was tipped aside by Liam Stone in the Chertsey goal. Andy Crossley got in the mood within minutes with a shot, be it off target, himself, then winning a free kick 25 yards out when his ball work was too tricky for the visitor’s defence. John Pomroy took the kick which cleared the wall and dipped, but went inches wide.

Dorking showed some verve by coming out of their conservative defensive stance to test the Chertsey back line as half time approached but were allowed no joy. Stuart Bamford and Dean Inman held tight in the centre. In fact the defensive qualities of the whole side were never in question.

The second half was more productive in terms of goalmouth action with a 48th minute bullet Steve Goddard header off a well directed Crossley cross being the game’s more convincing goal attempt in open play up to that point. Play went lose again with little form, to the extent that the ball was headed eight times by players from both sides in one consecutive aerial sequence.

That short passage of play summed up the drift of the game but focus was quickly re-defined with an opening goal that made the wait well worthwhile. A high ball from Inman went a little too far over to the right. Pomroy got there first and with his back to goal, popped the ball over his and his marker’s shoulder and blasted in a left foot volley from twelve yards on a slight angle that gave Dan Coote in goal only a one in 100 chance of saving.

Town then loosened up and although not ripping into the visitors, did enough to make the game comfortable with two more goals. The first of this pair arrived on 75 minutes when a curling free kick from Pomroy, adjacent to the left corner flag, swung low into the goalmouth where Paul Guy sliced it into his own net from just a couple of yards out.

Dorking’s John Gladwin should have reduced the arrears during Chertsey’s only real defensive lapse when right in front of an open goal and elected to smash the ball as hard as he could into the roof of the net instead of taking the more professional approach of tapping it home. The sound of the ball trying to put a dent into the cross bar must have been heard outside Sainsbury’s in the town centre leaving Spencer Day thinking it must be his birthday!

Dorking were more game towards the end of what now was a lost cause for them and paid a further price on a Chertsey break out. Pomroy had just been substituted by Matt Grave and acknowledged his status by scoring Chertsey’s third goal five minutes from time by collecting a pass from Goddard stationed on the half way line, taking the ball some 25 yards before rounding goalkeeper and firing home.

Although not a classic showing, Chertsey’s supporters would have gone away comfortable in the knowledge that their side look good for the season to pick up points, even when a piston is misfiring in their otherwise well lubricated engine. They will also expect a stronger passing game when they are tested by Metropolitan Police in the FA Cup this coming Friday night at Alwyns Lane.