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Carlesberg FA Vase - First round qualifying - Replay

MATCH REPORT

Chertsey Town got themselves into the next round of the FA Vase in a far from convincing and somewhat muted fashion against Sussex League Oakwood in a midweek replay exchange. Apart from one minute of play in their FA Cup defeat at Sittingbourne, this was the first time this season that Chertsey had actually fallen behind in the scoring stakes. This facet occurred twice but each time Town got back on terms to eventually sneak ahead and take the tie.
 
The passion of the first tie was somewhat lacking in this return fixture but it was the class of Chertsey that overcame the desire of Oakwood, but it was a close run affair. There was more zip to the visitors play with Chertsey providing a better technical expertise but there was good movement in the midfield from both sides. However, Chertsey's attack was more deliberate which allowed Oakwood to form up their defence in numbers.
 
The first goal of the game came out of a Chertsey attack that was hovering just outside a tight Oakwood penalty area. Possession was lost and the ball was quickly despatched down field through the centre where Jack McNab gained control and fired in a shot that found the net via the left upright to give his side a 20th minute lead. This enthused Oakwood further and they were even more sharper to the ball, especially in the air where, for a long slice of time, they dominated.
 
Chertsey created their first real break though with a far post cross from Marcus Moody that was hit over the bar by Lee O'Leary. Chertsey's passing was still too casual and possession was constantly being lost, but gradually gaps in the visitor's defence were prised open. Paul Brooker had good success and looked positive when he sent in a low shot from the right. Goalkeeper Glen Fitzcoy was unable to gather cleanly but the lose ball was cleared by a defender by lashing it off the toe of John Pomroy who was about to pounce at close range.
 
But a goal was soon in the making and came just after the half hour. It was Brooker again on the right who struck the ball low from 20 yards across the goalmouth and into the far side of the net from an expected equaliser. What was not expected, was another goal from Oakwood, well at least, not quite so soon. It came just three minutes later, in the 31st, with McNab again finding the net, this time with his head on the far post, exploiting some loose marking. Chertsey came back strongly and before the interval Steve Gibson saw his shot cleared off the line by a defender and Liam Johnson shooting narrowly over the bar soon after.
 
Conceding a goal just after the interval is not unknown for Chertsey of late but they turned the tables this time by picking up the equaliser with only three first half minutes on the board. Quick fire passing between a posse of Chertsey players worked well on this occasion and ended up with Pomroy and O'Leary combining to set up for Brooker to fire home from ten yards.
 
Chertsey then went ahead on 62 minutes with another well constructed build up, once more done at pace. The ball was worked along the right, cut into the centre but still deep. A forward pass to Pomroy just outside the area was fed back and the ball eventually broke a little to the left where Rob Ursell chipped it in. An Oakwood defender made contact but not enough as the ball then fell to O'Leary a few yards out who crashed it into the roof of the net.
 
Oakwood came back strongly and frequently probed the Chertsey penalty area but without clear cut chances being created and the recalled Dave Tidy was equal to the situation in goal when the ball did get through. Nervy minutes these might have been but Chertsey's confidence and play picked stronger as the final whistle neared and the relief of hearing it blown was not as great as was the case on the previous draw encounter at the weekend.

See Andy Ollerenshaw's very informative blog "Chasing theVase" depicting his adventures as he travels (starting and hopefully finishing with Chertsey at Wembeley Stadium) to each round to the FA Vase. Click on the link below.