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Combined Counties League - Premier Division Match

MATCH REPORT

Despite Bedfont Green being confirmed as Combined Counties League champions, Chertsey Town pressed hard for all the points on Saturday against an in form Sandhurst Town side in order to take the consolation of the runners up spot. They only managed a draw but still strengthened their second place in the Premier Division table after two of their three main rivals lost.

A plethora of niggling injuries to a third of the side may well have taken their toll. A number of them were running on an empty tank, during the second half. Reinforcements were thin on the ground, not helped by the non availability of Paul Brooker in attack and goalkeeper Michael Lidbury. Harry Bettinson, a 16 year old product of the youth team started his first game in the first team, and although well protected, looked the part. His kicking was impressively powerful.

Although a draw, this was another Chertsey game which looked likely to yield three points. The first half attacking was frequent and looked likely to reap far more than the one goal that was mustered. Defensively, there seemed little concern. The reshuffled back four did all that was necessary with Stuart Bamford again impressive, both in the air and on the ground.

Sandhurst had a good spell early on but not allowed a decent strike but eventually Chertsey took over to construct as good a goal as you are likely to see at any level of football when a through ball from Steve Gibson found Marcus Moody. He threaded it through a gap for John Pomroy to run on to and fire home with a low rifled shot from 15 yards for a 19th minute lead.

Agon Asen in the Sandhurst goal was kept very busy and impressed with a string of fully committed saves from Aaron McLeish and John Pomroy. Chertsey won, overall over a dozen corner kicks but could not convert any of them.

Sandhurst resumed the second half in a far more determined mood and Chertsey was forced to play reactive football. Passes were woefully off beam and a lack of direction crept into their play. However, defending was tight enough to stop the visitors breaking through until one lapse put them back on terms.

The goal came on 53 minutes when a corner kick from the right was headed firmly home by centre back Matt Weston who had crept up unnoticed and was allowed to get full purchase on his effort. The goal added to Chertsey’s weariness and although they still looked comfortable in deep defence, there was virtually no forward momentum until the final fifteen minutes when Sandhurst looked vulnerable once again.

Darren Dobinson looked favourite for a header off a raking left wing cross but misdirected and was, as one of the walking wounded, perhaps distracted by his injury. Soon after, one of Bettinson’s many long clearance kicks took one bounce for Pomroy to lash in a strike from the edge of the area but again Asen was equal to the task.

Two vehement shouts for penalties came in these final moments, both for clashes on Moody as he tried to make progress on the right but was bundled over. A chance from the penalty spot might well have put the final score line into better perspective but at least the draw kept Chertsey well in the hunt for that second spot.