Click HERE to view Rayned Park Vale FC web site.

Combined Counties League - Premier Division Match

MATCH REPORT

On a Christmas pudding of a pitch at Raynes Park following a wet week, Chertsey Town balanced enough ingredients to steam their way to three valuable points. With no less than five of the seven clubs above them in the Combined Counties Premier Division loosing their encounters, Town has taken thoughts of giving up on the title race off the back burner and whilst it may not yet be boiling furiously as yet, a gentle simmer is clearly becoming more active.
 
Basic defensive lapses have been Chertsey's undoing in the first half of the season and again in this clash, a lack of concentration at the back in the first half when the ball was well forward, might have done for them once more. But this time the goalkeeping saved the day. Twice Raynes Park Vale broke out of a sustained defending sequence to set up two glorious scoring chances.
 
The opening came in the 10th and the next as half time approached but were both thwarted by off target shooting and excellent goalkeeping from new signing Michael Lidbury. In both cases the same Vale striker was unsuccessful in his efforts. Nathan Turner volleyed the first, just over then Lidbury acrobatically flung himself at Turner who had been left on his own and was able to exploit acres of space.
 
So a pattern of dominating possession, then allowing the sucker punch that has been seen over many weeks, almost occurred again but in essence, Chertsey always looked likely to overcome their South West London hosts, whatever the set back. Chertsey, despite peppering the Vale penalty area, with much work being channelled on either wing, only created a couple of likely goal scoring moments.
 
A five minute spell, midway through the half, saw the ball ping about the Vale penalty area culminating in a goalmouth scramble that was somehow cleared and, near the interval, a through ball to John Pomroy that was stifled with a last gasp tackle in front of goal.
 
Now with the slope in their favour, Chertsey had more success in the second half and it took only ten minute to open the scoring when sharp movement through the middle resulted in the ball being fed out to Darren Dobinson on the left flank. He cut in and delivered a low cross that was too inviting for Marcus Moody to spurn and he duly clipped the ball home at close range.
 
The game only progressed a further two minutes before Chertsey struck again, this time with a large slice of luck when Gavin Bolger powered the ball towards the Raynes Park goal. But it was ballooned up in the air before it had travelled any distance by an attempted defending block. As luck would have it for Town, the ball dropped just behind the unfortunate Matt May in goal.
 
The home side were rocked by this double blow and a tetchy response tested the referee and the patience of the Chertsey troops. Although four yellow cards, two a side, were dished out, it was Derrick Grobiar, the Raynes Park number five that was extremely luck not have seen more than just the one he conceded after two late challenges and an argument with the man in charge..
 
Meanwhile, football got back to the top of the menu with Aaron McLeish shooting narrowly wide and Matt Holley first seeing a firm strike being stubbed away off the line then another palmed away by May. The Chertsey defence was still being tested but defending improved as Raynes Park vainly tried to reduce their deficit. The contest was wrapped up five minutes from time when a late trip on the edge of the area resulted in a spot kick that Pomroy tidily slid away to justly reflect the difference between the two sides.
 
Chertsey served up some tasty titbits as they dug for victory and provided a more direct football that paid dividends rather than the overcooked burnt offerings that have so frequently spoilt their otherwise attractive fare.