Staines Lammas  1 v 4  Chertsey Town
Date:  Saturday 9 July	Competition:  Friendly

One down at half time from a goal on 43 minutes during a non descript first half, we came back strongly after the break for a comfortable win with good performances from a string of new faces.

Having been denied a stong penalty shout on 46 minutes, Andy Crossley put us ahead three minutes later with a shot from the edge of the penalkty area off the post following a through ball from Lewis Ochea.

We went ahead on 65 minutes when Crossley centred from the left flank and the ball was met by Phil Page in spectacular style with an overhead cycle shot with his back to the goal.

Page almost found the net again ten minutes later but forced the ball inside for Scott Occomore to fire home from 15 yards.

Occomore completed the score with the last kick of the game by collecting the ball and in the same movement, hitting it home from, this time, just a dozen yards.

Powerful performances were also seen in defence and the midfield in an all round solid display, especially for the start of the season.

Squad: Joe Talbot, Tommy McGarry, Ollie Treacher, Moses Spencer, Lewis Ochea, Leike Saku, Andy Crossley, Tom O'Regan, Phil Page, Troy Flanaghan, Bilal Butt, Dan Bennett, Billy Roach, Scott Occomore, George Pearce, Max Galbraith.

Chertsey Town  1 v 1  Sandhurst Town
Date:  Tuesday 12 July	Competition:  Friendly

Our firts home friendly saw a number of changes to the previous Saturday's line up with the squad being broadened for the evening to give all players the opportunity to show their worth.

The opponents from the Combined Counties League did likewaise and used almost two sets of teams. We resricted ourselves to just 14. We took the lead on the hour with a corner from the left which was headed on by George Pearson for Moses Spencer to ram home.

Sandhurst Town equalised with a well taken volley from the edge of the penalty area through Charlie Oakley with just about the last action of a very quick and uiseful looking display from both teams.

Line up: 1. Joe Talbot, 2. Tommy McGarry, 3. Jack Leighton, 4. Andy Crossley, 5. Moses Spencer, 6. David Johnson, 7. Dan Bennett, 8. Max Galbraith, 9. Phil Page, 10. Sam Hammar, 11. Scott Occomore, 14. George Pearce, 16. Billy Roach, 17. Lewis Ochea, GK sub. George Armstrong

Chertsey Town  0 v 4  Hemel Hempstead
Date:  Saturday 16 July	Competition:  Friendly

Poor application against Premier Division opposition exposed us today s we lost 0-4 to Hemel Hempstead Town. We went one down on 13 minutes. Another was conceded just agter the break. A third arrived on 58 minutes and the fourth just before the end.

Chertsey Town  3 v 3  Egham Town
Date:  Tuesday 19 July	Competition:  Friendly

A better work out saw us draw 3-3 with our next door neighbours. Their squad included six players who have previous worn a Chertsey shirt. Ours had more new faces and was still missing key players.

We took an early lead through Phil Page with a low drive. The 7th minute goal was equalised 17 minutes later through Dale Marvell but Page put us back into the lead in the 26th minute.

Marvell put his new side back on terms on 65 minutes only for Page to strike again soon after for the third time. Luke Muldowney pressed the ball home with two minutes to spare to engineer Egham's third and final equalising goal of the rain lashed evening.

Team: George Armstrong, Paul West, Ollie Treacher, Moses Spencer, Tom McGarry, David Johnson, Dan Bennett, Max Galbraith, Phil Page, Lawrie Shennon, Ashley Lodge, Lewis Ocea, Billy Roache, George Pearce.

Horley Town  3 v 4  Chertsey Town
Date:  Saturday 23 July	Competition:  Friendly

We travelled to Horley with a high content of youth players and new faces. Our football was positive and sharp but a lapse in the second quarter of the match put us in a poor position, come half time.

We began totally dominant and was well worth our 12th minute lead when Dan Bennett cut in from the right and blasted the ball home. All looked well but then the game went into neutral around the half hour, followed by a reverse in our fortunes as Horley took over.

Three goals, including a dubious penalty kick, created a depression during the interval, especially as all of them looked avoidable. However, the second half saw us back in the driving seat.

hard work in the midfield eventually paid dividends with Bennett collecting off a right wing cross just before the hour and crashed the ball into the net from near the penalty spot.

Bennett must have owed a couple of pints to Phil Page as the latter hit rasping shots that rattled the woodwork and fell nicely for his hat trick colleague. The first of these two came on 69 minutes when good word on the left by Ashley Lodge set up Page but his shot smashed against the underside of the bar, then bounced nicely for Bennett to head home for the equaliser.

The winner came two minutes from time in similar circumstances with the ball finding the post, this time, off the boot of Page. Bennett was again on hand to juggle past the Horley goalkeeper and plant home the winner.

George Armstrong, Billy Roach, Ollie Treacher, Tre Gibbons, Moses Spencer, David Johnson, Dan Bennett, Ashley Lodge, Phil Page, Max Galbraith, Lewis Ochea, Jamie Galloway, George Pearce, Mark Shipperley

Raynes Park Vale  0 v 4  Chertsey Town
Date:  Saturday 30 July	Competition:  Friendly

Our match at Raynes Park Vale ended in a satisfying 4-0 win with more a feel of a definitive side about it, although there was still some players misiing.

We took the lead on the half hour by forcing an own goal. Eddie Smith hit a debut hat trick with goals on 44, 58 and 70 minutes. Shipperley, McGarry, Treacher, Burgess, Spencer, Johnson, Bennett, Crossley, Ochea, Smith, Saku, Pearce, Armstrong, Galbraith, Lodge, Gymah

Chertsey Town  3 v 1  Woking XI
Date:  Tuesday 9 August	Competition:  Friendly

Our rearranged last friendly turned out to be a very positive affair against a young Woking side that stepped into the breech after Godalming Town pulled out for our meeting.

The score was 3-1 in our favour. We totally dominated the first half but the overworked Woking defence held well under extreme pressure. However, we did break through on 36 minutes when a Crossley free kick hit the bar but Troy Ferguson followed up.

One big minus for us came after a tackle on Eddie Smith who was carried off with a suspected fractured ankle and was taken to hospital and so in certain to miss the start of the season.

Woking showed more attcking spirit after the break but we still managed to increase our score midway through the half with Page converting a Crossley pass from the left.

Woking hit back ten minutes from time but, with almost the last kick of the game we regained the two goal margin with Page again witha shot from distance that the Woking goalkeeper could only manage to divert the shot against the upright with the ball then spinning into the net.

Craig Ross; Tommy McGarry, Andy Crossley, Leika Saku, Jon Boswell, David Johnson, Ollie Burgess, Junior Gyimah, Eddie Smith, Troy Ferguson, Phil Page, Deme Lawrence, Tre Gibbons, George Pearce, Lewis Ocea, George Shipperly

Rugby Town  1 v 0  Chertsey Town
Date:  Saturday 13 August	Competition:  League

Chertsey Town fans have not had to travel so far for a league fixture for almost a decade after making this promotion debut in the Southern League, newly sponsored by Evo-Stik. The outcome for us travellers was a defeat and no goals secured. Was the trip worth the effort? The answer was most definitely yes.

The overall performance may have lacked the sort of cohesion needed to challenge at the top but the potential was clear to see and once the newly formed side establishes greater understanding then a good season of football looks on the cards. The starting line up only featured three of last term’s regulars, with a further two on the bench.

Both sides had difficulty in directing the ball directly at their opponent’s goal but that is not to say the respective goalkeepers were not kept busy. New face, 20 year old Craig Ross handled solidly. He will be pleased that his defence gave him good cover. Rugby may have enjoyed some good possession but frustratingly for them were continually forced to play the ball square and unable to break through.

It would be unrealistic to expect a total lockout and the main danger was created by the home side when our defence cracked, but only a couple of times. Their success set up goalmouth melees, one in each half. The first, on 21 minutes gave Rugby the slender lead that they just managed to retain for the remainder of a close competitive exchange. The ball was delivered from the corner flag and evaded control by either set of players in front of the Chertsey goal mouth until Richard Wesley jabbed the ball home. The second failed to make a mark.

Between times, we looked most potent on the break. Phil Page worked hard to find the net but it will be a more difficult job than last season when he was the Combined Counties League top scorer. He came close as early as the fourth minute and again on 24 minutes with a strike from 25 yards that went wide. Troy Ferguson also came close with a strike with the outside of his boot.

Also in the vanguard, target man Junior Gymiah held the ball up well but struggled after the break in trying overcome an injury that slowed his mobility. He doggedly kept going but distribution to him had to be more accurate. General distribution from the midfield going forward overall was often hurried needed to be calmed down.

The requirement was better met after the interval and the improvement later in the match lead to our best chance of turning the result over to our advantage. Page broke through but was upended whilst in the process of rounding the Rugby goalkeeper and about to side foot the ball home into an empty net.

It appeared to be a ‘no brainer’ decision to award a penalty kick and dismiss the errant defender. However, the referee astounded everyone in the well appointed stadium by giving the spot kick alright but then only administering a yellow card, allowing Louis Conner to escape the expected walk of shame.

Page took the kick before the clamour had subsided and was not composed enough, allowing the shot to be saved by the reprieved ‘keeper. Well done to the defender but it left a bitter taste in the Chertsey contingent which was indignant that the illicit thwarting of a certain goal had, in effect, gone unpunished. Immediately previous to that point, Rugby had been enjoying good midfield possession but after, the pendulum swung the other way for the last remaining 15 minutes.

David Johnson in the midfield had run himself into the ground and was replaced by Dan Bennett in a more attacking stance. Conner was forced into more action prompting further thoughts of what might have been for us had we just had ten men and no recognised goalkeeper to overcome in a period with an end that could not come quick enough for the home support.

Despite the end result and that isolated incident, Spencer Day should be pleased with his squad that will look even strong when key men, Eddie Smith in attack, and defender Moses Spencer eventually return in a couple of weeks after their difficult injuries.

Chertsey Town  1 v 1  AFC Hayes
Date:  Tuesday 16 August	Competition:  League

We began our first home Southern League fixture against AFC Hayes with high hopes of making a mark with an early win. The signs were good at the start with good possession and a well taken opening goal as reward but a goal conceded just before interval, followed by a second half display that eroded by the minute left a feeling of disappointment, despite gaining a first point.

Spencer Day’s side was again plagued with injuries. Goalkeeper Craig Ross had to be replaced with Phil Carpenter being drafted in at short notice for a limited career at Alwyns Lane, as was defender Jack Francis before he departs for football abroad.

The defence worked well again and it looked unlikely it would be breeched whist nearly all potent traffic was being channelled in the opposite direction. Only three minutes had elapsed when Dan Bennett found a good position but lobbed the ball inches too high at an angle.

Chertsey’s dominance was underlined on 18 minutes when a clearance found Phil Page. He made good ground and eventually worked the ball to Bennett who quickly found Oliver Burgess inside where, from a dozen yards, finished off an attractive move in similar style.

Troy Ferguson was not showboating when attempting a back heel attempt at goal soon after; he did have two close markers to foil, but he was replaced after the break. The ball was directed into the AFC Hayes goalmouth regularly to exploit some decidedly slippery handing by Tom McNeil in the visitors’ goal but none of his spills were punished.

Although a second break through was not being archived, we looked well secure to maintain, at least, our slender lead and perhaps extend it in due course. Such a potentially complacent thought was banished two minutes before the break when central movement on the left side of the park saw Matt Woods in front of our goal.

Ross had no chance as the ball was pumped goal wards but it looked a reasonable bet that defender Deme Lawrence might retrieve the situation. However, he was unable to shovel the threat away, despite making contact with the ball as it crossed the line.

The second half, as a spectacle, fell far short of the lively and quick paced first. Too many players in attack performed as individuals, trying to slice through the visitors defence by their own means. Junior Gymiah came on for Ferguson to return some effervescence at the front. He had one good chance but headed wide from a Page cross but then he too was replaced, this time by new face Victor Asombang.

Page was an exception to Town’s increasing ineffectiveness but could not break the deadlock as the game fell away, not helped by two lengthy stoppages for injury. A dislocated finger by Page was bound up for the remainder of the game and Hayes’ defender Dominic Rhone was stretchered off with serve ligament damage.

Hayes maintained lengthy possession in Chertsey’s half as the end neared but in truth neither side looked likely to scoop up more than one point despite a penalty shout as Dean Papalli raced into our penalty area but the referee waved away strong appeals, possibly concluding that the challenge was not dubious enough as the ball accelerated away from the competing players, a bit like the game itself!

Chertsey Town  3 v 5  Slough Town
Date:  Saturday 20 August	Competition:  League

Match Highlights:

Chertsey Town 3 Slough Town 5

Chertsey Town were given a strong bench mark by visitors Slough Town if they want to make strong headway in their debut Evo-Stik League season. The visitors to Alwyns Lane looked accomplished and strong in all departments and even managed to cope with losing both their central defenders due to injury.

It was not that Chertsey were inadequate. They too adapted well in having selection problems due to injury which forced manager Spencer Day to play just one striker right at the front. Phil Page worked hard again and rose to the difficult task of maintaining a threat from such an exposed position.

He was supported well in the first half and Chertsey looked a tight unit despite Slough enjoying more of the possession. The plan worked well at first and Chertsey took the lead after just five minutes. An Ollie Treacher, David Johnson heading session led to Page flicking the ball on to Dan Bennett who cut inside and fired in low from just outside the box.

An Oliver Burgess suicide back pass a dozen minutes later should have led to an equaliser. The Chertsey gates were left wide open but 10 hit the ball against the outside of the post. Burgess recovered well in the remainder of the exchange, and needed to as Slough tested the back line to its limit.

A weak header from Paul Coyne and a strong strike from Danny Burnell might both have also put the visitors on terms. Andy Crossley broke through for the home side soon after but was steered wide with only Steve Smith in goal to beat. A disappointment for the home fans but that saw soon forgotten as Bennett once more found the net.

Johnson punted the ball forward which looked to have been secured by a Slough defender but Bennett stole back possession and rolled the ball into an inviting net for a two goal lead five minutes before the interval whistle. It was from this point the game swung decisively in Slough’s favour.

What was a clear tackle from behind by Stuart Swift on a thrusting Bennett at the edge of the Slough penalty area went unpunished and direly from that the ball was despatched to the other end where Burnell turned and fired in a deflected goal, moments before the break.

Slough attacked harder and pressed Chertsey back severely after the turnaround. Their midfield’s passing success rate was near perfect and Chertsey were hard pressed, especially after retreating deep into their own territory. Relief was short lived.

Two quick fire goals were scored around the hour with Steve Sinclair cutting in from the right and planting the ball into the top corner of Phil carpenter’s net. The second, three minutes later, came after Swift dropped the ball over the back line for Sean Sonner to race in and fire into the far side of the Chertsey goal.

The lead came close to being nullified eight minutes later when Junior, Gymiah’s, just on for Troy Ferguson, header bear Smith but Swift hooked the ball on to the underside of his bar after which, the danger was cleared. Slough replied on 73 minutes and put the game beyond Chertsey’s reach.

Chertsey had released themselves of their siege mentality by then but the space was exploited by Coyne who broke through and clipped the ball inside for Burnell to put away at close range. Slough continued to maintain their grip despite Chertsey defending higher up the park, but not helped by poor distribution of the ball and increased their lead further on 86 minutes with Burnell again the provider in putting the ball away after being given too much elbow room, so close to goal.

Chertsey had the final say in the goal strewn and very open encounter two minutes into stoppage time. Strong approach work from Bennett fed the ball out to Victor Asombang on the far left. He continued the job and cross form Gymiah to head home and give Chertsey a respectable share of the considerable spoils of the day.

Ashford Town (Mx)  5 v 4  Chertsey Town
Date:  Tuesday 23 August	Competition:  League

We hit rock bottom in the Division One Central league table after succumbing to unbeaten Ashford Town. It certainly felt like that at half time for us visitors who had by then conceded four goals and were playing with only ten men. The only forlorn hope was that the score line would not be even more embarrassing, come 90 minutes, but in the end it was the Chertsey contingent that came away on a high, despite a defeat.

A last minute reshuffle was forced upon manager Spencer Day after his newly signed central defender, David Obaze failed to make it to the ground. Good news though was the availability of Phil Page after he dislocated fingers in the previous game, three days before.

Being involved with a nine goal extravaganza, just three days after one of eight, might have pleased many casual spectators but conceding ten goals in two matches must place a big question mark against our ability to defend to good effect.

Most of the goals came from individual errors at the back, but the midfield contributed too and seemed more intent at times on pushing the ball forward rather than stopping it entering our penalty area. It was one of these lapses that led to goalkeeper Phil Carpenter being exposed, catching an Ashford forward and being dismissed in the act of conceding a penalty kick. We were already behind at this juncture and the successful spot kick by Tom Kanek only added to the misery of a Chertsey side that was disintegrating fast.

There was no hint of us falling apart in the early exchanges, even when they fell behind after only seven minutes after Dan Brown connected with his dipping header off a chip in from the left by Kiri Takahird, exposing slack marking. The goal, if anything, put life into us and we then had a keen spell with proactive football going forward. The reward, after a couple of close efforts, was a 21st minute equaliser. A free kick on the left was swung in by Andy Crossley. The Ashford defence failed to clear the ball and it was left to Dan Bennett to clear up the mess by smashing the ball into goal via the underside of the cross bar.

Ashford Town swiftly struck back and regained the lead just three minutes later through Scott Weight who hooked the ball into the net when it was our turn not to decisively clear their lines, this coming moments after Jon Boswell had cleared off the line. We were then in full retreat with the home side buzzing around their opponent’s penalty area. Carpenter was forced into two successive full blooded saves but came unstuck five minutes before the interval in felling Pietro Palladino and being forced to see the penalty kick being put away, by Kanek, past his successor Mark Shipperley from the touch line.

Crossley was the sacrifice for the goalkeeping substitution but it was the whole team that was being slaughtered. The pain increased before the break as Ashford cleaved out a three goal cushion when Brown capitalized on indecision at the Chertsey rear and had time and space to side foot the ball home.

The second half was not going to be something to look forward to as far as we were concerned but the side decided to give a real go at throwing caution to the wind with a nothing to lose attitude; it nearly worked! The game was almost turned on its head with the visitors transformed.

It still took a dozen minutes before a goal arrived when Oliver Burgess planted the ball home with precision from 20 yards. That effort might have looked no more than a consolation when Palladino replied ten minutes later after he had made an incisive run through the heart of our defence to re-establish the three goal gap.

But undeterred, we continued to press and looked very dangerous going forward. Bennett, with only Paul McCarthy in goal to beat, hit the ball against the Ashford upright but, on 78 minutes, made no mistake in a similar scenario to mirror the previous game’s score line of 3 – 5.

This time, we were not finished, and with five minutes remaining, a penalty was awarded in our favour when defender Russell Canderton clashed with Junior Gymiah. Tommy McGarry crashed the spot kick high into the top of the net to set up an expectant crescendo that did not quite happen so that Ashford, although nervous, comfortably survived the final minutes of a fixture that certainly provided a high degree of entertainment.

Both managers will have rung their hands after seeing their respective sides look so frail at the back but such a wild exchange surely only comes along once in a while. Goalless draw look favourite for the near future perhaps!

Chertsey Town  5 v 4  Uxbridge
Date:  Saturday 27 August	Competition:  League

It was difficult what to make of our third successive goal extravaganza league encounter which had produced 28 goals in less than controlled circumstances. It can not be just a coincidence that eight or nine goals were conjured up at a rate of one every nine or so minutes throughout the four and a half hours.

The blame could be laid at our wayward defending but that would not explain why the opposition also produced so many leaks at their own back doors. Was it witchcraft or alchemy? Whatever it was, the result has been pulsating football for the spectator but heartburn for the respect managers. Spencer Day must have longed to get back to real football where goals count at a premium, and not just as intermediate stepping stones towards a lottery win.

Having just previously conceded ten goals in 180 minutes of football, the obvious thought would have been that an emphasis would be placed on tight football at the early stages, especially at the back; but the opposite seemed to have happened with visitors Uxbridge being given near free rein to marauder into our penalty area.

Two openings were made in as many minutes and it took only five before a seemingly inevitable goal arrived. A shot came in that Paul Carpenter was forced to parry at full length. But he was unable to repeat the act when Rob Fitzgerald raced in and cracked the rebound home to put Uxbridge one up.

It looked that all confidence in the Chertsey camp had evaporated as Uxbridge built up a head of steam with both Stuart Farrell and James Duncan finding space behind our back line, but weak finishing saved home blushes. But then, in an eye blinking moment, the balance suddenly turned in our favour.

They say that goals can turn games and the character of the uncomfortably open exchange altered with us striking back on 17 minutes when new signing Saheed Sankoh squared the ball to Dan Bennett who cut in from the right and released it into the top corner of the net from 20 yards to make it all square.

But this game was to have more see-saws than the biggest children’s park you can imagine might feature when The Reds regained the lead just after the half hour with a direct free kick from 25 yards that sailed into our net, courtesy of Michael Murray’s boot.

With only three goals gone at half time, and therefore another six to savour, it was hard to keep abreast of the score line but it was ourselves that created the next success, or rather it was Andy Crossley on the left that created two successes, with near identical corner kicks that left the Uxbridge bench incandescent that their side could be naive enough to fall for the same trick twice inside a few seconds.

The magic potions were both delivered to the far post on 53 and 57 minutes respectively. Both were met by the head of defender turned temporary attacker, Tommy McGarry. The first found the net for the equaliser, the second saw it returned to the goal face where another new signing, and defender, David Stevens crashed us into the lead for the first time.

The game again swung away from us despite regaining confidence by the minute with the score regaining equilibrium on 63 minutes. Leon Yarnie was given room to prowl back and forth outside our box with the ball before stroking it home from twenty plus yards.

Our revival and slender lead which had been established soon after the break seemed a distant memory when Uxbridge again took the lead for the third time in the 70th minute, this time when a corner on the left was sent low. The ball reached the far side where Fitzgerald ran in unchecked from outside the penalty area to almost side foot it home from just a few feet out to make it 4-3 to the Reds.

Although an air of, ‘anything could happen’ was still abroad, time was running out for us to came back yet again and try to mirror a second 5-4 score line for the week, but this time in our favour. The Betfair odds would have been pretty long, had anyone had time to place a bet during this frenetic exchange, but amazingly it happened!

One again the spellbinder Crossley delivered a corner from the left that mesmerised the Uxbridge defence. Junior Gymiah headed the ball against the foot of the post but his instant despair morphed into delight when, having not been cleared, the ball came back to him seconds later and he took the opportunity to sky it into the roof of the net.

So with 15 minutes, still on the clock, there was plenty of time for three points to be bagged by either team and we soon took up the challenge. Within three minutes we forced ourselves into the lead. Patient approach work from Crossley at the edge of the visitor’s penalty area cleaved enough space to feed Bennett inside who then found Troy Ferguson.

With hardly any back lift, he unleashed an unstoppable 15 yard shot to set up a nervy finale during which we retreated further and further into our own territory This allowed Uxbridge to enjoy great chunks of possession and three good chances in the process.

Carpenter did well in thwarting one shot but was less effective in over reaching a cross that dropped behind him. Luckily for him and his team mates, Jon Boswell executed a do or die goal line clearance. Fitzgerald also missed the opportunity of securing a hat trick at this time by heading the ball well over at point blank range.

We regained composure and stopped hacking away ball clearances to anywhere and began to pick out our own men and so able to close the game in the Uxbridge nether lands and secure three points, the last side in the division to do so in the new season. Gold was eventually created, even if its glitter was somewhat tarnished!

Fleet Town  0 v 3  Chertsey Town
Date:  Monday 29 August	Competition:  League

Match Highlights:

The forced inclusion of 16 year old Mark Shipperley as goalkeeper in our starting line up at Fleet Town for our Evo-Stik League encounter may have not have seemed the ideal situation in an already fragile defence that had just conceded 14 goals in three games. However, he held the position well and although was perhaps not key to us keeping a clean sheet for the first time this season, he still made a full contribution.

Efforts to make a late replacement for the departed Phil Carpenter became caught up in bureaucracy but in the end the difficulty was overcome where it should be; on the park. Our defending for the first 25 minutes was as unconvincing as has been seen for much of the season so far. Shipperley made two vital interventions during that initial period when first he saved well from a full blooded Luke King strike, then five minutes later when Jonnie Dyer broke through to create a one on one situation, which he snuffed out.

Between those pinch points, Dan Bennett had given a flavour of what Chertsey can achieve in attack but it ended with his 25 yard shot fizzing narrowly wide. But Bennett’s current form suggested it would not be long before he was involved again, and sure enough he fired us into the lead on 28 minutes.

Having ran on to a raking, inch perfect pass from Phil Page at some 35 yards distance. Bennett raced a further 40 yards before firing in a strike that gave David Shalley between the Fleet sticks no chance. The goal, constructed on a counter attack, was the act that decisively altered the pattern of the contest.

We settled down instantly after taking the lead but received a set back when Andy Crossley was carried off the field of play with a suspected metatarsal facture that could keep him out for months. It was not enough for Spencer Day that two key players, in Moses Spencer and Eddie Smith, were still working through their long term injuries for the Crossley incident to be added to the debilitating list.

Saheed Sankoh thus joined the fray for a solid performance as the first half played out without further trauma. However, the home team, through a lack of self discipline, were beginning to encourage the yellow card to be flourished by an increasingly less tolerant referee. This became crucial in the latter stages.

Lewis Ochea came on for Victor Asombang just before the hour, and just after the hour Fleet Town’s Dyer also left the field, but only after sustaining a second referee’s caution. But although Fleet went down to ten men, they upped their game and had the better of the exchanges for the next quarter of an hour.

Despite this, our defending was much improved and Shipperley was not seriously tested with the back line and midfield achieving a cohesion and efficiency only previously seen in staccato periods during the past month. It built the platform that provided for a comfortable closure for the Curfews.

The main cushion of comfort came with a second Chertsey goal with 16 minutes remaining. Bennett had just seen a header of his stopped by Shalley but the same attacker was one of the two prime providers towards a more satisfying end product. He played the ball square, some 30 yards out, for Page to cleverly side slip right back Rousell, advance, then fire inside where Troy Ferguson tucked the ball home.

Fleet Town then looked a spent force, relying on long goal keeper clearances through the middle to magic up some sort of unlikely revival. It did not work, and in fact our hosts suffered more misery when, with just two minutes left, conceded a penalty kick.

A clumsy challenge by Shalley on Ochea as he tried to by-pass the ‘keeper, resulted in Fleet’s second red card of the match and an ‘icing on the cake’ spot kick from Tommy McGarry that perhaps put our campaign prospects for the season into better focus as we crept into the top half of the Division One Central table.

Badshot Lea  0 v 1  Chertsey Town
Date:  Saturday 3 September	Competition:  FA Cup

Match Highlights:

Our revisit to Combined Counties League territory when we were guests of Badshot Lea in the FA Cup hardly turned out to be a celebration of great football. It was a reminder of what we had recently left behind; not a brand to bring back the crowds.

Neither goalkeeper had a shot to save until the final 15 minutes when the game opened up, help by precipitous refereeing when he prematurely, it seemed, flourished two red cards for what he instantly perceived as a double head butting incident but that everyone else believed was more akin to a Mexican standoff, be it executed in each of the players’ personal space.

We looked the better footballing side but came in a half time with only a half chance on which to reflect when Saheed Sankoh broke through but was tackled at the last stride. Badshot Lea had a couple of half chances to ponder over but their finishing was weak.

Their best saw that defender Jon Boswell was well in command of the situation when he headed away a gentle lob at goal off his line by Lea’s Darren Blake. We frequently stole possession from our slower opponents but, apart from winning a number of corners, had nothing tangible to show by half time.

Badshot Lea packed their midfield after the interval, at the expense of their forward line, relying on John Pomroy to steal a march but he was well marshalled. Full back Miles Smith, who featured in last term’s side, returned to the colours and showed his class.

Even so, Badshot Lea had a golden chance to take the lead when Marcus Cousins sliced well wide with only goalkeeper Mark Shipperley standing ten yards distant as a barrier. The chance was gone as then, were both the number fives on the park. Jon Boswell and Sean Hankin were dismissed by the almost over eager set of red cards with 20 minutes remaining.

The added space by their departure, combined with tiredness as the game entered its final phase, resulted in a more lively spectacle. David Johnson’s ubiquitous play was also missed in midfield as he was sacrificed when Deme Lawrence was introduced to reinforce the reduced back line.

Phil Page shot across Lea’s goalmouth with Dan Bennett waiting unmarked but the moment was soon forgotten when, on 86 minutes, we snatched the lead we were increasingly threatening to take. Another corner was won, and it was another that was not properly cleared.

The ball fell to Oliver Burgess who moved in to fire the ball through a phalanx of defending legs and into the onion bag. Bennett almost made it two four minutes into stoppage time with a rasping 25 yard shot that Matt Pegler just managed to tip over the bar.

We may not have quite enjoyed as much good quality possession after the break as before, but it was enough to see us though to host Ryman Premier Division side Lewes in the next round when the Alwyns Lane faithful will be hoping the side return to the football more readily seen in our domestic encounters.

Daventry Town  2 v 4  Chertsey Town
Date:  Saturday 10 September	Competition:  League

We continued our goal scoring spree at Daventry Town, making it 19 goals in the last four Southern League outings. No side have scored more than the Curfews so far this term. The trouble is, no side has conceded more either!

That statistic confirms that we are currently a spectators dream in, promoting open and attractive play; this match was no exception. The goals came alright, but so did some heart stopping defending. Daventry Town might have punished us severely on more than one occasion but you were left with the feeling that had the home side scored their four then us visitors would have conjured up five.

Spencer Day has not been the luckiest of managers as far as filling the goalkeeping position is concerned. Three have slipped through his hands and he was having to rely on 16 year old Mark Shipperley of late. He has filled the role well under the circumstances, but he is just sixteen!

A new name in 19 year old Tom Lovelock filled the spot, on loan from Leyton Orient, and made a good fist of his debut. Neither of the two goals conceded could be attributed to him and he made a couple of vital stops when the exchange could have got away from us.

Daventry took the early initiative despite our bright start by capitalising on David Steven’s slip in letting the ball escape from under his feet which let in Mark Bellingham for a 16th minute strike. Soon after, Lewis Bishop should have put the home side two up but fired wide. Steven’s later redeemed himself with a last gasp clearance.

Inevitably, action moved to the other end of the park where Dan Bennett again sparkled, with his first effort at goal for the afternoon being saved by the inspired David Bevan whose acrobatics eventually avoided his side from being overwhelmed.

But Bennett was not to be denied for, just two minutes later, on the half hour, he finished off his task with a precision header off a good old fashioned deep right wing cross from Phil Page, clipping the far post upright on the way. Ollie Burgess then piled in a fierce shot as Daventry were put under pressure. Burgess soon had to leave the field injured to be replaced by Lewis Ochea who himself came close within moments of going on.

The first half was interesting enough but the game ramped up after the break with ourselves being the main contributors. Incisive approach work by Ochea set the scene for Troy Ferguson to run on and smash the ball into the home side’s net on 68 minutes.

The goal and the lead signalled the replacement of Junior Gymiah with Eddie Smith. Injury has stopped Smith from making his contribution to Chertsey’s season but it took only a couple of minutes to demonstrate his desire to quickly make up time. Simple football, emanating from a long clearance by Lovelock to the right wing, found Smith who, with his first touch of the season, threaded the ball through for Bennett to smash open our two goal lead on the 71st minute mark.

Not for the first time this season, we then yielded territory and began to defend deeply, conceding a string of corner kicks as a result. The Daventry pressure created a hope in them that the rip tide that had left them treading water might be ebbing round.

A goal did come, in the 80th minute, with Adam Confue finishing off a well constructed ground based attack by steering the ball away from 15 yards with ten minutes remaining. The tactic was spot on in the keen cross wind breeze. We continued to be pressed back but then suddenly became animated again.

Bennett almost secured his eighth goal of the season but Bevan was again in great form with a supple save. Then Phil Page tried to re-establish the two goal lead with a spectacular overhead kick that smacked against the cross bar. But it was Smith who finally killed off the home side’s fantasies by passing the ball into the net from just inside the box off a defence splitting Bennett pass.

Although the fourth goal came in stoppage time there was still enough seconds remaining for Bennett to have one more try at securing a hat trick, but a again Bevan’s antics spoilt the show. Our attack may well have caught the eye but the midfield and defence worked hard and made their contribution for a well deserved win.

Chertsey Town  2 v 0  North Greenford United
Date:  Tuesday 13 September	Competition:  League

We continued to improve on our league record with another well deserved victory after a further display of expansive football. Visitors to Alwyns Lane, North Greenford United, had fleeting moments when they might have turned the game but in the main, we always looked as if we would take all the points.

All sixteen players involved in the previous outing at Daventry Town were again named with the same shirt numbers on the team sheet. The two players subsequently marked on the scorers sheet also had a familiar ring with Bennett and Smith E, being the accredited marksmen.

The first half was not as pulsating as Chertsey Town fans are being taught to expect from their players. However, the home side still looked the more likely to score even if it took 22 minutes before Richard McCabe in the North Greenford goal was seriously troubled.

Troy Ferguson was first to release the trigger, quickly followed by Phil Page, then Danny Bennett, all goal attempts coming in a five minute spell. There was no significant action at the other end as the Middlesex attack, although looking potentially potent in deep areas, were never given any real scope to make their mark. The one exception being a very long range free kick from Charlie Hill that Tom Lovelock finger tipped aside.

We had another good go at the Greenford goal as the interval loomed but the visitors survived again; this time after finally hacking the ball away in a goalmouth melee. As with the previous goal attempts, the penalty area was packed with defending players and a gap just could not be found.

North Greenford United found it harder to stay with us after the interval and ended up with seven cautions being issued, mainly for late tackles, with two being shown to Wayne Jackson late in the game leaving his side with ten men. We took an even firmer grip on the game and our only concern was that Greenford would actually achieve a breakthrough.

But doubters need not have worried. The opening goal came on 61 minutes. McCabe’s handling was not the best seen from a visiting goalkeeper of late and it was from a high deep cross that he flapped at the ball that ran on to Bennett who had not difficulty in sweeping it into the gaping net.

A feature of Chertsey’s play over the past few outings is for a lead to be established, only for then territory being conceded, to give opponents, what turns out to be, false hope in pulling the game around. So it happened again as we were pressed back during a ten minute spell. The defence remained resolute however, and only a series of corner kicks were given away.

This pattern continued as Eddie Smith came on for Junior Gymiah and relieved concerned of an unlikely draw by finding the net for the second time in his two substitute prefaced outings on his rehabilitation after long term injury.

He received the ball in space 30 yards out and, seeing McCabe off his line, delivered a sublime lob with the greatest of accuracy that took one bounce on the line, leaving a scrabbling goalkeeper no chance of retrieval. The goal came four minutes from time to allow the home support to savour our fifth successive victory.

Chertsey Town  4 v 1  Lewes
Date:  Saturday 17 September	Competition:  FA Cup

Well placed Ryman Premier Division side Lewes were no match for us and were ejected from The FA Cup at a rain lashed Alwyns Lane. Our goal machine continued and spewed out four more, to amass a grand total of 23 this season in ten games.

The omens for a win were not good for us prior to kick off with the guts ripped from the heart of the defence, and a depleted substitutes bench of only three. David Stevens was unavailable, Jon Boswell was suspended for misdemeanours committed in the previous round, with Moses Spencer still several weeks away from fitness.

But the troops rallied well to present Spencer Day with his best result since taking over the reins three years ago. The defeat of Lewes was no fluke. Although they may have been able to highlight hard luck incidents, any one of their set backs during the game would not have over turned the emphatic Chertsey victory with a side that revealed no weak links throughout the full 90 minutes.

Lewes came to Alwyns Lane undefeated in their last half dozen encounters but this possibly manifested into a self built elephant trap as they just did not respond to the speed and direction of a Chertsey Town side, abet from a lower league, that has not done too badly themselves of late. It was, perhaps, not complacency, but more an attitude that the game will inevitably turn their way, if they carry on playing in their own style. It did not!

We began as all good underdogs should, with enthusiasm in making the opposition think twice about their task. Often this results in a early ‘consolation’ goal before the tide turns decisively into the big guns’ favour. Well, the early goal did come, but not the balancing reaction. It put us in the driving seat for most of the tie.

The goal came on nine minutes from a corner kick from the right off Danny Bennett. Phil Page looked a lonely figure standing in front of goal as the ball was delivered and was still being ignored a moment later as he headed the ball home. His isolation was short lived as he was mobbed by jubilant team mates.

Although we continued to test the visitors, the script still suggested conformity when, 20 minutes later, a bright spell from Lewes with the fancied Christian Nanatti causing problems on the right, created the anticipated equaliser. His cross from the right clipped a defender to refract its path to Matt Sommer who lunged forward with his head to crack the ball home.

The writing might have seemed to be now on the wall for us as Lewes settled, but the graffiti did not convey that expected! ‘Goal for Chertsey,’ was the text when, only three minutes later, we were back in the lead once more.

A quick break on the far right flank saw the ball fed out to supporting full back Miles Smith. His first time cross was delivered flat and with power, to be met by Page with a leaping, glancing header that left Stuart Robinson in the Rooks goal, pigeon toed and awkward.

Page, now with two goals under his belt looked for his third, a great trick if he could do it after missing out on all his previous nine starts without even a solitary notch in his goal scoring staff. But it was Bennett who snatched the baton with a raking run at the Lewes goal that ended in a red card.

Defender Lewis Hamilton had raced across Bennett’s line with a clumsy collision. The referee concluded the attacker was in pole position to strike at goal when being sent sprawling, some twenty yards out. The result was an ineffective free kick being awarded but more importantly, Lewes being reduced to ten men with still 49 minutes on the clock.

Any notions of recovery by the Rooks after the interval flew out of the window four minutes into the second half when we struck again. This time Bennett was successful when he cut in from the right and curled the ball round the far side of Robinson. It caught the crossbar, and possibly the upright on its rapid passage to earth. Whatever; the net result was that the ball marginally crossed the line and we were two goals to the good.

Lewes could find no profound response. Our rearranged defence, with Tommy McGarry and Deme Lawrence in the heart of the central pivot, proved to be well in command, restricting the Sussex side to titbits. Lack lustre free kicks from the now tamed Nanatti being the highlights of a dispiriting final half hour for them, a period of time that commenced with our fourth goal.

Although far from physically commanding, Bennett had already out jumped Robinson to the ball minutes before repeating the process, this time to better effect. A lofted diagonal cross from Ollie Treacher was met with the forehead eight yards out. The ball then flashed into the back of the net; game well and truly over despite there still being 27 minutes remaining.

Miles Smith also joined in with another headed attempt that was off target, as was Eddie Smith’s 20 yard strike with Chertsey continuing to the look the more potent outfit. Phil Page and Oliver Burgess, with a 25 yard free kick, also saw their shots fizz narrowly wide.

Thus the afternoon was left with a flowing Chertsey Town as the side that finally Oozed confidence, with our opponents firmly leaving their boots behind in the ebb tide mud! Lewes might have fashioned a draft script for an away win, but it was Chertsey who employed the stronger editorial staff to turn the story our way.

It is early days yet, but there are strong echoes returning to Alwyns Lane of the good old days of twenty years past when Chertsey was the belle of the ball. Will lightning soon be striking twice?

Chertsey Town  2 v 1  Northwood
Date:  Saturday 24 September	Competition:  League

After being on such a high the previous week, following a positive FA Cup victory against nominally superior opposition, there was always going to be the danger of a negative reaction to a bread and butter league match soon after, despite what Spencer Day might consider as promotion being the real focus of attention and desire.

Despite the close score line, we did have an easy passage through our Evo-Stik Southern League encounter, but in conceding a late goal, we made harder work of recording the win than might have been the case.

Leyton Orient recalled Tom Lovelock, resulting yet another new name on the Chertsey team sheet. The seemingly ubiquitous Lee Pearce became the fifth player to don the number one jersey this season. His debut was a successful one and showed why he has been such a popular choice of local clubs in the past.

Tom O’Regan also returned to the club and played a cameo role off the bench in the latter stages of the game, as did new midfield attacker, Rob Carr. Missing from the regular line up was Junior Gymiah who will be unavailable for a while, and David Stevens.

Northwood explored in a bright start that kept the ball almost exclusively in our half for the first dozen minutes. However, only a half chance was suggested before the we got our passing game together in the ideal conditions. Our goal scoring momentum seemed, at first, a past illusion but steadily pressure was built with a 22 minute reward that also got the referee off the hook. A high ball from the right saw a challenge by Dan Bennett and his marker who barged the attacker square in the back. However, it was Bennett that was the first to recover from the clash and he squared the ball inside to Eddie Smith who despatched it home from eight yards.

Smith came close soon after when Phil Page headed the ball down to him off another far post cross but this time goalkeeper Sean Thomas was equal to the challenge. We kept plugging away though with our opponents trying hard to keep up in a subdued atmosphere. It was almost like watching a due process being played out.

That thought was reinforced in the 42nd minute when our second goal was notched. A raking cross from the right was met, again on the far side, this time by Page. He headed the ball back across the goalmouth, to see it drop just inside the right hand goalpost, looking all as if was going to miss.

What was then missed, and looking all as if it would find the inside of the net in the last action of the half, was a self created golden chance by Bennett. He robbed the Northwood number five way out, shrugged off two challenges but then steered the ball low and narrowly wide with only Thomas as the last remaining distraction.

A three goal interval lead would have surely wrapped up the game but the effect was almost the same in a three quarter paced second period that did nothing to stimulate the sale of Beta Blockers. It was if Northwood had a lack of disbelief in retrieving the situation and us believing we did not have to extend ourselves any further.

Although we appeared to be in control, the more acute situations came from Middlesex direct direction. The best chance Northwood had to put some fizz back in the game arrived midway through the half when the referee deemed a Pearce collection as a deliberate back pass; always a contentious situation.

This seemed even more so as the indirect free kick was sited only six yards from our goalmouth. Northwood’s Jonathan Constant got a fierce shot away but almost sent the ball into orbit as it clipped the cross bar on its mission to the darker recesses of his side’s chances of stealing back the initiative. Pearce, soon after, was forced into two full blooded saves, but it still felt comfortable for the home side.

Full back Miles Smith almost capped his fine performance with a goal at the other end. Despite the fine angle, he struck the ball superbly and on target but Thomas flailed it away and the game returned to its stupor. Both sides used all their substitutes in the last twenty minutes to liven up the proceedings.

The overall effect did nothing to change the direction, either way, of where the league points would rest. Northwood did, however, did get their goal. A soft free kick was given away five yards outside the penalty area a few moments from the end. Constant made a better attempt at goal this time by curling his direct shot into the bottom corner of the goal.

A couple of minutes of stoppage time frittered away the remainder of the contest with us content to hold what we had, in similar fashion to what had occurred throughout the final 45 minutes.

Southend Manor  4 v 2  Chertsey Town
Date:  Saturday 1 October	Competition:  FA Cup

We spurned, what seemed a golden chance on paper, the opportunity to progress in the FA Cup. But basic defending errors, coupled with a failed penalty kick at a crucial moment, cost us dear at unbeaten Essex Senior League leaders Southend Manor. Being one of the hottest days of the year meant that the journey to the jam packed seaside resort was a real test of patience which was further tested by the sizable Chertsey support as they saw their side bustled aside by a keen but limited host team.

Indeed, it all looked very easy in the beginning when we almost laid siege on Manor’s goal who were forced to defend with frantic energy. Both Phil Page and Dan Bennett came close to creating an early lead but the ball was somehow hacked away eachtime. Failure at that point did not seem to be of concern for we continued to dictate despite Southend’s efforts to slow the tempo of the tie to their pace. The pitch was not ideal for ball work but neither was the aerial game that crept insidiously into the game and remained for most of the afternoon,

This better suited the home side who began to show more attacking flair and after a ten minute spell of good possession won a corner on their right. The ball was pumped into a crowded Chertsey goalmouth where Gary Paterson firmly headed home, leaving 13 minutes of the first half for us to mount a reply. It did not materialise.

The second period commenced with us looking dangerous once more and within five minutes looked all set to square the game. In forcing a path forward, Eddie Smith was dragged down inside the penalty area. Tommy McGarry stepped up for the spot kick. Was this to be the road to salvation or one to perdition? The answer came swiftly as the home goalkeeper Adam Seal leaped to his left to flip the shot aside, leaving us still in Southend’s wake. And a wake it was turning out to be for within two minutes, we were two goals down. That was bad enough for us Essex travellers but the manner of conceding made it even worse.

The ball was pumped high through the middle of the park where the substantially built Paterson brushed off any attentions by the defence and fired the ball past Lee Pearce with most of his team mates beached up field. Fifty mutes were gone and self doubt was setting in. Before we were allowed to recoup, another Southend sucker punch was delivered. Again a boot lashed clearance was launched through the middle. The gap was exploited, before Pearce closed with a desperate challenge that resulted in the referee pointing to the dreaded spot.

Paterson stepped up to fire home the spot kick with the Southend trade mark of rifling the ball down the middle. Now still with 55 minutes on the referee’s watch, there was still time for goals to be scored, and arrive they did. The problem for us though, was that the next one found its way back to our own net. Yet again, a quick and long distance release found the ball deep in Chertsey territory. This time the area of interest was on the left flank from where the ball was delivered. The lurking Paterson inevitably made the rendezvous, to head the ball just far enough over Pearce who was hardly off his line, for it to drop down into its familiar rest place.

Now with only 28 minutes, plus another five of stoppage time, available, we at last began to make inroads. In boosting the front line attack at the expense of a defending midfield, Tom O’Regan emerged from the bench and made an impact on the right flank, returning the game to that seen the opening quarter of an hour with ourselves regaining the initiative. The first tangible signs of a revival came on 70 minutes with Eddie Smith finding the net. Bennett made excellent progress in the inside left position and, after reaching the Southend goal line, chipped the ball across for Smith to comfortably head home, making the process look so simple and easy.

There was still a mountain to climb but a slight glimmer of hope was ignited that an unlikely recovery might be possible when, five minutes later, the third penalty of the game was awarded, again in our favour. Smith fired the ball home leaving a generous 25 minutes for us to make amends. An instinctive Pearce save at the other end of the park was a sharp reminder that the back still needed protection as we pressed on with conviction. A better directed Phil Page strike might have set up a grand stand finish but our quest began to increasingly ebb.

Eventually, even though quite some time remained, the feeling that the two goal gap might as well have been as wide as the original four that had earlier been created, if ‘created’ was quite the word; it just seemed to happen spontaneously. In the end, we had to concede that we were beaten by a more direct and determined force; the sort of stuff that wins knock out ties, especially in the FA Cup. There was no lack of energy or motivation from the Chertsey side but in the end we were steam rollered out of the competition in a sporting tie that only produced one yellow card, and that was to the home goalkeeper for a stupid spat with an excellent referee

Chertsey Town  5 v 1  Leighton Town
Date:  Saturday 8 October	Competition:  League

Saturday 8th October Chertsey Town 5 Leighton Town 1

In a rearranged Evo-Stik home fixture that might have, and should have been, a curtain raiser to the following week’s round of FA Cup ties, we swept aside visitors Leighton Town to record an eighth successive league win. The surprise defeat the previous week at Southend Manor meant that it was the Essex side that played host to Leighton Town and not ourselves, prompting thoughts of what might have been for the Curfews. Instead, Spencer Day’s men were left to concentrate solely on league points which they did admirably in a fixture that was not as one sided as the score suggests.

Our superb marksmanship over our opponent’s off target efforts was the headline difference between the two sides but another all round team performance, in deeper positions on the park, was also a deciding factor. The smooth midfield engine room was exemplified by the likes of skipper David Johnston who was only just edged out of the man of the match accolade despite his tireless work rate. That title was taken by colleague Troy Ferguson who plays a more forward role in the centre, having notched two of our five goals. It was hard for Leighton’s defence to quite know where the main threat on their goal was to emanate as any one of five of our players were prominent in seeking a goal scoring role.

The back line was also boosted by the return from suspension of Jon Boswell which could have been one reason for the visiting side being forced to fire off a series of salvos, but almost all at a range that resulted in Lee Pearce in goal being put on fetch and carry duties rather than having to making saves. The first half was a subdued affair with neither the players or our increasing support being animated. Leighton’s off target shooting was matched by our slow start and lack of penetration at the other end. Despite Leighton ambitious goal attempts looking benign, the away side almost took the lead.

A blocked clearance put James Hatch away but with only the Pearce hurdle to clear, he was beaten in the duel just inside the box by a well timed goalkeeper’s challenge. With that scare put aside, we became more threatening, but with only a tame Dan Bennett header as an end product until two minutes from half time. A less than fifty fifty ball sent in Phil Page’s direction was developed by strength and speed as he entered the right side of the Leighton penalty area. A low cross was then delivered. Bennett struck but goalkeeper Kevin Marsh saved. However, the ball did not get far with the parry and Troy Ferguson, hovering like a buzzard, finished off the move.

We shot out of the traps on the resumption after the interval and forged a two goal lead within two minutes. It was a sublime effort from Bennett who made progress on the right and from the 90 degree angle at the far edge of the penalty area, curled an unstoppable left footed shot into the far top corner of the net. This was followed two minutes later with an even more spectacular goal. On the same right flank passing the main stand, Bennett back heeled the ball past two attendants to Miles Smith who took it forward and crossed to the far post. There, under pressure from his marker, Page headed the ball back over Marsh for another top corner entry.

We now looked very interested. Leighton were equally undaunted but their shot selection and direction let them down until Daniel Chambers exploited a gap in our defences and fired in a reply on the hour, from ten yards. The embryonic revival was quickly strangled with our next goal which was delivered four minutes later; another that left the Bedfordshire side’s defending in tatters. A long range release from defence was secured by Page who judged, as he did all afternoon, the offside situation with precision.

He then ran on alone and lofted the ball over the solitary Marsh for another well taken strike. We were still not finished and punished our opponents further. By then Johnston had been withdrawn for a well earned early tea, to be replaced by Lewis Ochea. Eddie Smith was also substituted by Tom O’Regan. O’Regan worked the ball on the left flank and although a number of his passes failed to find their target, he did well in the 83rd minute when he rounded the right back and fed the ball inside to Ferguson who turned and fired the ball home for our fifth, to establish a comfortable four goal cushion.

Leighton Town tried to make a late impression but Pearce saved well from one on target shot amongst further off piste efforts that slid away to nothing, to leave them in the wake of another well constructed Chertsey victory.

Uxbridge  5 v 2  Chertsey Town
Date:  Saturday 15 October	Competition:  League

Our league run of eight successive wins came to an abrupt end in perfect conditions at Uxbridge. It was not that we were a disaster, despite conceding five goals, but our performance was not at its peak and served to illustrate that any side with promotion ambitions has to keep the pressure on minute by minute; week on week.

This we failed to do against improved opponents and paid the price of not applying ourselves as an all round team. Credit must be given for the side rallying twice after conceding soft goals, but the effort of storming back for a third time after twice falling behind proved to be too much in the end.

We fielded yet another new goalkeeper, the sixth to take a position between the sticks in the 15 outings to date. Jordan Kennedy, newly drafted in from Woking, commanded well but was not able to perform miracles behind frequently threadbare defending. Ollie Treacher was withdrawn at the last moment after pulling a hamstring in the pre match warm up and was replaced by Billy Witham.

The opening 20 minutes was largely featureless as both sides were unable to make an impression but it was Uxbridge that made the first break through when, on 22 minutes and forward Stuart Farrell lurking, a ball launched forward flipped off the top of Jon Boswell’s foot past the advanced Kennedy.

We responded well and equalised on the half hour with a rapid move on the right that ended with Miles Smith clipping the ball back from the goal line for Dan Bennett to blast into the roof of the Uxbridge net from 15 yards. The home side finished the half stronger though and Farrell almost put his side ahead again with a rasping shot that clipped the outside of the Chertsey upright.

Craige Tomkins might have put Uxbridge ahead after only one minute of second half play but shot wide from a good position. However, ten minutes later he saw his side regain the lead with a soft penalty when Boswell nudged the back of Tomkins in the box. The spot kick was converted by Michael Murray.

Eight minutes later, Bennett weaved a path through a crowded Uxbridge box but his shot was saved by ex Curfew, Liam Stone in goal. Stone was unable to stop the equaliser on 65 minutes when a diagonal ball was despatched to Eddie Smith who then stroked the ball in low from 20 yards.

It looked highly lightly that we would at last take the lead when Phil Page was put away, but with only Stone to beat, elected to lob the goalkeeper. The attempt was weak allowing the ball to be plucked comfortably from the air. It got worse for by the time the ball should have been resting on the centre spot with Uxbridge kicking off a goal down, it was actually residing in our net with them a goal up!

Direct from the failed lob, Stone cleared quickly and within seconds Dave Lawrence was served the ball and he pummelled it past Kennedy. The 77th minute double whammy totally unsettled us and within a minute, the game was as good as over with another Uxbridge goal.

Our capacity to recover wilted when they lost possession in the middle of the park, allowing too much space at the rear which was exploited by Leon Yarnie who directed the ball inside for Lawrence to find the net again from inside the penalty spot.

We were disjointed for the remainder of the game and just could not get back into our stride. The situation worsened near the end when Tomkins fired the ball past our deflated defence for goal number five.

We tried to counter attack when Page fired wide soon after in a damage limitation exercise moments before the final whistle, but even a third Chertsey goal would have been scant consolation for an unconvincing display against our more enthusiastic hosts.

Guildford City  4 v 5  Chertsey Town
Date:  Wednesday 19 October	Competition:  Surrey Senior Cup

With a starting line up that only featured three players from our unsuccessful league encounter at Uxbridge, we overcame current Combined Counties League table toppers Guildford City in the Surrey Senior Cup. This was the third time we have been involved with a 5-4 score line this season.

With their full side out, Guildford City started confidently and took a 7th minute lead, a gift given to Jack Guilford after a defensive slip. It looked like fielding the bulk of our Capital League side might be a mistake for us but we soon settled with Tom O’Regan firing across the Guildford goal face after being put away in space.

Phil Page then blasted the ball at the keeper from a good position but then the goals began to arrive, starting on 20 minutes with a long diagonal pass to Rob Carr on the left. He cut in and delivered to Page who fired home. We conceded a penalty five minutes later but Austin Gacheru fired wide from the spot. Let off, we forged ahead on 33 minutes with O’Regan collecting a long pass through the middle from Matt Powell to rifle the ball home.

Guildford City came back strong just before the interval and the pressure forced an equaliser through Ben Rayner who fired into the top of the Chertsey net on 41 minutes. With four goals already executed, more were on offer after the interval. Guildford were the first to score in the second half with Simon Cooper sweeping the ball home on 50 minutes.

Eddie Smith, on the for the injured O’Regan, replied one minute later by converting an Alex Bodean cross to equalise for the second time in the tie. Smith was on hand again after a further eight minutes to ease us ahead once more. Page might have put the game to bed soon after but smashed the ball high when in front of goal.

The error looked grave as then Guildford came back again as Dan Moody made it 4 – 4 on 72 minutes with a far post header. A Page free kick was turned aside before his side conceded another penalty which was bravely saved by Mark Shipperley who read Cooper’s fierce drive from the spot.

That failure was punished on 89 minutes when Smith was again sent away through the middle by Lewis Ochea and finished off Guildford with a low drive from 25 yards to underline the depth of our squad which featured debut first team starts for six of our players.

Chertsey Town  2 v 0  Chalfont St. Peter
Date:  Saturday 22 October	Competition:  FA Trophy

We may be getting used to seeing plenty of goals but we were never going to be see too much goalmouth action against fellow league opponents Chalfont St Peter in our first FA Trophy excursion for nine years. Our Berkshire visitors strung five defenders across their back line, making the road to their goalmouth full of obstructions. We frequently resorted to an aerial approach to bypass the blockage but this practise did not seem to work until we got lucky just after the hour when persistence paid off and the tactic was justified.

Striker Phil Page missed his first game of the season by serving a one match ban. Tom O’Regan was unable to contribute after sustaining a heavy injury three days earlier at Guildford but Andy Crossley started his first game following an eight week recuperation period. Jordan Kennedy made his home debut in goal, otherwise the starting line up took on a very familiar appearance.

Both sets of defenders managed to control their domain to good effect with Ollie Treacher again imperious, and it was only in the middle of the park where the balance of play took on any variation and it was not easy to work out which side was in the ascendancy. The bone hard pitch and lively bounce in a keen wind did not help with quality control which is perhaps why the aerial route was being unwittingly favoured so often.

Chalfont St Peter proved to be a nippy side that were charged with plenty of energy, giving us little room or time to build. They looked handy when breaking out of defence but then lacked ideas nearer to goal. They did create one big chance of success on twelve minutes when our defence was pulled out of shape. The set up created, gave Charlie Strutton a yawning frame at which to aim with Kennedy having been pulled out of position. But too much gunpowder in his cannon resulted in the ball being fired recklessly over the bar; a big let off.

Effervescent skipper David Johnston, took a long distance snap shot five minutes later which was stopped by Mark Oliver in goal. Oliver Burgess came even closer soon after but ran out of road and only managed to shove the ball against the outside of the post after racing past the visitors defence.

We won corner after corner but each time the ball was headed away, but then it was The Saints who finished the half the stronger but still without the threat of a goal. A exception was a long range free kick from John Camoll that was comfortably smothered by Kennedy.

We played the second half against the elements with both sun and wind in their face but it seem to make little difference as both sides still played out the game in stalemate. But a break did come along at last, and it was in our favour when a slender 67th minute lead was established.

A right wing corner kick was lofted into the centre where Tommy McGarry ghosted in to head home with plenty of defenders around him but none making a challenge. The goal was not a turning point and the tie was still in the balance with Chalfont St Peter making a game attempt at equalising. It nearly happened!

We began to drift deeper and deeper into defence in a manner reminiscent of earlier games this season which encouraged the opposition. Daniel Hughes saw his 30 yard free kick finger tipped away then a colleague came even closer.

If Daniel Tomlin did not see it, then he would have certainly heard the sound of his equalising attempt thumping against the underside of the Chertsey cross bar. The miss underlined how close defeat sits alongside victory in football. That notion worked against us the previous week but went for them this time round.

So leather and woodwork met on 85 minutes to no avail but four minutes later it was all over with us hitting their second goal. It arrived with the Romanian Alex Bodean slipping the ball inside for Troy Ferguson to stab the ball home after Oliver had blocked his first attempt.

Four minutes of stoppage time were played out but the tension of the previous quarter of an hour quickly dissipated. This was not a classic encounter, and certainly below the entrainment

Chalfont St. Peter  1 v 2  Chertsey Town
Date:  Saturday 29 October	Competition:  League

The day was an ideal one to spend in leafy golden Buckinghamshire in all its Autumn glory and bright sunlight. It was also a golden day for us in dramatically snatching three Evo-Stik Southern League points from a more enthusiastic but ultimately less accomplished Chalfont St Peter. It never is, these days, never a dull event when Chertsey is in town, and even if this game lacked quality, the twist at the end made up for the earlier frustrations. A penalty kick successfully converted in the final minute of the game sent us away very happy but still wondering how we managed to keep a grip on the points as our challenge looked spent.

We played as if the ball had just been bought, steaming hot. from the Spud-U-Like stall, passing it off at the earliest opportunity. Whereas Chalfont St Peter’s more measured approach chipped away, almost unceasingly, at our penalty area but without creating much in the way of clear cut chances. Life was made comfortable at first in taking a two minute lead. Perhaps that was the root of the problem because the scoring of the goal looked all too easy, encouraging an almost casual attitude for the remaining 88 minutes resulting in the ball being frequently stolen in possession or grabbed by the home side when loose.

Phil Page returned to the starting line up after his one match suspension and Andy Crossley made an impact from his injury spell when coming off the bench for the last dozen minutes. It was either his contribution, or the Chalfont equaliser on 75 minutes that signalled an enlivened Chertsey’s display but the game certainly went up a gear in response to the second half goal.

Chalfont St Peter received their wake up call well before any pattern of the game had been established. Dan Bennett, wide on the right, crossed the ball to the penalty spot. Eddie Smith received, then clipped it sideways for Troy Ferguson to blast into the top of the net. The early bonus spurred us on but the impetuous steadily faded with poor distribution from the back and careless direction further up the park. It was more than half an hour before any further danger was created but Bennett’s shot fizzed off target.

The defence had Chalfont well marshalled resulting in a similar stalemate experienced seven days previous when the two side met in the FA Trophy. The half time whistle arrived without any more goal threats.

Chalfont St Peter enjoyed much of the second half possession with us giving off an impression that enough was being done in only having to neutralise any attacking threat. The consequence was that Chalfont made good progress towards our penalty area and won corner kicks on a regular basis. Tommy McGarry featured in last man defending, as did Page who headed off his goal line but we had our moments too as an Ollie Burgess header was tipped over by the home goalkeeper. Chalfont’s Temel Lewis poked the ball wide in another Saints attack but then they found success.

It came on 75 minutes and emanated from another corner kick, Delivered from their right, the ball was met on the near side by John Carroll who caught it with the outside of his left peg and steer it into the top corner of our net. There was an immediate response but too much emphasis was placed on individual effort and dead end attacks created unrest on the terraces.

Bennett was put away but side footed the ball past the far post with Eddie Smith waiting for the pass in front of the sticks but it was from another darting run from the wide man that produced the penalty kick as he was bundled over at full flight.

With only seconds remaining, Smith was the most collected at the scene as he sent Mark Oliver the wrong way from the spot to scrape out a win that, depending on your partisanship, was or was not deserved. We looked the more menacing once we had invaded our opponents penalty area but, although Chalfont St Peter produced the lion’s share of possession, they looked less likely to make it count.

Having now won seven out of our last eight league games, we move to within four points of the top despite lying in eighth place. We will have to show patience in our quest for further upward movement as cup tie football takes over for our following two fixtures.

AFC Hayes  1 v 6  Chertsey Town
Date:  Tuesday 1 November	Competition:  League Cup

We may have meandered off track the previous weekend but we knew exactly where we were going in comprehensively forcing hosts AFC Hayes off the road in our midweek Red Insure (League) Cup exchange. It was a happy experience for manager Spencer Day for, not only did his side hit in six goals, but two new introductions to the line up fitted in very well.

Central defender Moses Spencer had his first outing since breaking his leg during the July pre-season build up. He was joined in midfield, with Ian Selley, a spectacular signing, even if he is now firmly at the veteran stage of his career. They both made positive contributions.

Our goals came at regular intervals throughout a tie that was virtually reduced to being a practise match towards the end with our players stroking passes about all corners of the dew laden park in extended periods of possession.

The home side’s goalkeeper, Simon Grant did not do his side any favours but our forward line took full advantage and punished him heavily for his hesitancy with Eddie Smith notching another hat trick, already his third of the season. Two goals, each hit close to both sides of the half time interval killed off the competitive edge of the game.

Smith opened the scoring on 17 minutes with a 30 yard lob at goal off a Moses Spencer pass. Terry Smith for Hayes replied nine minutes later with an incisive move through the middle that was enhanced by the striker who shrugged off three challenges on the way before planting the ball home.

The lead was regained on 38 minutes when Dan Bennett crossed the ball from the flank. Grant in goal punched the ball away but it only reached the edge of the penalty area where Phil Page volleyed it back, straight into the Hayes net.

We struck again moments before the break, and Eddie Smith was the striker in question. He stole the ball from a defender’s possession then ran it in, bypassing Grant on the way. Two goal up at half time, we increased pressure immediately after the interval.

It took only three minutes of play before the tie was completely taken away from the home side. Smith again exploited the Hayes square defence as a long ball was pinged to him and again he ran on and rounded Grant for his hat trick and our fourth.

Bennett added his name to list after another long pass through the middle destroyed the Hayes ramparts. He momentarily hesitated giving Grant a chance to retrieve the situation but regained the initiative and slotted the ball home. Although a Hayes shot hit the Chertsey woodwork, they never really looked like avoiding directions into a cul-de-sac.

Troy Ferguson had a strong shot deflected and Smith also came close twice more before sowing up the scoring with our sixth goal. It came on 83 minutes with another 30 yard lob after more indecision. Pressure from Ollie Treacher forced a hurried, ineffective clearance to totally shut down a match with confidence and panache.

Chertsey Town  6 v 5  Ashford Town (Mx)
Date:  Saturday 5 November	Competition:  FA Trophy

The day’s pyrotechnics were ignited early at Alwyns Lane when a remarkable, even by Chertsey Town standards, goal fest entertained both sets of fans who both came away from the ground with something to cheer about. Ashford Town’s heroic recovery in the second half was redolent of a similar Chertsey effort when the two sides met ten weeks previous and the Curfew had more than a sniff of getting back on terms.

On that occasion, we were dead and buried at half time with a three goal deficit but came storming back to within a goal before time ran out in a 5-4 defeat. Logic would dictate that such an unlikely score line would not be repeated but that would defy the twisted rationale of association football.

That result was surpassed in this Carlsberg FA Trophy tie but on this occasion there was a complete role reversal with, as experienced previously, the losing side somehow finishing up the happier, that is until the cold light of day revealed that losing by the odd goal of a hatful after a rousing revival, is still an odd goal defeat.

Both sides gave the tie all their guns and although the cavalier defending may have offended the respective team managers, it certainly complimented the status of the competition. Entertainment is certainly the name of the game all the time clubs at the level Chertsey Town and Ashford Town compete remain in a competition that will be won by sides of a much higher status.

Ashford Town came to the game with poor recent league form, but also on the back of two prestigious wins in previous rounds and immediately went onto the offensive. The early enthusiasm quickly paid off with a fourth minute goal. It came off a right wing corner kick after goalkeeper Jordan Kennedy had made the first of many saves. The ball was delivered into the heart of our defence and headed home by Dan Brown.

Ashford Town posted this warning that their first class deliveries would be a strong card thought the game. It almost became our undoing. But before we began to significantly struggle in defence we first built up the strong redoubt of a four goal interval lead.

The process began in the ninth minute when Eddie Smith carried the ball into our guest’s penalty area and was caught late by Samad Kazi. He took the spot kick himself, blasting the ball through the middle as Paul McCarthy took the wrong option. A hamstring strain soon after sidelined Smith, making the goal his last significant contribution and paved the way for a home debut for the highly experienced Ian Selley to take to the field.

The open style of play being adopted by both sides best suited Chertsey at this stage and they capitalised five minutes later. An Ollie Treacher free kick was collected by Dan Bennett 15 yards out. He was able to turn on the ball and fire an accurate low slung shot into the corner of the net to put his side narrowly ahead.

The goal hardly phased the Ashford players and they came back hard, with Takahiro Kirihara forcing Kennedy to make a double save. They menaced our penalty area in a battery of attacks and rightly equalised on 20 minutes. A half cleared ball ran out to the right corner of the area where Ed Thomas fired in a quality shot that flew into the top of the net.

Skipper David Johnston was next on the score sheet for his first in a Chertsey shirt. He has a reputation for quality over quantity in that department and this was no exception. A blistering foray by Miles Smith, cutting in from the right along the goal line set the scene for Johnston to direct the ball home and regain the lead on the half hour.

The goal was the prelude to an eight minute frenzy of scoring, all to our advantage. It set a rock solid base for what should then have been a comfortable victory. A two goal fissure was, therefore, opened up only three minutes later when Phil Page pounced on a moment of shaky Ashford defending. He snatched possession of the ball and passed it on for Troy Ferguson to comfortably finish off the robbery.

The two goal gap was prised open even further after only another three minutes; the 33rd. Page had already delivered a warning shot across Ash Tree’s bows but then proved his bite was more dangerous than his bark. From a ball that was arced in high from the left, he out leaped the defence to head home on the far post. Now with the score at 5–2 and only 36 minutes gone, was there going to be another nine goal feast. Well, yes and no.

If the Thomas strike was out of this world, then the second Page reply was positively cosmic. The eighth of the projected nine came only two minutes later and it was Page again that took the accolades although it must be said that the Ashford defence had imploded at this stage.

The ball pumped forward but was still well clear of the penalty area when the marksman hit it after just one bounce and cannoned it high past McCarthy who, despite the distance involved, stood no chance of stopping the strike. The goal was the best of a very good bunch and possibly the highlight of the afternoon.

The four goal margin at the half time break should have signalled the end of the match as a competitive entity but the Ashford Town contingent had other ideas and they came back strongly, hardly allowing us to catch our breath. The result may not have been pleasing to the home team bench but it did make for a memorable and exciting contest.

The steamroller effect centred on the ball being constantly pumped towards the Chertsey goalmouth. The back line was made to work hard and in the main did well to clear their lines. The trouble was that the despatched ball rarely reached a Chertsey recipient and was frequently returned to sender.

The law of averages might dictate that Ashford, in creating some many half chances, would find a way through. It took only until the 56th minute for this to happen and came from a corner kick that was headed into our net by the number five, Jim Mann.

Even with this revival, the task of closing such a gap still looked an unfeasible dream but it was us who were uncomfortably lumbering our way towards a nightmare scenario. Sure, Page had a couple of goes at goal, and Tommy McGarry headed a free kick over, but it was Ashford that forced the pace.

Twice the ball had to cleared off our line with Kennedy beaten but the keeper also did well to save from Brown and Canderton. The pressure continued and the visitors strode closer with their fourth goal. Another deep cross from the left flank set up a scramble for the ball in front of the posts. It was an Ashford boot that won contest with Jack Mullan forcing it over the line.

Now, with 15 minutes plus any stoppage time still available, everyone suddenly adopted the notion that Ashford might snatch back the tie. The incredible being steadily turned into the possible enriched the game even more, if that were possible.

Chertsey were still reduced to the occasional maraudering foray, but done without a lot of conviction. The action spotlight continued to point at the Chertsey penalty spot environs. However, the clock ticked on and with still two goals to make up, it looked like the come back kids were going to run out of time.

But still the game jolted back into live play as the Middlesex side notched yet another goal back. This time Ashley Lodge slotted the ball away when again it was hoisted into the danger zone with more hope than expectation. Appreciation of time was distorted in the rapid action.

It seemed there was still plenty of minutes in the bag for the visitors to finally equalise but in fact their fifth was hit two minutes into stoppage time. But still they had a chance as the ball was immediately returned towards our goal where a corner was won and another goalmouth melee was created.

This time though, Kennedy smothered the ball to effectively bring the game to an end. Alwyns Lane has seen more goals scored in a game in the past but never in such dramatic circumstances. The sporting contest that started off with all the fizz of a Catherine Wheel and ended with the fuse still revolving bright deserved two winners but it is Chertsey Town that will be the name in the draw for the next round.

Chertsey Town  1 v 4  Daventry Town
Date:  Tuesday 8 November	Competition:  League

We came down with a bump after a string of impressive performances in this re-arranged Evo-Stik League match with mid table Daventry Town. Having taken the lead, and playing reasonably well, individual errors cost us a result in a game that ebbed away us minute by the minute.

There was a pre-match problem for manager Spencer Day in that his two prime strikers were struggling. Eddie Smith was ruled out after pulling a hamstring and being withdrawn during the previous match, and Phil Page was carrying a groin strain. Additionally, goalkeeper Jordan Kennedy broke down in the warm up and was replaced by Mark Shipperley.

The omens therefore were not good at kick off, but those woes were soon forgotten as we made the better start of the two sides and took a fourth minute lead. The ball was pressed forward towards Page and although his marker got to it first, he was pressured into loosing possession and Dan Bennett took over. He ran across the penalty area, then slotted the ball wide of Joe Mellings to snuggle it into the corner of the net.

A reaction save from Shipperley from a powerful Nathan Hick shot initially kept Daventry at bay, but actually almost all the play in the first twenty minutes was in the visitors half of the field. We looked comfortable and were unlucky not to increase our lead when both Tommy McGarry and Bennett hit shots against the full face of the Daventry upright.

But then it started to go all wrong. A stuttering pass back to Ollie Teacher went short and the full back had to desperately clear. The ball was charged down and fell neatly to Mark Bellingham who had no difficulty in side footing the gift away for the 33rd minute equaliser.

Spurred on by this, the Midlanders came right back into the game. Shipperley did well again to parry away a shot which went for a corner. Sadly for the young ‘keeper, he was not able to secure the ball moments later when delivered back into the goalmouth which allowed Stuart Hendrie to eventually poke the ball in from close range, two minutes into stoppage time.

The goal pointed further that this was not going to be our day. A Page header flew over the cross bar soon after the interval as we looked re-energised but a breakaway on the hour saw a neat sequence of passing, with the defence backing off, to set up Josh O’Grady who fired in low to make it 3 – 1 for Daventry Town.

Momentum then did drop for us and we had difficulty in generating accurate passes out of defence, and not much was happening around the Daventry penalty area. In an attempt to change things round when going forward, Moses Spencer and Andy Crossley were introduced, both in advanced roles, but neither substitution made a significant difference.

A glimmer of hope was swiftly extinguished when Bennett found space but his shot pulled out a full length save from Mellings. We upper our game again in the latter stages but the ball just would not fall for us. As if the thought that nothing was going to happen for the home side, another set back was created when a late Miles Smith tackle resulted in the referee pointing to the penalty spot.

With only three minutes of normal time remaining, Claudiu Hoban sent Shipperley the wrong way to record a cruel looking score line for Chertsey followers. Sure, the side did not perform as well as can be expected, and they always say you make your own luck. However, the game at times, might only have been a whisker away from being something quite different, but it was Daventry Town who took the cream.

Chertsey Town  3 v 2  Aylesbury
Date:  Saturday 12 November	Competition:  League

There was plenty of distraction off the park as the news leaked out that this was to be manager Spencer’s last match at Alwyns Lane as his team kicked off their Evo-Stik League match against Aylesbury. It was not long though before thoughts turned decidedly to action on the pitch when an early, seemingly unassailable, advantage had been established.

Moses Spencer made his first league start of the season in the heart of the defence as he returns back to match fitness. Full back Ollie Treacher was missing, being out of the country for a spell. Otherwise, it was an unchanged outfield. Leyton Orient’s Tom Lovelock returned on a short loan between the sticks for the injured Jordan Kennedy,

Although Aylesbury were the first to generate a strike at goal, bringing a steady Lovelock into early action, there was no hangover our previous midweek defeat as we powered into an early lead. Bright football won a corner kick on 14 minutes. The ball was swung in from the right by Dan Bennett and enough room was afforded to Eddie Smith to calmly head home from a central position.

More sparkling football built up pressure on a harassed Aylesbury defence and it was clear that the force being built up would be irresistible. And so it was as we went two goals to the good; very good in fact! A defence splitting move on the ground got Phil Page in a strong position.

He knocked the ball inside for Smith to make the act of side footing the ball into the net look so simple and easy, belying the work done to find another spacious position to exploit. With twenty seven minutes gone all was well. But we had there before!

Prospective scorers were lining up to press home a third in a even more rampant period and it took only a further eight minutes for Smith to secure his third hat trick of the season with a 25 yard lob at an angle, well clear of Liam Watson in goal, but not the collecting net. The midfield worked particularly hard to create a near invincible environment but events again conspired against us gaining any big reward.

For the second successive Saturday, fans saw the lead clipped back in the two minutes of stoppage time before the interval. This time it was a very harshly awarded penalty when the ball was smashed, from four feet distance, into a defender. Scott Orphanou took the spot kick but Lovelock got his finger tips to the ball and diverted it onto the post. From there, it returned to Orphanou who finished off the task, a split second before being shut down.

It still looked being a comfortable second half task for us but again we went into reverse gear and some last ditch defence work was required. Despite this, we might have scored next with Smith put into the clear, midway through the half, but his cleanly executed shot on the run was diverted by a full length Weston roll across the goal face.

Two minutes later and it was Page in a very promising position, but instead of releasing the trigger, he elected to play the ball inside where it was scrambled away. These lost chances were beginning to look like possible fatal errors as Aylesbury pressed harder at the other end and Miles Smith was forced to clear the ball off the goal line.

A Page shot off the outside of his boot might have relieved the pressure but the strike drifted narrowly wide. Aylesbury continued to bite back and from yet another pass fired into the kernel of our defence that was still proving hard to break, Simon Martin managed crack the nut though in stabbing at a free ball into the net.

With eight minutes, extended by a further four of stoppage time, still available for a complete Aylesbury come back, nerves were somewhat jangling in the Chertsey camp. The threat of an equaliser was prevalent but the chances were no higher than that of Town extending their slender lead as a curling Troy Ferguson effort at distance was narrowly out of range for Weston, but was also equally wide of the goal.

Two late substitutions broke down the momentum of play and we retained a lead that should have given an emphatic victory rather than one laced with discomfort in the final minutes.

Beaconsfield SYCOB  4 v 2  Chertsey Town
Date:  Monday 14 November	Competition:  League

This was not the score line Spencer Day would have wished for in his final match with the club. The idea was to depart with a win with panache but hosts Beaconsfield SYCOB spoilt the plan. However, they were helped along the way with some Chertsey trademark defending that set up a home victory well before the half time whistle.

Our reputation for leaking goals has often been balanced by a highly productive forward line. Two away goals is a reasonable return in reasonable circumstances, but the expenditure column was too great to balance income on this occasion. The result has still left us in a comfortable mid table position within touching distance of the play off places.

The line up was standard but this stability will be rent asunder over the following days; not exactly the best way to prepare for playing next, one of the league’s leading lights, St Neots Town. Their scouts were present at this game but will have learned very little under the circumstances.

After plenty of midfield play, Beaconsfield took an 18th minute lead when Tyrone Sealey crashed the ball into the roof of the net after an initial shot was parried by loan goalkeeper Tom Lovelock, who had a impressive game. An attempted Eddie Smith 15 yard lob on an angle for a Chertsey reply a dozen minutes later was followed up by two killer blows for the visitors within minutes of each other.

A disastrous 25 yard back pass let in Victor Osubu who was allowed to dribble the ball into an empty net after intercepting, with Lovelock left in no mans land. The goal on 32 minutes was succeeded five minutes later when a raking pass out to the Beaconsfield right was worked back into the goal face where Lee Barney turned the ball in.

Billy Witham replaced Moses Spencer at half time but that had little to do with a Chertsey revival on 49 minutes when Dan Bennett latched on to a ball over the top of a flat Beaconsfield defence and steered the ball past the goalkeeper.

We had a let off when a corner kick from the right was headed against the bar but then we felt hard done by when legs connected on a Bennett raid, but the referee steadfastly refused to point to the penalty spot, and it was the home side who experienced the let off.

Lovelock was being increasingly made busy and pulled off two point blank saves as we surrendered territory, but eventually the fourth goal arrived. It came on 70 minutes with Osubu again picking up the pieces in a crowded penalty area to punish us further.

We continued to play in a positive frame but in doing so left gaps at the rear, especially on the left but Lovelock stopped any further goals. It was us that had the final say, five minutes from time when Andy Crossley threaded a through ball past the home team’s stretched line and it was Bennett again who exploited the situation to the full for his second goal of the game.

St. Neots Town  7 v 0  Chertsey Town
Date:  Saturday 19 November	Competition:  League

On sight of the result of our first match after the departure of Spencer Day and the bulk of the ‘star’ players, one might believe the remainder of the season will be a long one for the Alwyns Lane faithful. Conceding seven goals without reply is a disappointing score line, to say the least, but there were bright moments in defeat.

The immediate departure of nine players from the squad at such sort notice was bound to have a detrimental effect. Caretaker father and son joint managers Jack and Matt Paterson did amazing well to pull together a credible side that, with time, could have possibilities. Visiting probably the best side, by a distance, in the league was not the best scenario in such circumstances.

However, despite a potentially de-motivating seven goal reverse, we played with spirit, organisation and discipline throughout the ordeal and came away with a deal of credit. Only four of the 15 names on the team sheet would be considered as a first choice selection less than a week ago and of those, Andy Crossley, was stretchered off after only 17 with a reoccurrence of the ankle injury that kept him off the park for three months.

Nathan Silver, one of the completely new faces in the side, took his place in goal and made an excellent showing. Max Hubbard with the number nine shirt was another unknown. He worked hard in the first hour but eventually faded. Returning to the club in its hour of need were defenders Matt Holley and Dominic Worthington; and in midfield, Leika Saku and Danny Rouco, all of who made useful contributions. Scott Wadge was a substitute but did not see any action.

From the hitherto fringes of the squad, Billy Witham, Alex Bodean, Robb Carr and Charlie Postance started on the bench. The latter three were eventually used and gave a good account of themselves which will give heart to the side, at least in the medium term.

David Johnston, alongside Tommy McGarry and Ian Selly as the labelled first choicers, completed the line up. Therefore, with just one training session, two days previous to this contest being all that was available for the Paterson duo to sign and fashion a team; a remarkable feat was achieved, given the limitations.

In fact, they looked the more accomplished side for the first few minutes during which time a screaming 30 yard shot from Johnston might have created a shock start when his strike clipped to St Neots’ crossbar with the goalkeeper well beaten.

However, the home side were very quick to react to situations and were decisive in their adjustment and so exploited any Chertsey weakness. In doing so, they quickly built up a three goal lead in a remarkable three minute window that opened on nine minutes. Okay, the defending was not watertight but the penalty inflicted by St Neots was out of all proportion to any lapses.

Stefan Moore, with over 30 first team appearances with Aston Villa, started the scoring sequence after breaking through the middle and firing in from 15 yards. With 31 goals to his name, scored last term, Dan Jacob added to his side’s tally by hitting in a parried shot that fortuitously fell straight to him.

Shane Tolley, who fared even better last season with 54 goals, hit number three by knocking in from close range, a cross that was headed down on the far post. This might have shattered our resolve but to their credit, the side, to a man, carried on as if nothing had happened.

Even the blow of losing Crossley, and another goal on 21 minutes with a truly amazing 25 yard swerving shot of international class from Lewis Hilliard, failed to knock our lads off their stride. Six and seven passing sequences were created but with only half chances, mainly falling to off target shooting by Selley, being produced.

Another curt sequence soon after the break produced a further trio of goals but still we did not completely buckle and continued to contribute to the game with positive football. Tolley, on 48 minutes, finished off a decisive move after the ball was worked out wide to their right, then hit inside almost in the same movement.

Jacob revisited the score sheet three minutes later when another defending ricochet fell his way, being in the right place at the right time, but took his chance well. The hour had not passed before Moore had struck again, clipping the ball in on the near post off a low, hard struck delivery from the left flank.

Although they the scoring session then ended, a complioment was paradoxically created as St Neots still tried to embarrass us visitors further and looked to be striving for double figures, but then became mortal. Chances were created but they were either blocked or misdirected, with the closest hitting our bar.

Silver was at last given a chance to shine and produced well timed and executed saves. It became increasing clear that we were not going to give up and even tried to lessen the blow with action at at the other end of the park; the closest effort being a rasping 15 yard Selley shot that Michael Duggen finger tipped aside at full length.

Charlie Postance, consistent scorer with the Capital League side, was able to show his promise after replacing Worthington who had uncharacteristically been pushed forward after Crossley’s departure. Bodean also looked lively when replacing the spent Hubbard.

Johnston played a real captain’s role and must be given credit for urging his troops on with an inspired performance in the middle of the park. Respect was afforded by the home crowd of 328 at the final whistle at the manner of our response, as well as to their own colours after producing perhaps their best performance in an already productive season.

North Greenford United  1 v 1  Chertsey Town
Date:  Tuesday 22 November	Competition:  League Cup

We travelled to North Greenford United for this League Cup encounter still with a patched up side and although we were ejected from the competition in a penalty shoot out, we gave a strong impression that we will be quite capable of meeting the challenge of rebuilding the side.

Us visitors had the better of the chances and only looked vulnerable towards the end of the ninety minutes of normal time when the legs started to go. The game then evened itself out in extra time as the host side also found fitness a factor with both sides giving their all.

Charlie Postance, Jack Leighton and Robb Carr started the game, marking the only changes from the previous weekend’s line up. The more even contest during evening illustrated that the evening’s opponents were more representative of the division’s strength.

Both sides were attack minded in an open game but chances were at a premium in the first instance. Robb Carr immediately made considerable headway on the left flank and it from this source that we took an 12 minute lead.

Having beaten his attendant defender, Carr cut the ball back to the edge of the Greenford penalty area, behind most of the forward charge. From the midfield, strode Matt Powell who then released a measured shot into the net, leaving Aaron Bufton with no chance.

The only menacing moment the home side conjured in the first half was an off target shot across the goalmouth by Peter Martin. We looked comfortable in defence and the midfield and blotted out the Middlesex side’s attack. Jack Leighton at full back had a promising start.

Another tight moment for North Greenford came just after the interval when Carr, once more, cut the ball inside but both the in rushing David Johnson and Postance were unable to connect from under the cross bar. We still had the edge but might have made life more uncomfortable for the other side had we been more aware of the offside flag. Postance was the prime, but not the only, culprit.

North Greenford came more to the fore as the game progressed but still did not look like breaking us down until a cross from the right was defected. Nathan Silver in goal got a hand to the ball but only to see run to Zak Joseph, just 12 minutes from the potential end, who knocked into the net.

The equaliser forced extra time when we should have taken the ascendancy. We had a strong shout for a penalty kick turned down midway through the second half but won the decision just two minutes in when Postance was taken out by Bufton.

Tommy McGarry took the kick but Bufton managed to connect the ball with his legs and the chance was gone. He almost made up for the missed opportunity with a shot towards the end that clipped the woodwork, laying the way for a penalty shoot out to decide the winners.

The home side went first. One of their shots was skied over the bar but sadly for us, we missed two. McGarry was successful with the first, and Leighton with the fourth. But Powell saw his shot saved and Leike Saku pushed the ball wide giving North Greenford the verdict. A defeat for Chertsey but nothing to be ashamed about.

Brackley Town  2 v 0  Chertsey Town
Date:  Saturday 26 November	Competition:  FA Trophy

With the dressing room upheaval heaped upon us over the past two weeks, it was mightily important that any suggestion of lost continuity in management was not transferred into the team, especially as we had another testing match by playing away to top of the Evo-Stik Premier Division Brackley Town in the FA Carlsberg Trophy.

Temporary stewards Matt and Jack Paterson did a fantastic job in managing a transforming side for two matches in our relay sprint towards stability. That baton changed hands the previous Wednesday with team captain David Johnston grapping the totem, with Ian Selley, still on a short term loan from Kingstonian, being involved in the new environment.

The change of personnel inevitably brought a new look to the Chertsey Town line up. Even so, there was only one completely unknown that featured in the squad in midfield, that being Jake Hicks from the Woking youth stable. Jack Mazzone, known previously as a youth player trying to break into our squad, returned as principle striker. He failed to score but not through the want of trying as he worked tirelessly throughout the tie.

Cup tied with Farnborough, their new bosses, Miles Smith and Ollie Treacher returned to the side to provide a powerful look in the back four along side Tommy McGarry and Matt Holley. The four provided for one of the more secure defensive formations seen in a Chertsey display this season.

Also taking the starring role was goalkeeper Natham Silver, who was initially drafted in as a stop gap arrangement. He will be a strong component in defending, should he remain at the club on a more permanent basis. His performance was assured through the game, but was especially effective in the first half when Brackley had got a grip and was severely testing the Chertsey goal frame.

Apart from a very early scare when a defensive mix up in the Brackley defence was only just rectified before the mobile Rob Carr got in to perhaps create a first moment of embarrassment, it was Brackley that took the first half honours. However, it was only during a twelve minute spell midway through the period that we looked in real danger.

Copper clad defending at the back, laced with a Silver lining, kept the home side out and our armour was only breeched twice when Jefferson Louis should have done better in firing over from close range and Carl Palmer crashed the ball against a charmed Town cross bar.

Self belief appeared in our play after the break and the contest was more evenly balanced although it has to be said the home side still looked the more likely to break the deadlock in a refreshingly open and positive exchange. Iron resolve in midfield was key to keeping a now less tenuous notion of snatching a surprise result.

Our ambition was partly blown down on 68 minutes when an aerial free kick near the halfway line was carried in the wind into the heart of our penalty area where the ball was carried inside for Elliott Sandy to put it away at close range.

The navy blue shirted army of Chertsey failed to buckle and looked even brighter in the aftermath of falling behind. Half chances were created, but only half chances. They were not successful and the brass cheek of a full Chertsey revival was not achieved.

Defending continued to be solid and it seemed that the solitary goal was going to be all that ultimately settled the tie. However, a disputed corner kick was awarded to the midlanders four minutes into stoppage time. From it, a cross to the far post was met by the head of Josh Green who gilded Brackley’s lily with a second goal that came too late to make any real difference to the final outcome of the tie.

The home side deserved the win but, prize money aside, we gleaned far more from the afternoon in knowing that such opposition will only be encountered on the odd occasion during the remaining months, and that the new look side is fast evolving into a really effective force in its class at Division One level.

Burnham  4 v 2  Chertsey Town
Date:  Monday 28 November	Competition:  League

The game of two halves cliché came to mind in our Evo-Stik League defeat at Burnham, but with a twist. It was more like a game of three thirds. The first two went for the home side but the last swung decidedly in our favour.

It was as if a giant trip switch had been juiced up to effect the changed situation. The problem was though, that we were four goals down by that point, and looking a well beaten side. The big change came on 55 minutes when defender Matt Holley headed home an Ian Selley free kick. From then on it was an entirely Chertsey Town affair with the ball almost exclusively being retained in the Burnham half of the pitch.

One more new signing featured in the line up with Matt Brunt joining the midfield. He had a quiet first half but came into his own as the game progressed. David Johnston dropped back in defence with Jack Leighton. Jack Mazzone was again required to plough a lonely course in attack.

The quality of football was lacking, especially from, us, and it took almost to half time before a combination of meaningful passes had been strung together. Burnham were not much better but they capitalised better on mistakes. They took the lead on 31 minutes with Kieron Knight heading home a cross from the right.

We had a golden chance to get back on terms only two minutes later when Mazzone was pulled from behind in the penalty area. Ian Selly took the spot kick well but the low strike towards the right hand post was expertly read by Andy Burkiss in goal and he pushed the strike aside.

The game went further into reverse four minutes before the interval when Owusu Bekde threaded a path though the middle of our defence and planted the ball wide of Nathan Silver in goal, but not his net.

The second half did not start well for us either and we found themselves three down on 47 minutes. The same powerful striker picked up on hesitant defending in a seemingly benign situation, to advance on goal and roll the ball home past Silver who stood no chance.

A charged down defensive clearance six minutes later saw the ball skid to Burnham’s Knight who was presented with yet another easy tuck away for goal number four. The signs looked ominous for us but then the transformation took place, with the Holley goal providing the catalyst.

It was Chertsey all the way from then on. Rob Carr on the right had been quiet but then began to roast Daniel Reading at left back, so much so that in the course of making three late and heavy tackles, conceded two yellow cards from the referee and so left the action.

Meanwhile, we had already reduced the arrears in the 74th minutes with another headed goal, this time in open play with the ball being played off the Burnham upright by Mazzone. Burnham hung on and in doing so, conceded a string of free kicks and a pile of referee cautions. In contrast, we were now stroking the ball about with confidence.

Although another goal looked quite likely, thoughts of another remarkable score line were not realised. The ball might have been forced through again but Burnham, with their backs against the wall, clung on to what they had, leaving us to rue earlier defensive errors that took the game too far away from a full come back.

Chertsey Town  0 v 3  Woodford United
Date:  Saturday 3 December	Competition:  League

Pundit TV juries in reality shows are all the rage at the moment and had any of them been at Alwyns Lane for our first home game in six outings they would probably been at each other’s throat with diverse views over this Evo-Stik League encounter with mid table Woodford United. Promising green shoots were evident but were they too delicate to survive a chill winter.

The team has been transformed since the last home showing following the mass exodus, principally to Farnborough. Established remaining squad players, bolstered with a young element drafted in by new sole team boss David Johnson, sent mixed messages. The result looked as if we took a real thumping but this was far from the case.

We had the better of the first half exchanges by far and still looked the part after the turn round but suffered with a lack of fire power at the front, and some rough luck at the back. A very wily Woodford eleven, with Ben Milner’s aerial dominance severely blunted sharpness in attack. The best first half fell to Jack Mazzone who spun on the ball but then hit it against the wrong face of the side netting.

A dubious looking challenge on Rob Carr in the penalty area as he honed in on goal was not punished by the referee generated more false hope, but when the ball was delivered in front of goal, it was not quite put in the right spot to fire in a goal, ably illustrating how close success and failure can be to each other.

The home defence was equally effective for the majority of the game but the back four of McGarry, Spencer, Saku and Holley tended to become stretched on occasion; a harsh observation perhaps because they held the line well, especially in the first half when no opportunities were given to our opponents to create any danger.

Going into the break goalless was a disappointment for the side, who showed flashes of promise in attack, and looked the more lively of the two teams when going forward. But they only created flickering moments of opportunism towards breaking the deadlock.

We were therefore doubly disappointment to fall behind in quick order after the interval. A long diagonal ball found a gap to allow Nathan Stewart to get behind the defence on 52 minutes. He exploited the space with ease, leaving an exposed Nathan Silver in goal, frustratingly exposed.

Woodford killed off the Chertsey challenge just before the hour with Nathaniel Liburd diverting home a cross from the right. We looked too lightweight at times to be able break back with too many passes going short. Progress was occasionally made, as when Rob Carr delivered a powerful shot, but on that occasion Matt Finlay in goal was equal to the effort and turned the ball aside.

We again had the rough end of the stick when goal number three wobbled in, twelve minutes from time. From a free kick on the Woodford right, the ball jagged off a number of players in front of goal with the back of Tom Fountain being the last make involuntary contact before it agonisingly rolled lazily onto the upright and over the line.

The side, despite the score, came off the park to the sound of hearty applause from supporters who recognised the frailty of our position at this moment together with the genuine attempt to break back into winning ways. That patience will eventually wear thin though unless end results become more positive.

So the page has been turned to another chapter in Chertsey’s roller coaster existence. It will not be easy to make significant headway in our new environment but progress is not impossible if the promise of youth, as seen in this match, can blossom into something substantial.

Chertsey Town  0 v 1  Walton Casuals
Date:  Tuesday 6 December	Competition:  Surrey Senior Cup

We continued to show promise with the new look youth dominated team but a lack of fire power at the front has given little reward for so much effort. The home Surrey Senior Cup tie with Walton Casuals resulted in a narrow, only goal victory for the visitors.

In theory, the two teams should have been evenly matched but with manager David Johnson only just starting on his rebuild programme the advantage before kick off was with the more settled Walton side who themselves, are making changes. Although Casuals took the honours of the evening, there was little to choose between the sides.

The unavailability for competition technical reasons meant that Moses Spencer, Jake Hicks and Jack Mazzone were all ruled out. Matt Blunt returned to the side with Alex Bodean and Billy Witham. That, plus positional re-arrangements, could have spelt organisational problems in more forced reorganising but the side coped well.

Again, the playing surface was heavier than desirable for the passing style of football that David has immediately tried to promote, but to be fair, it was the same for both sides. Although an optimistic view could be taken on our performance, it still looked unlikely that we would take the tie after going behind.

Walton had the better start and were unlucky not to take a ninth minute lead when Craig Lewington’s 20 yard free kick smacked against the Chertsey upright. But the Stags fortunes improved 16 minutes later after the move on the right saw the ball diverted into the centre.

Lee Copper collected and fired the ball goal wards. Nathan Silver in goal did very well and was equal to the firmly hit strike but the parried ball rebounded straight to Josh Gallagher who planted into the net, this time leaving Silver with no chance.

We worked hard to create opportunities but hardly came close with a hint of desperation evident in our wayward shots that really did not came close to bothering Gareth Williams in the Walton goal. A brighter prospect shone in defence which was solid throughout the tie. Walton had a flurry of attacks towards the end but each time, a boot or head shut off any chance of then increasing their lead.

The game again gave hope for a brighter Chertsey future, but the squad needs beefing up with numbers, experience and a half decent key to open up opposing defences. The rawness of the side was underlined with the average age of the squad being just 19 years with six of the eleven starters being teenagers.

The basis of a promising side was on display but, without reward. A win, no matter how fortuitous or undeserved, will do wonders for the whole club. From this performance, it is on the brink of being realised, but goal scoring opportunities need to be more regular if this is to be achieved.

Bedworth United  1 v 1  Chertsey Town
Date:  Saturday 10 December	Competition:  League

It may have been our longest journey of the season in visiting Coventry based and second placed Bedworth United for their Evo-Stik League encounter. But the journey home was much shorter, as will be the side’s odyssey to the end of the season if this can be perpetuated. A gutsy draw was won for the first point gained under the management of David Johnston.

Expectations of anything less than a sound beating would have given satisfaction against such a highly placed side but instead, we came away with the point well deserved after a less than promising start, even if they left their full recovery until the last possible moment with a equalising goal deep in stoppage time.

Returning to the midfield after a four year absence, Steve Brown added frisson to the middle of the park but he will have to regulate his boundaries if he is to maintain full effectiveness. He played to the edge but was successful enough to be there at the last gasp to set up our goal.

Rob Carr, currently fancied by rivals Burnham, withdrew during the warm up due to a stomach bug. Alex Bodean took his place but they exchanged positions on the bench in the final minutes of the game. Jack Mazzone returned to the side as the lone striker, pushing Charlie Postance back on the bench. Again he worked hard without tangible reward.

The spotlight fell quickly after kick off on goalkeeper Nathan Silver who committed a glaring error in letting what looked a sixth minute awkward but still benign, header at goal from Kyle Cartwright, from a corner, to bounce under his body and slide into the net. That poor start was more than rectified throughout the game, culminating in a real match saver late in the exchange.

He proved the early lapse was but a blip on his afternoon’s performance as our defending experienced difficulty in dealing, firstly with Bedworth’s aerial attack, then swift movement on the floor which led up to openings for powerful shots that Silver had to deal with, too often for southern comfort.

Cartwright again tested Silver with his head but a series of stinging shots, with Mitchell Piggon prominent in seeking to widen the gap for his side, were all thwarted with ruthless efficiency. It still did not look good for us in the first quarter of the game with the home side looking to wrap up the proceedings well before the deep winter floodlights were ignited.

But a Chertsey glimmer began to flicker in the Warwickshire gloom as the Bedworth challenge was toned down. It was still hard work to generate much in attack for the side but our packed midfield situation stabilised the contest, with the odd hint of progress at the front.

Jake Hick had a speculative shot diverted well wide, but better might have been made on the half hour when a nodded on cross presented Moses Spencer with a golden opportunity in front of the sticks to nod the ball down into a gaping net but he was unable to keep it down.

Our tenacious harrying and a high work rate. if anything, increased after the mid point break, Whatever it was, the home side were made to be far less effective on the upward slope for them. Goal chances at either end were therefore less frequent.

In relying on the occasional half chance, we had a very brief moment of hope midway through the half when Mazzone was put away but he completely failed in a attempted lob over Tom Cross in the Bedworth goal, his only real failure of the afternoon.

Meanwhile, our opponents were not having much joy at the other end either and Silver was only called upon once to make a save before the Chertsey encore during the stoppage time drama. News that Bedworth’s top of the table rivals Slough Town were losing must have added to the irritation of the home support while their green giants were being downsized to one of the dwarf varieties.

Their play became more scrappy as the tempo of the game accelorated and it looked increasing like we might snatch something from events after all. Desperate tackles became more evident as home frustration grew so it was with some irony that the Greenbacks were gifted a penalty kick as stoppage time was entered.

Moses and Matty Gardner made contact as the ball ran through to Silver. The adjacent referee allowed play to continue but then was placed in an impossible situation by his linesman who made a late indication for a penalty kick with the ball, now well up field.

There had been no call for a foul by anyone on the park. The prospective goal scorer Tom Bates must have been equally bemused by events. His low strike from the spot looked competent, but Silver flung himself at full length to palm the ball wide.

Bates had a wretched five minutes for he was then stretchered off with a self imposed injury after an awkward attempted tackle. The delay lengthened stoppage time long enough for us to snatch an equaliser six minutes after the regulation 90 minutes. and one and a half from the final, final whistle.

An all out effort in securing that goal was engineered by Johnston who withdrew Jake Hicks from the midfield and replaced him with a striker in Charlie Postance. Even Silver went up to exploit corner kicks, by now, Bedworth’s obvious nervousness.

Another free kick was conceded 30 yards out. Brown delivered the ball to the far post. Spencer knocked it down but it was scrambled away from the crowded goal mouth, but only to just beyond the penalty area where Postance fired it back into the maelstrom. Somehow, the ball missed a forest of both, green and blue intervening legs and shot straight through to the net before the 125 crowd twigged that Chertsey’s increasing contribution to the game had paid us hansom dividends.

With such a performance from a redeveloping squad, we look increasing able to emerge from the past testing last few weeks. The result was more satisfying than perhaps, a win in ‘normal’ times might have engendered. It may have only been one point gained, but it was a massive one that confirmed a conviction that manager David Johnston has laid a solid base, despite the trying circumstances, which has good prospects for advancment.

Chertsey Town  1 v 5  Barton Rovers
Date:  Tuesday 13 December	Competition:  League

A chill wind blew across the Alwyns Lane pitch and it was not just the bleak weather condition. Manager David Johnson’s team building programme took a jarring knock as we fell lamely to Evo-Stik League visitors Barton Rovers.

The return of the prolific goalscorer, John Pomroy boosted the forward line. Another new signing was Lucas Williams who was included to provide width when the team advanced. Matt Brunt returned to the starting line up and the recovered from illness, Rob Carr was also included. It looked so promising at kick off time but it did not take long before events turned against us.

Playing with their backs to a stiff breeze, Barton Rovers were handed a bonus just four minutes into the game, Deep on the left flank, Layne Eadie swung the ball over for a speculative cross. None of his teams mates had a hope of making a connection but it mattered not because the ball caught on the wind and flew, inch perfect, into the top corner of the net.

We were unabashed and played some neat football. Pomroy forced two saves from Richard Wilmot in goal. He also effected a couple of useful lay offs, with his back to goal. The second led to the ball reaching Lucas Williams who fired low and hard from 22 yards for a 29th minute equaliser.

We looked comfortable but the game then swung away from us as the interval approached. Our visitors were very quick on the break with Ricky Case giving plenty of problems. A cross from his right side quarter was only half cleared, and from the edge of the area, Luke Knight fired the ball past a crowd of players, giving the unsighted Nathan Silver in goal no chance.

The goal was the last act of the first half, coming three minutes into stoppage time, and in retrospect it was a pity for us that it was not the last action of the whole game. Our game collapsed in the second half, not helped by defenders Matt Holley and Leike Saku both sustaining injuries in the heart of the defence.

There still should have been better organisation at the back, but the midfield did not help much either. There were honest and hard working performances out there but some glaring individual errors as well. A collision between two central defenders set up Case for a gift of a goal on 76 minutes.

Matt Brunt looked to have been pulled back in the area as he honed in on goal but no whistle was blown. The same player had a strong shot saved after another Pomroy lay off. However, our game had fallen away and there was little real prospect of a revival.

The evening got worse for in the last knockings of an already disappointing evening with the ball being given away straight to Case who accepted another early Christmas present to slot in his second on 89 minutes. Then a long diagonal ball, deep from the right wing found Scott Joseph who, unchallenged fired in another simple chance five minutes into stoppage time to underline the bleak evening for us.

Chertsey Town  3 v 2  Biggleswade Town
Date:  Saturday 17 December	Competition:  League

We sent high flying, but pointless visitors, Biggleswade Town home in a state of shock after securing a last gasp winner in an enthralling Evo-Stik League pre-Christmas encounter at Alwyns Lane. The win marked a major boost for us by recording our first win since the Spencer Day hiatus, whilst also putting the clock back with newly returned John Pomroy posing as the match winner.

Pomroy’s second half performance was redolent of a role he has performed so often in the past for the Curfews. Frequently a player to frustrate the spectator for not, ‘getting stuck in,’ but can pull a winner out of a seemingly tightly secured bag, which is what he did in creating our second goal, then scoring the third to win the game a minute into stoppage time.

Of course, he did not win the game alone. Football is a team sport and the whole squad put in a shift and a half to possibly create the league’s biggest upset of the day. The result was a big morale booster for, not only was it the first win under the management of David Johnston, but the achievement of scoring three goals demonstrated that the side now has a newly found attacking edge to their game.

Biggleswade Town understandably began with confidence with their greatest threat provided by the long throw of Peter Gatti. This was just as well for them as they were unable to break open a resolute and organised Chertsey defence to the point that no corner kicks were conceded until well past the half hour mark.

The visitors should, however, still have taken the lead before then after Brett Donnelly headed wide from in front of the posts. At the other end, David Johnston forced a finger tip save over the bar from his 25 yard shot off a half cleared corner kick. Pomroy then had a strike that Sam Leggett in goal was forced to turn aside.

We were on top for the final 15 minutes of the half and were far from displaying the goal shyness seen of late. The busy Jack Mazzone, as the twin striker, along side Pomroy, the had his moment at warming the hands of Leggatt from 25 yards. Rob Carr on the flank also found success to exploit a gap after good Mazzone approach work but Leggett saved once more.

Biggleswade were again put under pressure from the corner won and could only force the ball away to the edge of their penalty area. From there, Mazzone crashed the ball home for us to go ahead on 41 minutes. The lead was well deserved but the act of taking one for the first time in seven outings seemed too good to true.

The reason being that, from almost nowhere, Biggleswade Town secured an equaliser. Our defending had been first class but one lapse was punished when a free kick into the area was allowed to bounce, giving licence for Craig Daniel to cut in and kill off our interval advantage.

The stoppage time equaliser could have deflated our resolve but did nothing of the sort as the game opened up in the second half. We again took the initiative and played neat football but it was a while before the lead was regained. We came close on 52 minutes. Steve Brown delivered precise corner kicks all afternoon. One planted under the Waders’ cross bar led to a scuffed Mazzone shot that still managed to clip the upright before going out for another corner kick.

The equaliser came just after the hour with a ball sent up field. Pomroy just beat Leggett for possession but fell. He still kept control on the ground to eventually feed the ball across for Mazzone to stroke it into the net with the keeper scrambling in vain to recover his station.

The game expanded even further to excite the vociferous home support but they were silenced on 84 minutes when Alex O’Brien fired the ball home from inside the penalty area after the ball had not been properly cleared off a rare Biggleswade corner.

This may have encouraged the visitors to go for broke as the looked for the winner they had possibly expected earlier in the day but it left them exposed at the back. It was a nervy climax for both sides. Leggett had come off injured earlier and an out field player took his place. However, the substitute keeper under any sort of pressure but all came good in stoppage time for us.

A long clearance found Mazzone on the right. He pressed the ball inside towards the unmarked Pomroy as he entered the penalty area: always a deadly combination. The space gave an illusion of offside, or that’s what the visitors believed. The referee did not, and Pomroy crowned his return by planting the ball home in front of the now re-animated home support.

Bedfont Town  2 v 2  Chertsey Town
Date:  Monday 26 December	Competition:  League

Evo-Stik League hosts Bedfont Town must have wondered how they managed to snatch point after Boxing Day visitors Chertsey Town looked, twice, to have won the local derby. It was not that the home side effected an equaliser after we had take the lead on two occasions, it was more that they looked unlikely to score even one goal, let alone the two they managed.

Manager David Johnston did not have the best of preparations after having the core of his central defence ripped out of his starting eleven. Matt Holley was still nursing a swollen knee, Moses Spencer struggled to return down from the midlands, not helped by a tyre puncture on the way, which meant he did not arrive until after half time. Leike Saku was not available at all.

Matt Brunt was pressed back into the centre but made the move seamlessly. Billy Witham took the left back slot and Matt Powell dropped back on the right with skipper Tommy McGarry marshalling the rearranged defence to great effect to produce a coherent force.

John Pomroy and Jack Mazzone provided the strike power with Rob Carr and Lucas Williams adding width from the midfield. With Steve Brown also unavailable, Jake Hicks and Mr Perpetual Motion, David Johnston played in the central the midfield.

The first half did not amount to much with play confined to the midfield. We looked to have a better co-ordinated attack but it was Bedfont that came closest to scoring any sort of goal when Glenn Garner delivered a long range shot that thumped against the Chertsey upright.

However, it was more a case of waiting for a gross defensive error rather than an inspired piece of attacking to break the stale deadlock. Neither side made that error but nor were they able to make any headway in each other’s penalty area.

The second half was all together different and we took off early with a goal three minutes after the restart. A free kick awarded 30 yards out and near the left touch line was curled in from the right foot of Johnston for Pomroy to rise and cleanly head the ball home.

We pressed hard for the next quarter of an hour and should have increased our lead. Lucas Williams gendered success on the right throughout the second period and was unlucky with a strike across the Bedfont goalmouth that clattered the far post. Soon after, he forced a full length save from goalkeeper Gary Ross.

A few minutes later, Pomroy robbed Ross but his subsequent shot was blocked by a defender. Ross was in action again, scooping away a swerving Hicks effort from 20 yards. Just after the hour a McGarry header, off a corner kick, fizzed narrowly wide. Ross again survived the next attack despite dropping the ball under pressure, but Mazzone shot weakly at goal and the ball was hacked away off the line.

It was perhaps during this intense period that we should have made the game secure. The price was ultimately paid the for the lapse. Bedfont may have damped the searing pace we set but still did not look dangerous until an unheralded equaliser in the 80th minute made the scores level. A defender stuck out a leg to block a shot from outside the penalty area. The ball took a heavy deflection to flip up and over Nathan Silver.

But then, we appeared to successfully retrieve the situation on 86 minutes after Moses Spencer had taken to the field in place of Powell. A free kick was awarded to us 30 yards out. Johnston again took charge and flighted the ball to the far post where Spencer headed into the top corner to regain the lead.

Our young team then showed a lack of maturity for, instead of shutting the game down and playing out time, they continued with the attacking theme of the second half. The flawed tactic allowed the home side to try their luck again in the open park.

It paid dividends. Three minutes into stoppage time saw the ball hoisted into our penalty area. The clearance was ineffective and the ball skidded straight at Tommy Brewer, and in only their third accurate shot of the afternoon, he hit the ball, low, into the back of the Chertsey net.

Chertsey Town  0 v 2  Fleet Town
Date:  Monday 2 January	Competition:  League

Our untidy Evo-Stik Southern League encounter with Fleet Town at tacky Alwyns Lane illustrated how fine a line can be between victory and defeat. Few chances were created but, with the scores level midway through the second half, we had the best chance to create a slender lead that would have quite possibly decided the result.

A powerful and tenacious thrust on the left by Alex Bodean resulted in the ball being fired inside. Striker John Pomroy raced in for a goal face rendezvous and with leg outstretched to the full, made contact. However, although only five feet from the Fleet goal, he was unable to make a good connection.

The result was the ball being shovelled over the bar, a seemingly impossible feat at such distance. He did well to get in the zone, even if the product was incredibly disappointing for us home fans who were yearning for a ray of sunshine to lighten the dank contest.

The goal attempt, instead of killing off the visitors had an opposite effect. ‘The Blues’ then began to get a grip on possession, and although still looking unlikely to break through, eventually achieved success, mainly through the power of the percentage game. If you probe long enough then something is likely to happen.

Happen it did on 80 minutes when James Taylor called the tune by turning on his man and firing the ball into the corner of the net from 12 yards. Neither side could be faulted for their energy and enthusiasm but there was just not enough invention to overcome the sweaty work rate. Our attempt at a fight back thus looked forlorn.

It was Fleet who looked more commanding in the final stages and they still had charge of the ball. Taylor again was triumphant by knocking in another, this time by taking advantage of a failure to clear from a corner kick. The ball clattered around the Chertsey goal mouth and was eventually turned in.

The second goal was noted as arriving on 84 minutes but in reality, the interval between goals was far greater than the four minute gap recorded. The game stuttered in these late stages with injury stoppages, phantom substitutions and prolonged restarts that tried the patience of a still hopeful crowd.

Although David Johnston’s selection considerations centred on restructuring the back line, it was more the attacking options that came up short. Moses Spencer, Leike Saku were both unavailable. Full back Matt Holley was again ruled out though injury.

The quality of football further up the park was the prime problem. The width and speed of Rob Carr, another injury casualty from the previous match, was missed. Ball control and passing was well under par with the result that little excitement was created in the Fleet penalty area despite us having a first half edge about the neutral areas.

Fleet Town were no better and it was difficult to see how either side were going to get a chance to make their mark. The game was dominated by a midfield battle that no-one really won until the latter stages. Half chances and threats were occasionally created but the grafting that was evident looked a lost cause.

The defeat was a lost opportunity to build on a promising re-emergence after our travails of November and December but, to be fair, the conditions for play were less than ideal, and the new side is still in its, ‘job in progress’ state.

Chertsey Town  1 v 2  Ashford Town (Mx)
Date:  Saturday 7 January	Competition:  League

The new year is proving to be anything like happy after a second successive home defeat in five days. Both reverses came against modest Evo-Stik League opposition and both might have gone the other way, such was the closeness of the contests.

This time it was neighbours Ashford Town who came to Alwyns Lane for the third meeting between the two sides this season. The initial two outings produced an astonishing 20 goals, with a 5-4 league win for the Middlesex side, quickly followed by a 6-5 FA Trophy reply.

There was never any danger that such exceptional score lines would be repeated although the match was open and positive. It was just that there was a lack of quality in front of goal by both sides to make either defences look particularly vulnerable. Both had periods of superior possession but in each case, a rack of goals as reward was not easy to envisage.

Moses Spencer returned to heart of the defence but injuries still required Steve Brown to retire to the back line instead of his more accustomed midfield role. Nathan Silver in goal was replaced by Jamie Norris, a recent signing from Godalming Town. The switch was not a reflection on Silver but more in order to create an opportunity to evaluate new faces through David Johnston’s mid season team rebuilding programme.

We have played better of late but this performance was far more attractive than the previous outing earlier in the week, giving a lively start in the crisp afternoon sunshine. Matt Brunt, emerged from defence to deliver a curling shot that went wide. However, it was the visiting side that took the lead from a right side corner.

The ball reached the edge of our penalty area on 15 minutes and was diverted off the head of Jim Mann. Kofi Lockhart-Adams got to the ball quicker than you could say his name, and certainly before any Chertsey defender, to hook the ball into the net at close quarters.

We replied six minutes later when full back Takahiro Kirihara blocked off a promising Lucas Williams surge. Steve Brown took the free kick and fired the ball from 25 yards past all defenders and into the net. Goalkeeper Paul McCarthy got some fingers on the ball, but without purchase, but must have wondered what had happened to his defensive wall.

That was not our worry and we pressed on again. Jack Hicks saw a half chance shot go wide. But then, from the half hour until the interval, Ashford held the initiative but still without looking especially dangerous. An exception came via their right wing potential laden forays as well as through a number free kicks that were being conceded.

The first half might still have gone our way had Williams been able to get on top of a far post ten yard shot but instead he skimmed the ball high over McCarthy’s cross bar.

The second half started better for us but Ashford quickly came back. Spencer was forced to clear off his own goal line as The Ash Trees came on stronger. The tangerine clad visitors seemed to have more zest to collect any wayward ball, and there was a fair share of those, being the quicker to react.

Their extra edge eventually counted in their favour although there was an element of good fortune in the build up, if that is what it could be called. The ball was cleared up to the middle from the Chertsey defence and was returned on the volley. It fell to Alex Duffy who appeared to shin it through a gap in the direction of Lockhart-Adams.

It spun well for him, however, there was no lucky break from then on as the striker moved forward with purpose and peeled the ball past Norris, just inside the right post to put his side ahead again. The 69th minute goal was enough to take the points but, either side might still have changed the final result.

The same Ashford striker later found the post with a header but then we came back into the picture towards the end. This included a couple of half chances, involving an off target header from Alex Bodean, and a better than even odds opportunity for John Pomroy but he headed a left wing cross wide of the Ashford sticks.

Chertsey Town  2 v 1  Marlow
Date:  Tuesday 10 January	Competition:  League

The manager of visiting Marlow might well have departed Alwyns Lane after their Evo-Stik League encounter to report a robbery. But was Chertsey Town Football Club guilty of the offence of the theft three valuable points?

Marlow, and in particular their number eleven, Aaron Couch was certainly guilty of wasting a battery of golden chances that would probably have hauled his side from the foot of the league tabl,e but he somehow contrived to blast each opportunity into oblivion.

Marlow did not have exclusivity on the hard luck stories of the evening for we saw two of our own early efforts crash into the woodwork without registering a goal. The win may not have been emphatic but it was enough to raise us up a place in the table for the first time in manager David Johnston’s managerial reign.

Despite our whirlwind eight weeks of change, the side has only dropped three rungs in the Division One ladder and are, incredibly, still only eleven points away from a play off place. But elevating ourselves back into such contention must be seen as fantasy at the moment in the light of such a wayward performance against such modest opposition.

Injuries have been insidiously creeping into the squad for some weeks and the situation worsened with midfielder Jake Hicks and Billy Witham being the latest victims. Moses Spencer also took a knock in the game and had to retire early. A stopgap of loan of two players from Godalming Town in Damien Smith and Darren Wheeler was drafted in to swell a very thin squad.

The two were retuning from injury themselves but were effective enough to give sufficient depth to the side for the time being. Also, Troy Ferguson made a return to the side on a loan arrangement from Farnborough and seamlessly fitted into the midfield.

We started off strongly and came close to founding a firm platform to ease through to all the points. A Moses Spencer headed effort and a long range strike from Matt Brunt both hit the cross bar in the first five minutes. We were not to be denied, however, and did take the lead in the 14th minute.

David Johnston crossed the ball from the right towards the twin strike force of John Pomroy and Jack Mazzone. The delivery reached the far post where Mazzone met and thumped the ball home on the volley. Moments later, goalkeeper Jamie Norris was forced to save at full length before we almost went two up.

A trademark Pomroy lob from 25 yards certainly had goalkeeper Jonathan Nydell in trouble but the ball drifted far too high to create more than a flickering thought of a goal. We were trying to find a route through the middle but Marlow found more space and potential in playing wide, especially on the right.

No real danger came of this for us, come the half time interval, but we were in immediate trouble soon after the restart when Couch equalised from 20 yards. The goal, as it so often does, pepped up the scoring side and they looked every bit a team that should sit in a comfortable league position.

But it soon became apparent why they are struggling. They managed to find a way of getting behind the back line with high balls over the top. The tactic worked particularly well for Couch who managed to engineer a handful of point blank situations in front of the Chertsey goal but each time he failed to deliver.

The most glaring came after he rounded Norris but then went for the spectacular and smashed the ball against the underside of the bar instead of a measured tap in. Next he tried to bypass Norris again but this time the ‘keeper managed to flick the ball aside and give time for his defence to recover.

Adam Harman joined in with a snap shot from 30 yards that Norris did well to scoop out for a corner kick. Couch was put away again but hooked the ball wide from a very strong position. It seemed that we were living on borrowed time but then we created a classic sucker punch that looked inevitable under the circumstances.

Ferguson pumped the ball high, more in hope than expectation, towards the Marlow penalty area. Nydell failed to grasp the situation and the ball became invitingly free. Mazzone took command and bundled his way through a phalanx of defenders to stab the ball home at close range.

There was still a little over a quarter of an hour of regular time remaining which was eventually coupled with six minutes of stoppage. Our defence still lacked good formation when Marlow broke with their now familiar long ball forward. It continued to give Couch his chances which he again spurned.

Pomroy tried another unsuccessful hook over the woodwork as we looked increasing likely to hang on to our ill gotten gains. But we could not be blamed for our opponents shortcomings. It was their own forward line that perpetrated their downfall to let their generous hosts escape scot free.

Cove  2 v 3  Chertsey Town
Date:  Tuesday 17 January	Competition:  Friendly

This hastily arranged friendly at Cove ended with a narrow 3-2 win. It was a dreadful start when the home side took a 9th minute lead. A corner from the right was not addressed to allow Nathan Nelson to steal in and head the ball home.

We replied on 17 minutes with a Steve Brown strike from almost 30 yards that took a deflection on the way. The lead was secured with the last kick of the first half when Matt Powell surged through a gap in the middle after a John Pomroy feed, and slotted the ball home.

Cove came back on 67 with a low strike from Andy Harewood after his own probe through the midlle but we edged ahead once more on 76 minutes with, what turned out to be the last kick of the game.

A sliced clearance went straight to Charlie Postance on the edge of the Cove penalty area. He then volley the ball back goalwards. The ‘keeper tried to recover but the ball went over the line for the last action of the truncated game after the pitch rapidly hardened in the frost.

Chertsey Town  0 v 1  Rugby Town
Date:  Saturday 21 January	Competition:  League

Match Highlights:

We may have shored up our defending attributes but a focus then fell on an attack which never really looked menacing enough to have gleaned, what would have been, a well deserved draw in our narrow defeat by well placed Rugby Town who were put only one point off a play off position in the table.

The inclusion of the new signing of Michael Blount in the heart of defence was an instant success and immediately teamed up well with skipper Tommy McGarry in the centre. With the aerial battle won, the midlands visitors might have looked for a way round the sides but equally effective full backs Brown and Witham also played their full part.

Billy Witham showed his potential as a stopper in his best performance since arriving at the club in the Autumn. Steve Brown’s tackling, always on the edge, was played to near perfection. The result was a solid base to build an attack but sadly, there was never enough invention to open up an opposing defence that had not conceded for 280 minutes.

Our contribution to an eventful and positive encounter, despite a lack of goalmouth action, was encouraging, especially that given during the second half which deserved a share of the points. Jack Mazzone was missing at the front but the inclusion of striker Jordan Merriman was a positive for David Johnson. The teenage loan forward from Farnborough grew in confidence as the minutes ticked on to became even more prominent after the turnaround.

Blustery conditions and a struggling pitch did not assist the quality of a game that predominantly revolved around the centre of the park. Rugby Town looked the more likely to score in the first half, especially in the dozen or so minutes immediately prior to the break when an ominous siege was mounted.

Paradoxically, this period possibly marked the best indication that our quest for improvement was beginning to gel. The defence was organised and coherent and, the goal aside, only once looked likely to crack when Brown was forced to clear off the goal line.

That situation arose from a cross that Jamie Norris missed and set up a frantic melee under the woodwork. It was the goalkeeper’s only slip of the afternoon, having just turned aside a rare Rugby strike on target. He could not be faulted for the visitor’s goal either, in his solid stance between the sticks.

The goal came on 32 minutes after a midfield move broke down. In classic style, a swift and well executed counter move sliced through the middle of the park, setting Andy Gunderlach up who fired the ball in low from twelve yards. The goal prompted the Rugby surge and the interval did not come quick enough for us.

The break acted as a tonic for our lads who then looked by far the better side during the second half. Their best chance of the first half came from a Matt Brunt rush through the middle that was chopped down at the edge of the Rugby penalty area from where John Pomroy narrowly missed with the resultant free kick.

Another dangerous free kick was delivered inches outside the box in the second half when Merriman was clipped as he was on the brink of breaking through, but again the kick was ineffective. The most promising move was created on the right by Matt Powell who provided an extra dynamic after coming on at half time. He broke through but instead of shooting at goal, misdirected an inside pass.

The lack of service to the strike force was a disappointment but cautious optimism in a steady improvement in all other departments is emerging for an improved rating for the last third of the season’s campaign.

Slough Town  3 v 0  Chertsey Town
Date:  Saturday 28 January	Competition:  League

Given that we commanded lengthy spells of possession in their Evo-Stik League outing to top of the table Slough Town, this was a cruel score line for us gutsy visitors. For all our possession though, we were never going to take all the points due to our modesty in front of the Rebels’ goal.

The home goalkeeper was never given the opportunity to show that his stop shopping was any better than his abysmal clearances as positive approach work from the blue corner invariably broke down once the Slough penalty area boundary had been breeched. The lack of self belief effectively gave our host side the decisive initiative to retain their top spot in the league table with room to spare.

The one Chertsey player that looked best likely to break through was Rob Carr. His left flank forays caused the lanky Alex Brown all sorts of problems which could only be solved with late tackles. Four fouls were inflicted on Carr, two when breaking into space, but incredibly, the defender only sustained one yellow card; job done!

From this, Carr was forced to leave the park midway through the second half with double vision. Jordan Merriman was switched from the right but was not given enough possession to exploit Slough’s vulnerable back door. Carr’s departure was not the catalyst for our defeat. Conceding three goals, two against the run of play, was the unravelling of our game but fruitless challenge.

David Johnson added another new name to our defending armoury, beating Bedfont Town to the signing, with the recruitment of Alex Frostick from Fleet Town. He immediately fitted in to good effect at the back. It was just as well, as Michael Blount pulled out in the warm up with a hamstring strain.

There was still clear indications that Jonno is creating a competitive side after such a traumatic beginning to his tenure. The solid base laid down this week with tenacious football that again avoided yellow cards being flourished bodes well for retention of our place in the Evo-Stik competition but the performance was spoilt by the lack of firepower.

John Pomroy had two credible attempts in the first half that, on another day, might have crept in but in general, the effort of forcing a way through our opponents outer defences seemed to sap energy of the attack for anything other than half cocked shots at goal.

There was nothing to chose between the sides for the first 25 minutes but then Slough built up a momentum that saw Ollie Burgess head over after promoting the attack from the midfield. A corner kick on the half hour then saw the ball headed back into our goalmouth, waiting to be mastered.

A short sharp scrap ensued that went in Slough’s favour with centre back Nathan Bowden-Haase bundling the ball over the line a couple of feet out after it had rebounded off Jamie Norris’s back in a confused melee. We quickly dismissed any thoughts of a collapse and again tried to go on the offence but our half chances yielded nothing by half time.

The second period produced even more Chertsey possession. The ball was continually played with purpose towards the Slough lines, leaving their fans behind Norris’s goal as long distance spectators. But time after time, no real penetration or invention was created. Mobile defender Steve Brown came closest with a curling 20 yard shot that took a clipped deflection to within a yard of the Slough upright.

But it was plain to see why the Buckinghamshire side are at the top of their game as they took their chances well to exploit our few defensive slip ups. An attempt at trying to play out of defence with neat football on a very sticky track instead of a required ‘route one’ clearance set up Danny Burnell to fire in on 63 minutes.

It was obvious the gap that goal created would not be overtaken but we continued to play brightly, however Slough’s class showed through with their only properly created goal of the afternoon, notched with five minutes remaining. The former Curfew Burgess was the tormentor. His right wing cross was met by the head of Sean Sonner some ten yards distance from goal.

AFC Hayes  0 v 3  Chertsey Town
Date:  Tuesday 31 January	Competition:  League

Our continuing good form bore fruit at frosty AFC Hayes with a victory worthy of the performance, and one that had been threatened for the past few weeks. This was the biggest win in David Johnston’s tenure as team boss.

This was only the home side’s second defeat in their last ten outings. They were therefore on course to skate through for three points but it was us that froze out our northern neighbours. Even conceding a late penalty failed to break our resolve to maintain a clean sheet for the first time in 23 attempts.

Michael Blount’s return to the side gave that extra cohesion and allowed Steve Brown to push further up the park in a line up that came close to Jonno’s optimum side from his current squad; one that is still evolving with further signings in the offing.

Hayes began the match on the offensive and their brightest period came in the opening ten minutes. They may have looked confident but were unable to create any real chance. Ironically, their best opportunities came in the second half but two class saves by Jamie Norris in goal saw off the danger.

Crisp passing built up forward movement for Chertsey and we created an advantage on 19 minutes with a sharp passing interchange through the middle between Jordan Merriman and Rob Carr that was finished off by the latter with a low strike from 15 yards.

The lead was increased eight minutes later through a Steve Brown free kick delivered deep from the right. The ball to the far post was met, close in, by Tommy McGarry who headed it firmly home although under pressure in a crowded goal area.

Well on top, we might have taken an even bigger lead by the interval when a top corner strike from Matt Brunt was clawed away by Simon Grant in goal. Merriman also forced a full stretched save with a well directed shot that might have been struck harder for better success.

We continued to dictate after the break but the Hayes side tried to create a wobble on the hour when they worked a good position on the break, but the fiercely struck rising shot from Ross Ahir was turned aside by Norris. But any remote suggestion of a Hayes revival was finally quashed in the 72nd minute.

Another Brown free kick, on the left hand side this time, 25 yards out might have been an attempt to plant the ball on the far post again but it took on legs and curled direct into the top far corner of the net with spectacular result.

With the game effectively over, the only main threat was the weather but the hard surface did not deteriorate enough in the cold for a premature end. The home side had the best of chances to reduce their arrears ten minutes from time after being awarded a penalty kick for a hand ball offence, but Norris was on top again in deflecting away the spot kick.

Leighton Town  3 v 1  Chertsey Town
Date:  Saturday 18 February	Competition:  League

If manager David Johnston felt under pressure before arriving for our league encounter at rain lashed middle of the table Leighton Town, he certainly would have been six minutes from the start after his side had already conceded their second goal of the inhospitable afternoon. Being frozen out of fixtures for eighteen days should have given a free rein for selection but instead he was forced into emergency mode with four key players unavailable, with two requiring hospital treatment. The situation was even worse come the end of the game.

The defence was severely reduced after skipper Tommy McGarry suffered a freak eye injury in training and Michael Blount pulled a hamstring. Further up field, Matt Brunt was out of the country and Jordan Merriman spent the weekend in a hospital bed. It therefore required a mix and match solution to field a side with Matt Holley being forced to a premature re-start despite having an even longer injury break that commenced prior to Christmas allowing the improving Billy Witham to fill a midfield place.

On a threadbare track, the contest began disastrously for us. We fell behind after just four minutes when a hopeful ball through the middle could not be tamed by Jamie Norris in goal. Both he and the ball skidded out of control on the near impossible surface. Layne Eadie took advantage to return the ball into our Town net. It got worse two minutes later with the rain still falling heavily. The ball was crossed from the right towards a parade of unmarked attackers after it had sustained a deflection of Holley’s head and Ben Gallant had an easy opportunity to head his side into a seemingly unassailable situation.

With confidence, Leighton continued to treat our defence like carrion and it looked possible that they might completely reverse the five goal thumping they received here earlier in the season. All the momentum went in Leighton’s favour and so the third goal could hardly have said to have come out of the blue! It arrived just before the half hour. Slick passing movement through the middle opened up for Gallant to fire home from ten yards.

We had no answer in reply and welcomed the sanctuary of the half time whistle. The break proved to be a great godsend. The second period became one of regeneration for us, and, from then on, we looked hardly likely to concede further goals. The midfield tightened up and became more fluid football was produced. Leighton’s earlier yard and a half advantage out of the blocks was dissolved and we actually looked the more accomplished and quicker side to the ball. However, the blue print was still geared more to breaking up Leighton’s designs rather than a building a Surrey assault.

The home goalkeeper was not tested with a shot on target but still conceded one goal; perhaps two! The first occasion was a penalty kick when the heels of thrusting Lucas Williams were clipped in the penalty area. Captain for the day, Steve Brown made the 65th minute spot kick task look easy. He blotted his copy book soon after though by conceding a yellow card for a late tackle, his fifth of the season to give him a one match suspension. John Pomroy also got into hot water with the referee who somehow managed to generate a basket of cautions in a game of little aggression but played on a skid pan of a pitch.

Pomroy was possibly agitated after being denied a goal. Goalkeeper Kevin Marsh tossed the ball from his hands to clear. The adjacent Pomroy stuck his foot towards the ball, but not the cavalier keeper and caught it on the half volley to despatch it into the net. Neither officials clearly saw the incident and after lengthy consolation, erred on caution with the borderline situation and disallowed the goal. In quick succession Pomroy was then booked for a late nudge in the middle of the park. It then got worse for the 29 year old who was further cautioned again for a hand ball offence and, for the first time in his career, was dismissed.

Further woe ensued with the goalkeeping department taking the brunt. Firstly Jamie Norris limped off injured after a clash from an incoming Leighton forward. A more profound injury was inflicted on his replacement within five minutes as Mark Shipperley sustained a leg fracture in similar circumstances. The Leighton player in question, Jake Bewley, was sent his marching orders as Shipperley was stretchered off to end his season.

The remainder of the game fizzled out as a contest with both sides accepting the score line and not wishing to put further stain on the referee’s pencil or their own well being. The second half recovery was a real positive sign even if it failed to deliver a telling shot in open play.

Chertsey Town  0 v 2  Burnham
Date:  Tuesday 21 February	Competition:  League

Our first home game for 31 days should have been eagerly awaited but in fact a poor attendance saw a commensurately poor exchange between two sides, neither of which merited a victory. The rearranged fixture brought Burnham to Alwyns Lane for the Evo-Stik fixture for the first time in 18 years. It was hardly worth the wait!

Playing Burnham has never been an exciting prospect for us for we have gleaned only one point in our previous 15 league meetings with them. It looked like we might have doubled that meagre total in the sixteenth exchange but two late and unlikely goals scuppered thoughts us taking anything from the contest.

Our appalling injury record continued to worsen. Although not fully fit after being taken off injured three days previous, goalkeeper Jamie Norris took his place between the sticks. Michael Blount was still out with a hamstring along with Jordan Merriman with acute tonsillitis.

Matt Brunt was out of the country which added to David Johnston’s selection restrictions. The situation became worse midway through the first half when Rob Carr was withdrawn with a badly twisted ankle that saw him take a visit to St Peters Hospital. Tommy McGarry also started the game, still on a recovery programme.

Defending Callum Eagle made his debut and Dayo Oshitola saw his first outing for the side at Alwyns Lane in attack. He came close in the first half to opening the score when his 15 yard shot was turned aside by Andy Bayliss in the Burnham goal after Rob Carr had collected a lose ball and made incisive progress. We also had another effort cleared off the line.

But generally, goalmouth action was at a premium and excursions into the penalty area at either end were few and far between. However, it was Burnham that showed more edge to their game although they were also guilty of giving the ball away, although perhaps less so than ourselves.

A bland goalless draw looked by far the best bet as the end neared. Neither goalkeeper had that much to do but dealt well with their tasks until Burnham got lucky. Harry Pritchard fired in a low shot from the edge of the penalty area that looked have been covered, but the ball sneaked through for an 89th minute goal.

The gap opened further in stoppage time with a goal scored on the break with Burnham’s Kieron Knight acting as the provider. We were really out of salts by then. A one goal reply was unlikely, on the evidence of the evening, but two was plainly totally unrealistic and the visitors took all the points away with them.

Northwood  4 v 0  Chertsey Town
Date:  Saturday 25 February	Competition:  League

Injuries continue to dog our prime aim for the season to avoid a relegation battle. That goal is likely to be achieved but David Johnston’s task is not being made any easier but the ever growing mountain of unavailable players being thrust upon his challenge. Yet another player, this time central defender Alex Frostick, was stretched off the park midway through the first half, a phenomena that has occurred in a third successive outing. The result was that by the time a quarter to five arrived, seven of his preferred starters were missing from the park.

Playing away to seventh in the Evo-Stik League table Northwood was always going to be a difficult task but the absenteeisms made the job so much hard; and it eventually showed with a four goal deficit on the day. The outcome might have been different had a third minute shot on the swivel from John Pomroy gone in. Home goalkeeper Mitch Swain got down well to deflect the strike onto his near post and then to collect the rebound. The ball was supplied from the right by Lucas Williams who had initial success on the flank.

A big blow came four minutes later when two attempts at clearing the ball at he other end saw it drop to Reece Yorke who unleashed an unstoppable shot from outside the penalty area that crashed off the underside of the cross bar and over the line. We still looked bright with new signing Steve Duff making a noticeable contribution on the left wing, giving the width in attack that has recently been missing. Dayo Oshotola saw his shot then blocked and Swain saved again, this time from Duff. It was thus still an open contest until a feeling that the list of hard luck stories was about to lengthen.

A surging run by Romaine Walker got him into the outer reaches of our penalty area. Callum Eagles got a toe to the ball in the tackle but obviously not enough to satisfy the referee who deemed it a foul, much to the distress of the Chertsey contingent. The ball was put was cleanly put away from the spot by Wayne O’Sullivan. The two goal gap created just before the half hour had its effect and our attacking flair dropped away and there looked little chance of the imbalance being redressed come the interval. Perhaps their only bit of good fortune came ten minutes before the break came when a fully fledged strike from John Christian hit Jamie Norris’s upright.

The game was more open after the break. Northwood struck the ball about with the sort of confidence that Chertsey supporters would dearly liked to have seen from their own side. There was flashes of good football which showed that, with perhaps a better rub of the green, might have brought a closer contest to the fore. A lone run ensued after the ball was released from a Chertsey attack, by Oliver Hawkins. He made strong progress on the right side of the pitch and delivered a low shot into the corner of the net to truly put the game out of our reach on 56 minutes.

We tried to reduce the gap. Pomroy could not convert a cross from very close range as the ball spilled over the bar and Powell drew the keeper but his shot on the angle went a foot wide of the far post. Northwood always looked dangerous in attack but it was disappointing for us to conceded again so close to the final whistle.

This time it was a comprehensive passing movement that set up Adamson Ajayi whose powerfully cannoned the ball through Norris in stoppage time. To their credit, our limited side never showed any indication of capitulating but were always battling against the odds and would have done well to have wrung out a result against the more than competent host side.

Chertsey Town  0 v 3  Beaconsfield SYCOB
Date:  Saturday 3 March	Competition:  League

Our poor run of form continued against Beaconsfield SYCOB, a side well placed in the Evo-Stik league table but one that had also experienced recent adverse results. The match looked to have kick started the visitors’ revival whilst pressing us further into the doldrums. The near overwhelming list of injured players, with defender Steve Brown, having to drop out in the pre match warm up adding to the crocks, did not help David Johnston’s cause but he, and assistant Trevor Norris, have good contacts and quality replacements were found.

However, it meant that team cohesion was constantly under strain and it eventually showed in an encounter that saw very little in the way of Chertsey attacking options. Defending was adequate for most of the time but individual lapses at vital moments led to all of the three goals conceded. John Pomroy was also missing in serving a one match suspension but one has to wonder whether his participation would have been a turning factor for the strike force was again given meagre service, allowing the opposition’s goalkeeper to have a quiet day.

New to the forward line, Peter Biggs, looked lively but had little support to expand on his game. Another new signing in Jack Blatchford started on the bench but looked solid enough when coming on in the second half. Blount, Frostick, Carr, Oshitola, Crossley, along with Brown and Pomroy, all had to sit out the afternoon in the stands.

The first quarter of an hour of the exchange was mirrored in the second half with Beaconsfield being the more pro-active of the two sides. They won a succession of corners as our defence was pressed back but we still looked competent until minute number twelve. The imposing Fiston Manuella waited for a corner kick to be delivered from the right and comfortably headed the ball home from eight yards with no challenge being put in to disrupt the clean operation. Manuella’s colleague, Charlie Mpi should have put his side two up soon after when set up right in front of goal but Jamie Norris was given half a chance to smother the shot which he did, to keep the game alive.

It was the boost that we needed and we came out of their shell in style to light up the touchline interest. Some clean cut and confident football was displayed for almost a half hour and although we easily looked the better outfit at the time, only half chances were created when Lucas Williams just failed to capitalise with a couple of dangerous Steve Duff crosses.

Although goal down at half time, the home crowd looked forward to a second half and a continuation of the side’s positive display, but errors in defence shattered any thoughts of getting back on terms. The back pedalling commenced in the 51st minute. A soft free kick, some thirty yards out on the right was not contained despite the ball going loose. A failure to clear put the defence out of shape and the ball was returned into the box giving the again unmarked Manuella time to select his spot for a low 15 yard drive into our unfortunate net.

Five minutes later, Callum Eagle put himself under unnecessary pressure when bringing the ball out of defence. He delayed his pass and was robbed of the ball by Mpi who had a simple task of running in on the Chertsey goal and slotting past the stranded Norris. Our game never recovered whilst the bonus goals boosted the visitors who were in full command for the remainder of the day, ably illustrating what the difference confidence on the ball can do. Beaconsfield displayed plenty of it to dominate, almost to the point of arrogance, with too many basic Chertsey errors gave further encouragement.

We were shut down all over the park and were frequently forced into side and backward passes just to maintain possession. Forward movement was mainly a speculative affair with territory only being gained with ineffective long balls. However, although there was never any danger that we might put late pressure on our rejuvenated opponents with a goal or two, at least there was a return of stability in defending. The frustration for us was that ability to play positive football was shown for time to time but no end product was manufactured. This is becoming a worryingly familiar facet of life at Alwyns Lane at present.

Aylesbury  1 v 1  Chertsey Town
Date:  Saturday 10 March	Competition:  League

At last, we won a well deserved Evo-Stik League point at Aylesbury but once again the injury monster struck to take the shine off the performance. It is as if we should be pre-booking a local ambulance as the service’s attendance is becoming a regular feature. This time it was Peter Best that taken off to hospital after sustaining severe concussion following a midfield clash midway through the second half. An additional blow was that central defender Michael Blount, back after a four week absence, departed from the contest at half time with a reoccurring hamstring problem. His absence in the second half was noticeable.

Despite these two set backs, there was plenty of positives for us to savour, if nothing else, scoring a goal in open play for the first time in over seven and half hours of league football was a big boost for morale. The goal was crucial as it kept the Buckingham challengers adrift from our grip on our own Southern League survival. In midfield, Jack Blatchfield made his first start for the club with purpose, giving better stability on the park. Heart stopping errors did occur through lack of concentration but can less frequently than of late. Additional relief was experienced as the Aylesbury side failed to punish but our defending gave more heart.

Of the two sides, we came closest to scoring in a tight first half when Steven Duff unleashed a dipping thirty yard strike that cleared the Aylesbury cross bar, but only by inches, 22 minutes into the game. Meanwhile, Aylesbury were kept well at bay with their attacking ambitions. We might have secured that narrow lead by the interval but were more that satisfied with the situation compared with recent outings.

The second half was a far more expeditious and adventurous affair. Both sides created better options to score, commencing in the 46th minute when a positive display from Matt Brunt almost paid dividends but his 46th minute shot was tipped over the bar by Rhys Marshall in the Aylesbury goal. Biggs covered a lot of ground and again looked lively in attack but his play was unstructured, illustrated by a wild shot after breaking through to a promising position. He was replaced by a less mobile John Pomroy who, in compensation, fed the ball with more subtlety.

Poor options in defending on 70 minutes led to the first goal of the game when a wayward attempted clearance led to the ball being returned from the right to Sonny French in the centre who unleashed a swerving and unstoppable shot from outside the box into the back of the net. In a quick response, a Matt Powell shot went wide as we quickly regained composure again.

We still looked the better side going forward in numbers but it was from a simple long clearance through the middle that set up the equaliser seven minutes later. The ball should have been secured by the previous Aylesbury goal scorer who had dropped back but he dwelled too long on the ball and Duff took control. There was still a fair bit of work to do but he advanced and drew Marshall off track enough to slot the ball home for a fully deserved equaliser. It looked for all the world that our golden point was going to be cancelled out late in the extended stoppage period, created by attention to the Biggs injury.

Aylesbury’s leading marksman Brian Haule got himself into an excellent position right in front of the Chertsey goal mouth but a combination of harassment from goalkeeper Jamie Norris, who incidentally produced a faultless display, and Tommy McGarry thwarted a near certain Aylesbury winner. This was a better Chertsey display that produced a welcome, if limited, reward at the end for a change and a much needed morale booster for our run in towards the season’s conclusion; providing we can keep our players away from NHS Accident and Emergency centres!

Chertsey Town  0 v 2  St. Neots Town
Date:  Saturday 17 March	Competition:  League

The bare face match statistic of failing to score even one goal whilst sustaining a home defeat totally belies what was actually a positive day for us in our Alwyns Lane clash with probable league champions St Neots Town. They had smashed in seven goals against us last November, but that was at a time when we had just lost nine players in the immediate aftermath of the Spencer Day departure. Although still a defeat, the second meeting between the two sides presented quite a different scenario to that day. We may have sustained an inferior score line but we were far from bowed in defeat.

In fact we had, by a comfortable margin, the better of the exchanges after the opening third but the Saints ably demonstrated why they top the league table with devastating fire power when a sniff of a goal is presented. It did not happen often in this open and entertaining match but two stunning St Neots strikes made the difference.

Two late team withdrawals again threw David Johnston‘s game plan awry. Defender Callum Eagle was forced to stand down during the pre match warm up, joining Jack Blatchford who had cried off a couple of hours earlier. New signing Billy Wilson immediately started in the midfield with Alex Frostick coming in at the back, still returning from injury although it did not seem like it from the touchline.

Frostick, and in fact all his team mates, manufactured the best brand of football seen at Alwyns Lane since the November hiatus. Flowing passes in the midfield set up chances at the front. Sadly this aspect of our play was only fully generated after a two goal deficit had been established.

An early St Neots strike from distance saw a quick reply from Steven Duff who fired the ball into the Saints’ side netting. The travellers then went ahead on ten minutes. A long pumped pass through the middle gave space for Ben Makey to run on to the ball and fire firmly past Jamie Norris in goal.

An equaliser twenty minutes later was thwarted when a Lucas Williams stab at goal was cleared off the line. This gave way, three minutes later, to the second goal of the game. Again, fluid movement in the visitors’ forward line created space. The situation, when Stefan Moore collected the ball 35 yards out, still did not look especially dangerous until his fierce shot fizzed with unstoppable venom into the top corner of the Chertsey net.

We twice tried to reply before half time with David Johnston forcing a full length save from Michael Duggen then the ‘keeper deflecting another worthy strike, this time from Matt Brunt. The same goalkeeper was nominated by his own side as man of the match; a testament to our second half prowess. Both Duff and captain McGarry put Duggan under further pressure but not as much as Williams with a curling shot from the wing that was just clawed away from the far top corner of the St Neots net. We plugged away but just could not quite make the deserved break through.

A lack of finishing has been our downfall over the past weeks but this was different. St Neots are an exceptional side and although they were made to look ordinary for most of the exchange, their defending was strong. Having only conceded ten goals in their last dozen outing underlined that fact. This was a positive Chertsey performance, but although with no goals to show it still might mark a turning point in our fortunes.

North Greenford United  1 v 2  Chertsey Town
Date:  Tuesday 20 March	Competition:  League

We made a strong bid to virtually banish further thoughts of relegation from the Evo-Stik League after a gutsy away win over North Greenford United, another side looking over their shoulder at fellow strugglers. The victory was just as big a product of determined and tight defending than was events in attack.

A prolonged effort by the Middlesex side to break the resolve of us visitors after the half time interval was blunted time again and a bit of good fortune at the other end of the park set up no more than a half chance to notch a goal. That slim opportunity was fully exploited to lift the side three places in the table, and more importantly, create a ten point separation from a relegation place.

The home side had the chance of overtaking us in the table and played a feisty game throughout but it was Town that took an early initiative. A header by Peter Biggs that was tipped over by Andy Caesar set up a series of corner kicks, and from the them, the Greenford cross bar was twice clipped.

The home side looked vulnerable from crosses delivered from either flank. One such situation led to our first goal. A free kick on the right was headed back across the North Greenford goalmouth where Matt Powell took possession. From the goal line, he clipped the ball back for Matt Brunt to fire low and hard off the post for a 23rd minute lead.

We continued to look bright in attack but were also solid in defence but were unable to fend off North Greenford United’s equalising goal that came on 37 minutes. Mark Nicholls fed the ball out to the midfield left for Ashley Alexandra to slam back to the far edge of the penalty area where Sean Hillier delivered on the volley.

North Greenford pressed hard after the half time break but our defending was watertight and no clear cut chances were offered despite significant territory advantage. It was this vital twenty minute period that swung the game in our favour for they survived to steadily regain a grip on events.

The balance finally tipped on 71 minutes. A fortuitously won free kick for handball 28 yards from goal. A defensive wall was set up but that did not deter Steve Duff who struck the ball with venom, to see it fly into the top corner of Caesar’s net.

The remainder of the exchange was strongly contested and was a credit to the competition, even if the temper of both teams was not of the best order. Approach work towards each other’s penalty area frequently looked like to reap a reward but no fierce penetration was achieved despite the home team manager setting up an attacking formation towards the end.

This suited us better and we were comfortable in repelling our opponents whilst not having to take chances to recover any adverse situation. The richly deserved win should settle Alwyns Lane nerves and reignite confidence that the side is travelling their rocky journey in the right direction.

Marlow  2 v 1  Chertsey Town
Date:  Saturday 24 March	Competition:  League

Red Kites, a re-introduced bird of prey and scavenger across the Chiltern Hills and surrounds, circled overhead at Marlow as they played host to us for a sun soaked Evo-Stik encounter that failed to excite their respective sets of supporters. The birds looked they were ready to swoop on the carrion of this half dead fixture but the thin pickings on offer made it an offer they were comfortable able to refuse.

We started lively enough and perhaps deserved to edge into a first half lead, even if the goal was won in bizarre circumstances, but our performance fell away as the game progressed, especially after half time. Marlow played little better but showed far more desire after the break, having been spurred on with their equaliser soon after the interval to record the bottom of table side’s first win for three months.

The game marked the last appearance of Steve Duff who is returning to foreign fields for employment. It was perhaps his least influential showing in his six outings despite helping to set up our goal. John Pomroy started again but was replaced midway through the second half by Peter Biggs.

Matt Blount made a welcome return to the defence but again he was forced from the park midway through the second half though injury which proved to be pivotal. Marlow hardly looked dangerous at all in the first half but were given far more room later, which proved fatal for us.

A very high and unpredictable bounce made the ball difficult to tame but we made a better job of it early on. Marlow took over 15 minutes before they showed even a hint of danger. Meanwhile our forward movement gave promise of a back to back win for the first time since early November.

The goal came from a hopeful thrust through the middle from Duff. Lucas Williams just beat his marker and met the ball on the volley some 20 yards out. He lifted it so high in the air that it had the potential to take out any unwary Kite, to drop inch perfect over the head of Charlie Fanner in goal and on his line to rebound into the roof of the net.

The lead was thus won on 18 minutes and looked solid enough for the remainder of the half without any significant break through moments being established. But it was all change after the turnaround with the Marlow making a early impact after a diagonal free kick was delivered deep into the Chertsey penalty area.

It was disappointing for the bench that the ball was not cleared for it was a very low header from Ross Herridge just a few yards out that won the moment for the attackers to give them an equaliser that looked very unlikely up to that point. The goal pepped up the home side who had the better of the exchange with ourselves looking lack lustre. There was still a lack of quality football on display with neither side looking competent enough to find the net again. The feeling that one moment of brilliance would be enough to wrap up all the points but it never really came.

Marlow did get the goal, but it was more a case of weak defending rather than the magic of forward play that won the day. A dribbling run on the left flank brought the ball to the Chertsey goal line. It was stabbed inside and might still have been cleared but it was Marlow’s Adam Harman that got to the ball first and he was able to steer the ball home from three yards.

Marlow’s second goal of the game, and the second scored from inside the goal area, came with 25 minutes remaining. It took Chertsey another dozen minutes, but they finally increased the tempo and the attack suddenly gained bite.

Strong Chertsey pressure was applied. Williams came the closest in the final minutes but the ball just could not be forced over the fine with Marlow pressed back, but defending well enough to deny us a late equaliser.

Chertsey Town  1 v 0  Bedworth United
Date:  Saturday 31 March	Competition:  League

Match Highlights:

Bedworth United may still have retained their third place spot in the Evo-Stik League Division One table, but they were shown the door by an ever improving Chertsey Town at Alwyns Lane. The one goal margin may have come through a fortunate goal but the winning gap could have been prised even wider. We may have entered our March fixture list like lambs but we certainly went out as lions! The win compounded Bedworth’s frustration at failing to beat us this season after a draw was recorded at their ground in December.

Prior to kick off, Jonno would have pleased to have taken a one goal interval advantage but in practice it was scant reward for the opportunities that had been carved out during their vibrant first half ambitions. John Pomroy was back to his cultured best as the side created their best scoring options in a game seen since the mid season hiatus. However, he was not involved in the only goal that was actually scored in the open encounter. That was a solo effort, which was abetted by the visitors’ goalkeeper Jamie Bressington momentary loss of dexterity. A free kick was awarded 30 yards plus from goal after only three minutes.

Matt Brunt took the kick which skimmed along the bone hard surface. It looked like an easy pick up for Bressington but he fumbled and allowed the ball to sneak under his body and trickle into the net. The early lead spurred us and we had by far the better of the first half exchanges. Bressington’s opposite number, Jamie Norris, was forced into one full length save a dozen minutes into the game off a Luke Corbett strike from 20 yards. But if that counted as good chance for the Greenbacks to enhance their goals for column then we matched that effort four fold.

A signature opportunist turn and hook shot by Pomroy from 25 yards almost put us two up on 15 minutes but Bressington was more alert this time round and acrobatically tipped the ball over for just a corner kick. Michael Blount then saw a strong shot fizz wide. A Pomroy flick put Peter Biggs away but we has unable to out manoeuvre Bressington, the last barrier to goal. A quickly take Johnston free kick soon after put Dayo Oshitola away but his effort was blocked as we continued to put pressure on the Bedworth penalty area.

The question at half time pondered whether the one goal lead was going to be sufficient. We had only managed one clean sheet since October and it was certain that the high flying visitors were going to come hard for the final 45 minutes and maintain that record. And so it was! Bedworth United found plenty of aerial success in the first half but played to the ground more after the break, now with the elements in their favour. The passing movement was as slick as ours was earlier and they enjoyed a lion’s share of possession, reducing us to resolute, if reactive, football to stem the flow.

In a rare attack at the other end, Matt Holley side footed wide from in front of goal off a low Oshitola corner kick. It might have calmed nerves better ten minutes into the second half but his contribution in defence more than made up for the lapse. Bedworth saw plenty of action in front of the Chertsey penalty area but hardly made a breakthrough. Their best chance came when Corbett failed to connect with a ball that ran across an empty Chertsey goalmouth. Another half chance came with the skimming of the top of our cross bar from a strong Alex Dean strike. Mitchell Piggon hooked over the bar from close in as the outcome was increasing looking likely to be settled, if by any other means, from a scrambled effort at close range.

Our defending, led by Blount as skipper for the day in place of the unavailable Tommy McGarry, stood firm and Bedworth’s challenge looked increasingly doomed well before the final whistle which, nonetheless, came as a welcome sound to the heartened and vocal Chertsey support.

Two wins and a draw from our most recent five matches may not ignite the football world but it is a universe away from a few weeks previous when the side went ten games without a win, conceding 33 goals along the way. The consolidation David Johnston was initially seeking has surely now been manifested.

Woodford United  2 v 1  Chertsey Town
Date:  Saturday 7 April	Competition:  League

We got ourselves bogged down at Woodford United in our quest to continue our recent rehabilitation in the Evo-Stik League which has seen us occupy the middle orders of the form table for the first time since before Christmas. The narrow defeat in front of a sparse midlands crowd was hardly the ideal dais for a celebration but in any case marksman John Pomroy was unable to score on, nonetheless, his 250th start in our colours. His remarkable feat, spread over the past dozen years, is even more remarkable in that he has notched a hefty 257 goals during the process.

We were greeted with an unattractive and uninspiring playing surface that suited the home side’s more direct and unsophisticated approach to the encounter. Even so, we created the first opening after only five minutes but Pomroy’s shot on the turn was saved by Matt Finlay in goal. Pomroy also took a stab at goal soon after, but again Finlay blocked the effort as we did our best to wrestle control of the ball. The home side did not look dangerous and their pumped through balls created little danger until the back line was caught by a diagonal cross that created a penalty kick after heels were met.

There was a dispute on who did what in the situation but the outcome was of little consequence as Jamie Norris in goal pushed Aaron King’s drilled spot kick at full length out for a corner. The 28th minute miss was almost atoned for nine minutes later when Tom Fountain broke through but he hurriedly skewed his shot wide with only Norris in the way.

Although the home side came in at the break with feeling they had by far the better of the chances to be in the lead, it was still ourselves that looked the more accomplished side and who had the better of the possession. But the balance went in Woodford’s favour after the interval.

Their persistent harrying gave them the initiative. We tried to feed the ball along the flanks through Dayo Oshitola and Matt Powell but the delivery from the wide areas was not quite good enough. Also, we were unable to match Woodford’s work rate which eventually became the deciding factor.

Defending still looked reasonably comfortable for us but we were then caught again with a ball lofted over the back line. Norris was left exposed and caught the lone marauding Woodford forward as the player tried to create a gap. The second penalty kick of the game was awarded but this time, taken by Alfie Taylor who made no mistake in powering the ball home top give his side a 62nd minute lead. Soon after, Billy Wilson came on for the tiring Peter Biggs.

Another ball over the top on 71 minutes released Taylor back into a prime position behind our rear and he increased the lead by slotting past Norris who again was exposed. The gap looked too great to close as Woodford showing the great endeavour needed on the demanding surface. However, we responded and won a series of corner kicks. One, delivered hard from the right by Oshitola, produced dividends as Tommy McGarry raced in and headed the ball home with considerable force. The goal, coming on 80 minutes gave scope for a revival.

Woodford came close with a free kick that was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Norris but it was us that finished with more promise, despite the tired legs. However, the final delivery was either too weak with medium length passing or the ball got stuck in crowded situations at the edge of the Woodford penalty area, allowing the home side to narrowly take the honours.

Chertsey Town  0 v 2  Bedfont Town
Date:  Monday 9 April	Competition:  League

The second Easter fixture of the holiday failed to overcome the disappointment of the first, two day previous. The Alwyns Lane Evo-Stik League encounter against neighbours Bedfont Town was played through continuous drizzle to add a fitting backdrop to a tedious afternoon for Curfews fans. The Bedfont club changed their manager around the new year after sitting at the bottom of the table and have since made a dramatic recovery which continued, aided and abetted by us pressing our own self destruct button.

Any thoughts by us towards maintaining a clean sheet were quashed early on with the visitors breaking initially breaking through on nine minutes. A second came on the half hour which effectively closed off the contest. Both goals were avoidable but not all blame for the defeat should have been directed at poor defending. A low success rate with simple passing movements all over the park resulted in little in the way of positive movement, noting more than three passes in succession became a rarity. This made life very easy for Bedfont Town who were able to control the majority of possession in the first half.

We evened up matters after half time but never came close to reeling in the relatively modest deficit, but one that might as well have been three times the size. It never looked like being neutralised. However, it looked like a heavy defeat could be on the way after the early exchanges with the two goal Bedfont Town lead being established.

The first of the pair arrived on nine minutes with a free kick being awarded, ten yards from the right touch line, and some 20 yards out from the end of the pitch. The ball was lofted by the left foot of Joel Jacobs. It swung over to the far post and although initially looked to have been covered, it sailed into the net past Jamie Norris in goal. The second came 21 minutes later from a benign situation that rapidly turned viral. While progressing away from his goal, Callum Eagle released a sloppy pass that was collected by Zeby Cole. He had little difficulty in advancing into the space behind the caught out defence to slot past the helplessly exposed Norris.

We had but a couple of goal attempts. A half volley from Matt Brunt in the third minute forced a rare save from Gary Ross. Matt Powell, in the second half, forced a headed effort, to be parried away. However overall, Bedfont were content to see our telegraphed crosses from the wings be constantly mopped up by their dominant goalkeeper. Rob Carr made some headway along the flanks after coming off the bench but the continued slack passing movement, giving away possession all the while, meant that there was never any danger that we would find a way back into the game any more than Bedfont would increase their lead during a dismal second half.

Biggleswade Town  2 v 3  Chertsey Town
Date:  Saturday 14 April	Competition:  League

We are doing our best to ‘go green!’ Having drawn and beaten the ‘Greenbacks’ of Bedworth United earlier this season, we went one better against the verdant shirts of Biggleswade Town in achieving the double over their Bedfordshire hosts. Both those clubs are vying for a play off place making our successes that bit more substantial. The victory was also another sign that manager David Johnston is beginning to turn the fortunes of the club around as his side regained the three places in the Evo-Stik League table, lost after a disappointing Easter programme.

Admittedly, the victory was helped along with the home side sustaining two first half own goals, but they were conceded under pressure and a three goal gap came so close to being established soon after for us Surrey visitors had a far post header by Tommy McGarry hit the underside of the Biggleswade cross bar instead of its face. There was only one goal in it at the very end and although the home side pressed hard to wipe out our advantage, they were well away from managing to overhaul the deficit with their second goal coming three minutes into stoppage time. Our defence held firm in any event.

The playing surface was in good order and worked well for an eager Chertsey side that knocked the ball across the park with confidence from the start and in the initial stages looked the more menacing side. The lively beginning was exemplified by Rob Carr who caused problems on the right flank. It was after he collected a precision midfield pass from Johnston that Biggleswade’s problems really started. The ball was returned with power into the middle where defender Peter Gatti rattled the ball past his own goalkeeper in a forlorn clearance attempt, to give us an eight minute lead.

Ten minutes later after more Chertsey forward movement, goal number two was conceded, again with pressure being applied. Johnston again was involved, this time more directly with a diagonal free kick from 25 yards. The ball was planted near to the penalty spot where captain Steve Gentle stretched too far to try and head away but instead looped the ball backwards over Anthony Ender. Biggleswade snatched some possession for the first time in the encounter but it was ourselves that still looked the more dangerous. A further ten minutes rolled on when Carr delivered a low shot that was just finger tipped aside by Ender. From the corner kick, Tommy McGarry headed the ball against the bar which saved further green blushes.

We may well have comfortably won the competition for winning corner kicks but the home side showed why they are so well placed in the table with a sharp counter attack. The ball fell to Harry Hunt who beat, alone on his own, Jamie Norris in goal but not McGarry who rushed back to the goal line and knocked the ball aside. The respite did not last long for Biggleswade hit back from the corner kick. The ball was chipped on to Hunt who hooked the ball home with some force into the top corner of the net, giving the hosts eleven minutes of hope that they might rectify the score line by half time.

They were unable to achieve this but managed more of the game after the turnaround with the stiff breeze now in their favour. But our resolve remained strong and very little danger was created at their back. Indeed, the lead might well have been increased on the hour had Dayo Oshitola connected with an inviting opening instead of executing an air shot right in front of the sticks.

Biggleswade intensified their goal scoring ambitions and by the 70th minute were giving us a torrid time, but still rarely renting open spaces in the Chertsey penalty area. McGarry, who again was obliged to make another goal line clearance, and Matt Holley were at their best, although to be fair, the whole of the defence did their job well. This was especially so of Jamie Norris who was assured with his handing.

He worked hard to collect the aerial attacks but was only once put under severe shot stopping pressure when forced to tip over a headed attempt during this testing time. Carr was replaced by Peter Biggs and within minutes became the provider for our safety valve.

On 82 minutes, he slid the ball inside during one of our increasingly prominent counter attacks as Biggleswade Town piled men forward. It found John Pomroy inside the six yard box. He was facing his own goal but managed to turn a defender and force the ball over the line to all our delight, but his even more so after a personal arid exile of 18 matches without securing a goal.

Biggs had a good go at creating a larger gap in the score line in beating two men on a 50 yard run but his shot was fired past the far post. The game became quite frantic in the latter stages with Biggleswade going for broke in attack, leaving them vulnerable at the back.

The tactic was on its way to working perhaps as a goal was pulled back but it was a case of too little, too late. The reply came three minutes into stoppage time with a converted cross from the left, thumped in by substitute Ashley Fuller. Just two further minutes of play remained to confirm the Chertsey victory, our third in our last six outings.

Chertsey Town  0 v 0  Chalfont St. Peter
Date:  Saturday 21 April	Competition:  League

We signed off our inaugural season of Southern League football to generous applause from the home faithful, but the acknowledgement of achievement was more directed to the effort the current squad has put into representing the club over the past five months than what had been presented that afternoon.

This last home game of an eclectic campaign was a dour affair with a goalless score line to reflect a less than exciting Evo-Stik League event against middle of the table Chalfont St Peter. The frustration for the club is that we seem more often reserve our better performances on opponents grounds, illustrated by having scored just one goal in their last seven appearances at Alwyns Lane.

In near ideal conditions, it was Chalfont St Peter that took the game to us and created plenty of position to deliver dangerous looking crosses from either flank. Although these flighted balls were being mainly won by the visitors in the air, not much effect was gained. Defending challenges were enough to force any headed attempts at goal to drift off target.

Chalfont St Peter had more potent opportunities from the boot and a strong strike by Terrell Lewis forced goalkeeper Jamie Norris into performing his best save of the afternoon as half time approached. Norris was more occupied in clearing up behind his defence, along with a couple of routine saves, primarily executed in the first half.

Meanwhile, although we lost out on territory in the opening period and looked the more likely to be the first to concede we ironically, might well had, perhaps should have, gone ahead on the half hour. It was a deft flick inside by John Pomroy that opened up the chance.

The ball fell to Peter Biggs who only had goalkeeper Gary Jallow, to beat from a dozen yards. Jallow blocked the shot but the ball flew out to Rob Carr who was stationed in a slightly less favourable position. He also fired the ball at goal but this time it was a defender that created the barrier and the danger passed.

Boss Johnston was absent for the day with Trevor Norris stepping in. He made the tactical decision at half time to take Best out of the three man attack and supplement the midfield. This did the job defensively as Chalfont’s attacking ambitions became muted after the turnaround.

However. a stalemate situation came out of the changes and neither team showed enough invention to break the deadlock. Admittedly, the side was short of first choice players with key men David Johnston, Dayo Oshitola and Michael Blount all absent, but industry and effort was not lacking. but the side was again unable to open up the opposition’s defences.

The draw seemed increasingly inevitable as the minutes rolled on, even though the rise in the game’s tempo in the final ten minutes might have forced a fatal error in either of the side’s back yard. But it was not to be and the honours were thus shared with us nudging up another place in the league table to seventeenth as a small reward.

Barton Rovers  0 v 1  Chertsey Town
Date:  Saturday 5 May	Competition:  League

A week of bad weather postponed our last game of the season three times at mid table Barton Rovers. The game eventually took place a week after the official end of the season, to produce a dividend of three final points and another creditable performance. It is a shame the side had so much trouble in producing similar such showing in front of their home supporters.

Ten points gained from their last six games is not a spectacular statistic but still represents improvement when the team was being rebuilt in the mid season. However, only four of them were won at Alwyns Lane, perhaps giving a skewed impression on the club’s non travellers.

The Barton pitch was surprisingly firm after all the traumas of the previous week and we used the conditions to full advantage with good early possession which denied our opponents any territory beyond the first half hour to a remarkable extent.

The advantage, however, failed to produce any sort of shot at goal, let along one on target. Our first of a meagre tally of corner kicks did not arrive until 34 minutes had elapsed. Additionally, a cross that was headed into the net might have counted but it was engineered by way of a foul on the goalkeeper and ruled out as a mark.

Although it took 35 minutes, Barton eventually showed some sort of rally but without a hint of danger being created as the game took on a more balanced nature. Just one corner a piece was secured by half time but still no shots at goal. Our contribution was not negative in nature, it was just that a final execution could not be engendered.

Barton Rovers began the second half to better effect but our defence still ruled supreme with goalkeeper Jamie Norris hardly touching the ball for any reason. His first memorable act should have been to pick the ball out of his own net when Barton’s Roger Bull took advantage of a poor back pass and found himself alone in front of a gaping Chertsey goal frame with time and space to spare.

But the striker somehow contrived to knock the ball wide to give us, perhaps, our biggest let off of the season! The home side paid heavily the price by finding themselves a goal down minutes later. A sharp attack through the middle of the park found Rob Carr forging into the Barton Rovers penalty area.

The home side’s defence was stretched and in desperation, a lack tackle was launched to bring down the Chertsey attacker. Captain Tommy McGarry stepped up to chip in the spot kick. The 53rd minute lead may have been slender but it represented something far bigger in this goal starved encounter.

The game opened up more towards the end. Barton’s Colm Kierans delivered his side’s second goal attempt but that too fizzed wide. John Pomroy also tried to add to the score line near the end with a free kick that caught the defensive wall as we made a late attempt to make the points secure with some sustained pressure.

So both defences were ultimately the winners in an exchange that was otherwise lively. But we deserved our win. From a near complete reconstruction of the squad on iron rations in mid November, manager David Johnston has built a creditable side at our new level of football that will give encouragement to the Alwyns Lane faithful when the new season starts again in August.