Two poor results over the past week has probably cost Chertsey Town the runners-up spot in the Combined Counties League.

A shock 0-3 midweek home defeat against Horley Town was followed by Saturday’s draw at Colliers Wood United.

Both opponents are modestly placed in mid table and should not have presented such a big obstacle.

To be fair, the Chertsey Town engine was still operating well below capacity due to a series of injuries and shortage of manpower.

One salient shortage on the Saturday fixture was that of top marksman John Pomroy, away attending a wedding.

Oh, how he would have loved the service that was constantly being delivered, especially after the half time break when Chertsey were totally dominant.

Chances were created aplenty but none were taken and it was only the goal apiece, recorded in the first half, that settled the final score.

With a keen wind behind them on a flat but lively pitch, Town took the initiative from the start.

The first opening came to Paul Brooker whose top corner of the net shot was palmed away in the sixth minute.

Ten minutes later, Brooker, from the left, sped the ball low across Wood’s goal face but favourite to connect Aaron McLeish, just failed to deliver for another home side let off.

Despite repeatedly taking the ball towards Colliers Wood, it was the home side who looked favourites themselves to take a 33rd minute lead but Hinga Amara on the break fired wide when it looked easier to score.

The error was immediately punished two minutes later when McLeish gained possession 30 yards out. With his back to goal and two fellow players a few yards away on the left flank, an obvious tap and go situation looked obvious.

However, he turned inside with the ball at his feet instead, progressed to just outside the box and rifled in a swerving shot that James Farrow had no chance of saving.

Chertsey had at last taken the lead as threatened but they then saw the advantage snatched away within four minutes.

It could hardly be called an attack when Chris Beard gained possession off a lose ball some 35 yards out.

But, seeing Town goalkeeper Michael Lidbury off his line, swung his boot at the ball which turned on the wind and dropped into the Chertsey net for a most unlikely equaliser.

Chertsey pressed very hard after the interval, to a point that their opponents took until the 77th minute before mounting any sort of co-ordinated attack but it merely won them just an impotent corner kick.

Moments later their other attack set up a free kick but before play could resume, Colliers Wood were reduced to ten men when Amara swung a fist at Matt Holley as they waited for the kick to be taken.

Even playing against ten men, and seeing off any further threat, Chertsey were still unable to grab a winner.

Playing against the wind seemed to create an advantage with ball holding up to favour Chertsey’s passing game and although the home team’s penalty area was issuing plenty of frequent visitor cards, the last telling strike never came.

Best chances came with an in swinging free kick cross from Steve McNamara that missed three outstretched Chertsey toes only a few feet out and a Marcus Mood strike from near the penalty spot that fizzed wide.

Brooker might have bagged a couple too when first he turned and uncorked a pop at goal that Farrow deflected away and, near the end, turned into a posse of defenders with the ball when a first time volley might have produced a better option.

Gavin Bamford also came close with a 15 yard shot that slipped just wide to leave Town frustrated that their recent hard won second spot in the league table had been blown away and with it, any chance at clutching at a promotion straw.