Chertsey strikers endure rare off-day

For the first time this season, Chertsey Town failed to find the net in one of their Combined Counties Premier Division encounters.

They only conceded the one goal at home to Chessington & Hook United on Saturday but it was enough to consign them to their first home defeat of the campaign.

There was no fluke about the well-taken Chessington goal, which came on the stroke of half-time, but missed chances and resolute defending at the other end of the park marked the balance of success between the two sides at the final whistle.

Chertsey came into the game boosted by the new signing of Jon Boswell at centre-back and the return of Dave Tarpey in attack.

John Pomroy, like Tarpey, was missing midweek, which might have suggested a real potent attacking force had been reassembled but it was in that department that ultimately Chertsey failed.

It was not that there was plenty of attacking movement, but a lack fluidity allowed the visiting side to set up in tight formation too often that gave every incentive, which he seized, for their goalkeeper to retain a clean sheet for the afternoon.

Chessington can thank Mark Daniels between the sticks for some rapid-response saves, especially in the second half, when Chertsey set up a siege machine just outside their opponents penalty area.

The ramparts were not breeched, although it was a very close call. It was another of those Chertsey performances that produced good football, more than half decent openings, but suffered from a lack of good fortune when it came to lucky breaks.

Usually, Town manage to eventually break through and snatch at least a point but not on this occasion. Chessington may have rode their luck at times after the half time interval.

So with resolute purpose in the second half, coupled with a breezy first half showing, who could deny their win; it was achieved through hard work and not a little guile.

Steve Goddard also returned to Chertsey’s starting line-up and nearly scored early on but his shot was finger tipped on to the inside upright by Daniels.

A promising move saw Pomroy break through soon after but the shot was lame.

His opposite number, former Chertsey player Darryl Swaby, looked very sharp and quick.

He nearly put his side ahead by creating space but his shot rolled agonisingly wide.

Steve McNamara made several runs up field on the flank but his crosses were not up to his usual standard as both sides looked keen to score in a refreshingly open and competitive encounter.

For Chertsey, though, the test was too open as half-time beckoned.

In the last action of the first half, a quick movement through the middle by the visitors set up Darren Smith, another nippy forward.

He found space to rattle in a strong shot from 15 yards that simply beat Liam Stone in goal for pace and power.

Chertsey hit back strongly after the break. Chessington had their moments, especially when Stone came out to the edge of his area but only saw the ball partially cleared, but a let-off occurred when Smith tried, and failed, to pump the ball into an open net from 35 yards.

Shots flying in the opposite direction were at much closer range, and more frequent, but also failed!

A Gavin Bamford header and a stab from Steve Tyson, both at point blank reange, were each parried by Daniels, who clearly earned his corn and more with some frantic acrobats as Chertsey pressed in closer and closer to the Chessington goal.

Those two attempts were the better of a series of assaults on goal by the home side.

Kwabena Agyei, off the bench, also honed in but hesitated for a vital moment and the gap in defence that he had momentary split open, quickly healed up once more.

Chertsey pressed to the very end but were continually caught up in a very congested Chessington penalty area, insufficient movement off the ball, along with required short range passing exchanges not quite coming off, saved the day for the visitors whose able defence, ably supported with an in-form goalkeeper, made for a frustrating afternoon for The Curfew’s ever growing band of supporters.

This was not the sort of result Chertsey wanted on the eve of their third round home FA Vase tie with Lincolnshire based Sleaford Town next weekend. However, Sleaford also lost by the only goal on Saturday, their third league defeat in a row.

They sit just below the halfway point in the United Counties League so Chertsey still have every chance of progressing through to the last 32 if they can release their goal scoring habits once more, but without sacrificing discipline at the back.