Sandhurst Town 0 Chertsey Town 3

In what was their best and most productive performance for many weeks, Chertsey Town overcame fourth-placed Sandhurst Town on their own patch on Tuesday night to take what is likely to be just a temporary excursion to the top of the Combined Counties League table.

The win also strengthened Chertsey’s hand over fellow contenders Camberley Town, held to a draw on the same night.

Chertsey again had the greater share of possession and goalscoring chances.

Hosts Sandhurst had three good attempts at goal in the first half but none in the second, despite enjoying more possession after the break.

Their first two openings came when the score was still level, as Liam Stone in the Chertsey goal was forced to tip over a strong effort from Gareth Rapley, and Steve Gibson headed another Sandhurst effort off the line from a corner.

But Town also carved into their opponents' defence early on, with Tom O’Regan again very effective on the left flank with his low crosses.

Marcus Moody and John Pomroy both failed to convert one decisive cross, then Pomroy side-footed another wide from inside the goal area with the target at his mercy.

However, Pomroy was deadly accurate when finishing off a Chertsey move on 21 minutes.

The ball was quickly worked through the middle. Moody ran on to the through ball but so did the Sandhurst goalkeeper, Asen Agov.

Moody just managed to win the chase but Agov blocked the shot, only for the ball to spring back to Pomroy who, at 20 yards distance, steered the ball home with great accuracy past hopeful defenders to put his side one up.

The Fizzers replied by winning four successive corners, which generated what was to be their last opening of the match, but the ball was clipped over the Chertsey crossbar from close range with the red-shirted striker under pressure.

The home side won more than their fair share of dangerous-looking corners in the first half but the Chertsey defence stood very firm in keeping their shape, determination and effectiveness.

Sam Belcher’s 25-yard shot with the outside of his foot heralded Chertsey’s return in pressurising the home goal, even though it flew wide.

O’Regan also had a long-range shot that did not challenge Agov.

But the nippy midfielder was involved in the next goal after collecting the ball deep on the left wing, but in space.

He swiftly cut deep into Sandhurst territory and turned the ball back for Moody to smash home on the volley from 15 yards, three minutes before the interval.

Sandhurst showed more determination immediately after the turn around but could not make inroads into the heart of Chertsey’s defence and, paradoxically, it was the Curfews who looked the more dangerous at this time when the ball broke out up field.

Town’s counter-attacking was rapidly executed and decisive, but initially yielded no goals.

Belcher squandered a good possibility after making good ground but was not sharp enough in the final delivery.

O’Regan, too, could have made more from a similar set up, but chipped the ball too high over the stranded Agov.

But to criticise would be churlish as all Chertsey players contributed well to their cause.

A third goal did eventually come to make the final 18 minutes of play very comfortable for the visitors.

A corner on the right was delivered and the ball found its way to the far post, where Pomroy deftly headed it back for Steve Tyson to chip the ball over all in front of him some 10 yards out and plant it into the net.

The comfort zone created allowed a triple substitution for the final 10 minutes, an important factor in keeping players fresh during the concentrated catch up last few weeks of the season.

FIXTURES:

Saturday, April 17 – Chessington & Hook United (Away) League

Tuesday, April 20 – Ash United (Away) League

Saturday, April 24 – Epsom & Ewell (Home) League