13 hardy souls braved the coldest wettest Sunday of the season so far as Chawton made the short trip to the Blue Bell ground at Liss.
Chawton lined up in familiar order with Matt in goal, James, Jimmer, Robbie and Martin across the back, Ben, Bob, Rich E and Ben L taking the midfield positions and Sean and Liam up front with George and Simon attempting to keep warm on the bench.
Chawton started very brightly indeed and deservedly took the lead as a long clearance from Matt released Liam who burst on to the through-ball before striking his short early past the Blue Bell keeper.
The enthusiam of the Athletic midfield kep the Bell honest and restricted them to long shots which were no trouble for Matt. Both Ben's stretched the Bell full backs, Ben L especially hareing off after another accurate long throw from Matt.
Bell edged back into the game and it was within that period that they scored the equaliser, a long shot evaded the flying Matt and came back off of the crossbar and before he was able to regain his feet the Bell striker nodded home.
Half time came as the rain and wind whipped up Athletic spurred on by their excellent performance in the first half approached the second half full of belief.
That belief was short lived as an excellently curled ball set the Bell striker through and caught Matt half coming to meet it and had the simplest of tasks to tuck the ball past him.
Chawton kept plugging away and were unlucky not to level as Liam cut inside and fired an excellent shot which the Bell keeper athletically tipped onto the post and away for a corner. The game remained an even match up as attacks were exchanged back and forth. Chawton always looking dangerous on the break but the heaviness of the pitch and tiring legs meant the final ball was perhaps lacking some accuracy. Matt had already pushed Jimmer forward and reverted to a 3 at the back to try to regain parity and George had replaced the excellent James at left back.
And so to the final five minutes, Chawton pushed on looking for that all important equaliser when Bell scored their third against the run of play. A sweeping move up the right hand side saw the ball squared across the goal mouth for a tap in. Athetlic kept playing and Liam was unlucky as he burst through one on one with the keeper to beat, his legs coming to Bell's rescue.
Bell added to further goals both from corners and both exceptionally unfortunate as aerial challenges saw headers loop in the same corner two minutes apart with Matt stranded.
That last five minutes were harsh on a Chawton side that kept plugging away and made the result look more comfortable than it really was. Still encouraging for the boys.
Blog Man of the Match goes this week to Bob, who from my vantage point hurtled round the pitch the whole game, a really excellent effort, well done Bob really brilliant commitment.
Fixtures show Chawton entertaining Hartley Wintney on Sunday 30th Matt will be in touch through the week should we find a pitch to play on.
P.S. It really is imperative that everyone brings money along to pay for subs, £5 for those who play a whole game and £2.50 for subs. There is plenty of expense that we need the money for; today's outlay was £65 and several of us had to pay up to £15 this week to ensure that we could pay for the pitch and for the referee.
Matt has the kit to wash again, and having paid extra as well, he will not be paying subs for a while. It will reach a point where those players who still owe outstanding monies will not be considered for selection!! So please for the sake of keeping the team going lets all sort our subs.
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