Another wet and wild day greeted the 10 Chawton players as they met at Alton Station to return to the venue of their biggest league defeat in the club's short history.
As is typical from week to week, there should actually been 15 players but illness and late unavailability meant that this was always going to be an uphill task for Athletic.
The game started ominously with CSL passing the ball around confidently, Athletic's defence and midfield working hard to try and close down the spaces available.
Athletic's two banks of four with Shaun holding the line were looking dangerous on the attack, as the CSL defence were holding a very high line indeed. A clever through ball saw Liam race clear and round the keeper before being brought down, the Linesman stating perhaps dubiously that the offence took place outside the box and the referee obviously caught by the earliness of the incident chose to not even caution the keeper, who was a lucky man to stay on the field. How much more of a goalscoring opportunity do you want; having rounded the keeper with no defenders giving chase. Liam's free kick was cleared and CSL started to take control.
CSL took an early lead when the normally reliable Matt let a powder puff of a shot slip through his newly gloved hands, he immediately dispatched Pat off to the changing room to retrieve his old gloves. The next attack saw Matt caught by a swerving cross shot, still only half way through the process of putting his gloves back, a good save followed by an almighty scramble saw the ball cleared and the game stopped momentarily to allow the keeper to finish donning his mitts.
CSL who were also struggling with only 11 players and with an outfielder in goal, looked vulnerable at the back and time and time again Craig and then Shane played superb balls through for Shaun, who unfortunately could not find a finish to match.
Matt's game seemed slightly off as another shot made it's way through his hands, a lot more powerful than the first but still one he should have dealt with. Craig's shot straight from the kick off looked to have caught the CSL keeper way off of his line but he managed to scramble back just in time.
Chawton had eased into the game and we giving as much as they got, chance after chance fell to Shaun on the break but it was not to be his day, though he worked tirelessly.
CSL were awarded a soft penalty for handball and Matt was sent the wrong way to make the scoreline perhaps slightly more flattering than the performance of both sides warranted. Still Athletic plugged away, Craig spreading the play wide well to Liam and Pat and Ben Lo, playing out of position at left back linked well up the left hand side. Ultimately it was the extra man that started to tell as the half wore on and CSL added two more before the very cold looking young referee blew the half time whistle.
Athletic were buoyed as they trudged from the park, to see the arrival of Ben Le, who had managed to make it over. He got changed and joined the fray. Athletic started the second half in a similar vein, looking dangerous on the attack but again lacked a touch of composure when looking for a finish.
Sadly Athletic's parity in numbers last just ten minutes into the second half. Patrick having brilliantly turned away from his man and set off on a run was mercilessly scythed down by an awful and unacceptably late challenge, I mean it was so late Pat was just getting into his car to leave for god's sake!!. It prompted Skipper Matt to venture from his goal to see what action the referee was going to take, and of course it was none, CSL could easily have been down to 9 men by this stage and you probably would not have found too many in their team to argue against that. Patrick, already nursing a weak left ankle, was forced from the pitch, a real blow for Athletic who were causing problems for CSL.
Another Athletic break saw the CSL stand in keeper turn a goal bound shot aside for a corner and Ben's floated ball evaded Martin but found Liam behind him, who nodded home. The confidence was up and despite CSL looking dangerous, they made little of their chances and Matt, whose handling had improved immeasurably from the first half looked comfortable plucking crosses out.
Again the chances came Chawton's way on the break and determined running saw Liam's chip just evade Shaun at the far post.
CSL added two late on, another blooper for Matt I'm afraid as his attempted palm over the crossbar saw the ball nestle in the corner and late on curled left foot shot from the guy who cut down Pat found the inside of the post.
Blog Man of the Match was Shaun N, I know he felt down as he was unable to convert one or more of the chances that came his way, but he worked tirelessly for the team and with a bit of luck the result could have been very different indeed.
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