Chawton Athletic v Royal Exchange - MATCH ABANDONED

I don't think there were too many complaining when Referee, Clive Gatcum, ordered the players off the pitch at Binsted yesterday morning.

Just twenty or so minutes had elapsed in this League Cup tie, before conditions proved to be the ultimate winner and the match was abandoned.

Though exposed, Binsted's ground can hardly have seen weather like it before as the wind and rain pummelled the players remorselessly, making skillful play impossible.

Chawton had struck early in the piece too and had dominated up until the abandonment, an own goal resulting from a corner after the Exchange keeper's mis-control allowed the ball under his foot, a deserved lead for the Athletic who always looked likely to add to their tally after that great start.

Exchange briefly threatened with Skilts having to make the save of the Athletic season so far, tipping over a fierce drive that to all eyes seemed destined for the top corner, the resulting corner was dealt with and the ball cleared easily.

So the game is to be re-arranged, and thankfully Exchange were to be Athletic's next fixture on the 29th, so with the blessing from the league we have agreed to turn that league fixture into the cup game, Athletic happy to concede whatever advantage playing at home gave them in exchange for not having to put up the nets and corner flags.

STOP PRESS - The League inform me that both the Royal Exchange and Morley road are currently under suspension by the Hampshire and Surrey Fa's respectively, further details as to how this affects next Sunday's game will be available to me later in the week.

Morley Road Match is OFF!

Tomorrow's crucial league match against Morley Road has been postponed, due to their Farnham College pitch been waterlogged.  When the match has been rearranged, you'll catch it here first (maybe second after Matt I's text!).

Chawton Remain 7th.

Chawton Athletic remain in 7th position in the Farnham and District Sunday Football League table, despite their weekend victory over high-flying Bluebell at Binsted.

The Yellows have now moved within three points of this weekend's opponents, Morley Road, so a victory at Farnham College will lift them to joint 6th place.  With the away league match at still-pointless Royal Exchange to follow soon after (on the 29th), Athletic still have an excellent chance of finishing in a decent league position this season!

Chawton Athletic 4 - Blue Bell 3

Chawton Athletic returned a much drier, only slightly less windy but equally muddy Binsted pitch to meet Blue Bell for the first time this season.

Finally managing to name fourteen players, with the signings of Steve, Simon P and Keith, Chawton were keen to put last week's disappointment behind them.

Lining up in unusual fashion with two up front and a regular two lines of four, Matt returned in goal after an absence of four weeks missing through injury.
Chawton started the brighter with Marc, Simon P, Si H and Steve dominating the early exchanges with the ball on the floor and superb triangles working the Blue Bell midfield around.

The game ebbed and flowed but with Athletic definitely the first to get into their stride.  They deservedly took the lead as a late arriving Martin connected sweetly with a Si H corner to power home. Chawton pressed home their advantage and had their more esteemed opponents well and truly rattled.  The Athletic midfield four were totally in control and were outplaying the Blue Bell.

Blue Bell's first opportunity of the game saw a good left handed diving save from Matt and subsequent clearance, that much sought after first clean sheet still possibility for the Athletic keeper.  Sadly that dream was shattered a few minutes later as a lofted long ball into the box saw a looping header just clear the desperate keeper.

Chawton were never likely to allow that set back to disrupt their flow and confidence and they immediately set back about the Blue Bell, eager to regain their advantage and they duly struck right back as Keith chased a great ball through, harassed the defender and keeper into an error and top scorer Sam tucked away the loose ball into an empty net.

The Yellows were not finished and a brilliantly measured long ball took out the whole of the Blue Bell defence, Keith's superbly timed run allowed him to race clear and finish with great aplomb indeed.

Athletic crafted several other half chances but finished the half with a very deserved 3-1 lead.

The second half saw the return of the strong wind across the Binsted pitch, but Athletic were immediately back in control.  Simon P, Si H and Steve were passing the ball around beautifully leaving the Blue Bell powerless to regain a foothold back in the game.

Chawton should have pressed home their advantage but the Blue Bell keeper did well to keep an excellent crafted opportunity from Si H.

Blue Bell edged their way back into the game a touch, the wind adding to the difficulties for the Chawton keeper and back four, and Matt was called into action from a dangerous in-swinging corner. Blue Bell were handed an exceptionally fortuitous lifeline as the referee interpreted a ball smashed into Paul I's midriff from three yards as handball.  The subsequent penalty was tucked past brother Matt to make it 3-2 to Athletic.

The pressure was on it's way, but when the Blue Bell did find a way through the Chawton midfield, the back five of Rich P, Martin S, Dave P, Paul I and keeper Matt mopped up any danger without much concern.

The chances were still falling Athletic's way, and the game should have been dead and buried long before Sam added Athletic's fourth with another brilliant finish, a smashed dipping drive which left the Blue Bell keeper with no chance.

Blue Bell made for a tense finish as a great pass found the marauding holding midfielder, who's excellent first touch allowed him to finish past Matt.

Chawton saw out the last ten minutes with no problems and could easily have added further goals as Pat replaced Keith, and immediately set about the right back and was unlucky not to have chipped the keeper.

Si E replaced Dave and settled well back into right back and George replaced Marc with a few minutes to go.

The referee played what felt like a lifetime of added time, a full EIGHT minutes, but Athletic deservedly held on to take the game 4-3.

Man of the Match was impossible to decide and would be unfair on the others as today's victory was a superb team effort, though special mention must surely go to the three debutantes, Simon P, Steve and Keith and also once again to the free-scoring Sam.

Roll on next week with another visit to Farnham College to play Morley Road.  09:15 sharp meet at Alton Station, Matt I will be in touch Tuesday.

Well done Athletic!!

New League Web Site

The direct link to the League's page is Farnham and District League.

Alternatively, go to the FA's website and type "FAR" in the search box on the right hand side.

A link to this new site is also included on the side bar to the right.

The current table shows us in 7th position (out of eight), three points ahead of pointless Royal Exchange but six points adrift of Morley Road.

Chawton Athletic 2 - Royal Oak 9

Chawton Athletic returned to a very wet Earth with a very large bump after last week's heroic ten man victory against Morley Road, when they welcomed Royal Oak to a very wet and windy Binsted!

A shortage of players once again hampered Athletic's chances as they turned out ten players against far better opposition.

Players weren't the only shortage, as a call from the league revealed our referee had moved across to a different fixture and that, despite the referees secretary's best efforts, we were without an official. Instead Matt I put that 17 year old class 3 refereeing qualification finally into practice!

The game kicked off in absolutely horrendous weather, heavy rain being driven horizontally across the ground. Athletic's ten men always looked likely to struggle against a well organized Oak side who seemed to have rectified the issues that surrounded their performance four weeks ago, when Athletic pushed them all the way.

Oak took the lead early on and soon doubled their lead, but Athletic fought back and deservedly scored through a superb long range rocket from Sam.  His shot swerved in the wind, causing all kinds of problems for the Oak keeper.

A third was added controversially as the ball apparently entered the goal via the side netting, but unfortunately the ref was unable to see that.

Oak then scored directly from a free kick. Athletic shot straight back as Sam added a second from the penalty spot, as he was brought down from behind when powering into the box. Oak complained but the view Matt I had suggested it was a stone wall pen.

Half time came, the scores at 2-4, and some there was respite for some of us from the weather!

Unfortunately the wind played havoc with the Chawton defence in the second half, and Oak strolled casually away with the game scoring direct from three corners and two long shots, one of which was parried out by Lee to an Oak player likely to have been sitting in an offside position, but as it was not flagged Matt I had to give the goal.

Athletic looked dangerous on the break as always, and Si H could have scored Athletic's third after great work from Sam, with Si's diving header just squeezing past the post.

Athletic strove onwards and George, Bob, Marc and Si H were excellent in midfield and kept running and running.

The whistle went to signal the end of the game, a disappointing result for Athletic who perhaps did not deserve such a beating.

There is always hope for next week that we might have enough players, hopefully Si E, Pat and Scott, Ryan and Robbie may be available.

Blog Man of the Match was Si H, an excellent performance again, who's quality is clear to see and is proving a very valuable asset indeed, special mention to the long absent George, who had his best game in Chawton colours.

Chawton return the Street, Binsted next week as they entertain Bluebell. 9:45am sharp meet at the ground, though will be texting to ask for availabilities Tuesday evening.