Chawton Athletic travelled to Liss to take on West Liss for the second time in two weeks, with a place in the Division 6 Cup second round up for grabs.
A succession of injuries and unavailabilities robbed Chawton of a flurry of central defenders, so Skilts started at the back, with Martin Booth standing in for him in goal, after impressing in training.
Athletic once again got off to a good start, a real flyer in fact, and they duly took the lead inside five minutes. A corner was was won and Nathan Ingram swung it in for Ben Hodkin to nod home. With his shoulder!
And so the pressure continued to be exerted by the away side, with West Liss once again limited to counter attacking on the break. However whenever they came forward, the back line with Skilts at it's heart, stopped them having any decent chances.
Liss did manage to force a couple of corners, but they were both well dealt with. The second of them was cleared to Andy Vickers who had stayed on side. One on one with the keeper, he chose to shot near post and the keeper saw it wide.
A rare attack by the home team saw the ball pinged about the Chawton box. When the ball fell to a West Liss player on the penalty spot, he skewed his shot wide under pressure from right back, Karl Teague.
After twenty or so minutes, Liss began to get themselves in the game and started to look more threatening in attack. Another shot went past Booth's post, although he had it covered. The glovesman was quick off his line to claim the ball from West Liss' long balls forward.
A run from Nathan Ingram brought Chawton a free kick. But the kick was overworked and the ball was cleared. A run down the left soon after by Vickers produced another shot. But it was well saved and the rebound narrowly evaded the other forwards following up.
A good run from the Liss right winger and shot was horribly deflected by Marc Taylor-Penfold towards goal. But Booth produced a magnificent reaction save to turn it over the bar. From the corner, there was a big shout for handball in the box, but the ref deemed it accidental.
Another five minute spell of attacking from the Yellows saw them win a corner. The inswung corner was headed just wide by the defender, but it could so easily have been an own goal. Moments later, a superb cross field ball from Paul Nicholson almost found Vickers, but it was inches too long.
Another long ball sets Nathan Ingram clean through on goal, as the nineteen other outfield players stood static. But the Liss keeper was quickly out and Ingram could only hit the ball against the onrushing keeper's legs.
With the last kick of the first half, Liss completely fluked an equaliser. The right winger was not closed down quick enough and was allowed to put a cross into the box. However it was mis-hit and looped over Booth in goal, who could do nothing about it. The score at half time was 1-1.
Liss started the better in the second half and took the lead, as a shot from the left squirmed past Booth in goal who got his left hand to it.
Hodkin then conjured up a long range equaliser that he dinked over the Liss keeper.
But the home side took control of the match and the last action for Booth in goal before he was forced off with injury, was to pick the ball out of his net once again. A cross from the left was punched out by the Chawton stand-in keeper, but the ball wasn't dealt with. A shot was pinged in but the striker deflected it away from Booth into the corner. In truth, it probably should have been cleared.
Skilts moved back into his usual position in goal, with Pat Cross again taking up a berth in the centre of defence alongside Taylor-Penfold, who was having a good game.
Liss made the scoreline take a thoroughly undeserved look, not for the first time this season, when Paul Nicholson lost the ball in the box and the striker picked his spot to leave Skilts with no chance.
A further substitution was required as Carl Waterfield came on to cover an injury. Unfortunately the game fizzled out into a succession of half chances for both sides, with another corner or two the best Chawton could force, along with a free kick in a promising position that was skied.
The match ended 2-4 in West Liss' favour, thus ending any cup interest for the Yellows this season.
Marc Taylor-Penfold got the man of the match honours this week with a commanding performance at the centre of defence. There was also some fine play by Karl Teague at right back, who continues to grow in confidence and put in some good strong tackles. Of course another two goals from leading striker Ben Hodkin helped massively too!
Next week's game is a trip to Long Sutton to visit Castle City, who have conceded only four goals in six games so far.
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