Chawton Athletic travelled to Kennels Lane for their away match against Plough & Horses Reserves.
Chawton made a few changes from last weeks undeserved 6-2 loss. Martin Skilton in goal behind the back line of Ollie Williams, David Nicholson, Marc Taylor-Penfold and Karl Teague. Luke Ingram, Paul Nicholson and Jake Channon were joined by debutant Ryan Furey in midfield. Ben Hodkin and Nathan Teague started upfront. Subs were Martin Booth, James Harvey, Nathan Ingram and Matt Stevens.
Plough & Horses had failed to get a referee for the match which meant one of the substitutes had the duties.
Chawton applied the pressure straight from the off with Hodkin and Nathan Teague creating chances in the first couple of minutes, forcing corners. One of these early corner kicks reached the head of David Nicholson... his bullet header whizzed across goal but the Plough keeper managed to get his fingers to it put it out for another corner.
The Plough’s centre back hit the ball hopefully over the Athletic defence, David Nicholson tried to header back to Skilton but his attempt didn’t make it. The Plough striker had an easy tap in, which he almost wasted as the ball took a deflection off Nicholson’s foot for his second own goal in as many weeks making it 0-1 to the home side. Skilton also picked up a slight knock to his neck putting the remainder of his game in doubt.
Chawton were making hard work for themselves, but continued to create chances. Paul Nicholson snuck in a cheeky nutmeg pass through that reached Hodkin on the left flank. Hodkin fired his cross deep over the Plough back-line for Furey to tap in a debut goal, unchallenged, at the far post for 1-1.
Plough retaliated with further attempts from some pretty dubious free kicks awarded by the stand in referee, one of which Skilton turned onto the crossbar.
A period of better passing from Chawton with the ball ending up with Paul Nicholson who beat the defending midfielder and slotted home from the edge of the box with a left foot shot. The ball finding it's way through a gap in the defence and to the keepers unguarded left side to put Chawton 2-1 up.
The Yellows kept the ball for the last exchanges of the half, going into the break with the lead.
Plough & Horses changed the referee at half time, with their manager taking over the whistle, adding to the one sided nature of the game's decisions.
Chawton didn’t wake up straight away in the second half and were being put under pressure by the Plough attacks but luckily to no avail for the home side. Indeed, some good battling of their own on the Chawton left wing by Luke Ingram followed by a good pass to Nathan Teague allowed the Yellows to increase the lead, as Teague held off the defender and scored an excellent chip over the advancing keeper to make it 3-1.
Then controversy: Penalty to Plough! It was given against youngster Karl Teague, as the "ref" somehow saw a ‘handball’ from the half way line. Even more controversial was that the Plough striker didn’t even make a claim! The resulting spot kick was nearly saved by Skilton diving to his left, but the ball hit his hip and went under his body for an unfair 3-2.
Athletic chose to mix the play up a bit with Nathan Teague making way for Nathan Ingram, who slotted into the midfield with Paul Nicholson moving up front.
It was becoming apparent that the Plough & Horses were using the referee's "inexperience" (bias) by to dirty tactics, with many fouls being ‘unseen’. But it was still Chawton who were on top of the match, with more good play.
Hodkin and Paul Nicholson played a one two which the Plough defender failed to get clear, the ball dropping at the feet of Hodkin who smashed it right footed into the net for his 11th goal of the season and the fourth of the game for the Yellows.
Defender Nicholson picked up a knock and was forced to leave the field of play, with Booth coming on at centre back to play alongside Taylor-Penfold.
The "usual ten minutes" sloppiness the Athletic are trying hard to work out of their game only lasted five this time. Plough’s pressure forced some fine saves from the Yellows number 1, who was keeping the score line in Athletics favour. Eventually Chawton did concede a corner which was deflected into the net at the far post by the Plough winger. The away side's defence failed to clear the ball, setting up a tense finish at 4-3.
With only five minutes left on the clock Paul Nicholson hammered the final nail into Plough's Horse shoe, with another cracking goal- a right footed lob over the keeper into the far side of the goal. This restored Chawton’s two goal lead, with James Harvey joining the playto add a little defensive steel to the midfield, Furey coming off after an impressive debut.
The final whistle came with Chawton on the positive end of the 5-3 scoreline. Chawton might not have played as well as they have done in previous matches this season, but still got the vital win they have deserved all season.
Paul Nicholson finished the match with two goals after a superb attacking display, but man of the match goes to Martin Skilton in goal for some fantastic saves that kept Chawton on course for the win.
The win was long overdue and with Athletic's only previous point coming from next weekend's opponents, Black Horse Reserves, returning Manager, Carl Waterfield, hopes the side can improve further and make it back to back wins for the first time in the Club's two and a bit year history!
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