Chawton Athletic succumbed to their second heavy defeat in a row, with a disjointed performance against title-chasing New Inn.
Using the remaining games for a little experimentation, manager Waterfield opted to change things around for this match. In front of Skilts in goal, was a defence of Williams, David Nicholson, Stevens and Harvey. Taylor-Penfold was chosen to start as the defensive midfielder, behind a midfield four of Goodall, Paul Nicholson, Channon and Rietzler. Booth again started as the lone striker.
Channon challenges aerially.
Athletic found themselves a goal down early on. Some slacking tracking left newly installed captain Dave Nicholson no option but to concede a dangerous looking free kick. And from that, the ball was headed in at the far post.
It was soon two, as a corner kick went in via a deflection from Taylor-Penfold. And it went from bad to worse as New Inn got a third before half time. A gap opened on the left side of defence, and the Reds' winger's cross nodded home at the near post.
With the Yellows trailing 0-3 at half time, changes soon followed. Harvey moved to the defensive midfield position with Taylor-Penfold dropping to left back and Williams moving to the right of defence.
Taylor Penfold watch Booth head the ball.
Chawton started the second half the better side, with their passing game finally providing some incision into the opponents half. But they failed to make it count and soon were made to pay for this when New Inn got a fourth. Skilts in goal was left with no chance as the striker hit a delightful dipping shot from fully twenty yards.
The substitutions soon followed, with Furey replacing the tired Rietzler and Waterfield coming on for Goodall, with Williams moving to the newly vacant left wing position.
It made very little difference to New Inn as they added fifth. Taylor-Penfold had to deal with three attacking players and as Nicholson came across to cover a gap opened at the far post and left an easy tap-in.
The game got a little fractious, with Ryan Furey picking up a yellow card for a retaliatory diving tackle after the away side's foul was not punished. The fouled New Inn player perhaps lucky to get away with a ticking off after reacting angrily to the challenge.
Athletic scored their first goal in three matches, as hard work from Ollie Williams down the left paid off as his shot went in off the crossbar.
Goalscorer, Williams.
A sixth goal was the final nail in the coffin as the visitors ran out 1-6 winners.
The experimental nature of the line-up contributed to the lack of cohesion, although the lack of communication was also apparent. That said, there were some hard working performances with Marc Taylor-Penfold and James Harvey playing well. The man of the match honours though went to glovesman, Martin Skilton.
Chawton welcomed Waterloo to the Recreation Ground this week in search of the three points that would take them to 6th in the table, overtaking the visiting opponents.
Manager Carl Waterfield stuck with the new tactics employed the previous week, although was forced into a few changes due to absentees. James Harvey stepped in the centre back role alongside captain Marc Taylor-Penfold, while Martin Booth was preferred up front. Pete Goodall retained his place on the wing after impressing the week before.
Channon rises highest defending a corner.
The first half passed relatively uneventfully, with some good slick passing play all over the field by both sides. This meant chances were few and far between. Chawton did get a couple of shots away, but nothing that troubled the Waterloo keeper too much, while the away side could do no more than force a couple of easily dealt with corners.
And that was it for the first half, the score level at 0-0.
Williams has his eye on the ball.
Chawton had the better start to the second half and came close to breaking the deadlock when a Paul Nicholson corner whizzed across the six yard box but the Athletic players failed to get the crucial touch it needed.
The ball falls to Paul Nicholson.
After that chance, most of the attacking opportunities fell to the away side, who had the wind and slight pitch slope with them. Waterloo constantly bombarded the Yellows' defence but the home side battled hard to hold them off.
Athletic goalkeeper Martin Skilton caused everyone at the Rec to have a heart in mouth moment, when he was unable to hold a shot by the speedy Waterloo striker. The striker's header was parried, but then rolled towards the goal, but luckily Chawton's no.1 clawed it off the line.
Nicholson again, heading clear.
Shortly after, the ref blew his whistle to confirm Chawton Athletic's first ever goalless stalemate and extend their current unbeaten streak to three matches. Final score, a bore draw 0-0!
Waterfield sits back as Chawton attack.
Chawton kept their third clean sheet of the season which showed that there had been a good defensive play. The new tactics employed by manager Waterfield continued to work well against the hard working Waterloo side. A slight disappointment was to not take advantage of the domination in the first half, with the wind at the team's back.
In a display of decent defending (most of the time!), it was no surprise that stand-in centre back James Harvey was given the players' man of the match vote, although Taylor-Penfold and Skilton in goal enjoyed good games too.
The rest of the pictures:
Man of the match, Harvey, clears his lines.
Channon dribbles past his opponent.
A promising attack with Goodall and Booth.
Hodkin takes on the Waterloo defence.
Anyone have any idea how nobody got a touch on it?!
Chawton played their first ever double header last Sunday, against newly revitalised TNCP. The double header involved two 60-minute games played one after another, both being played on a damp Binsted Rec ground.
TNCP's recent good form demanded respect and as such Manager Carl "Mourinho" Waterfield tried out some new tactics (tweaked with some of his players) which saw the Yellows line up in a new 4-5-1 formation.
For the first match, the defence of Jake Channon, Martin Booth, Marc Taylor-Penfold and Ollie Williams started in front of the returning Skilts in goal. James Harvey took the new defensive midfielder position behind Paul Nicholson and Ben Hodkin, with Ryan Furey and Will Rietzler on the wings. Justin Swales made his first appearance as the lone striker.
The new formation suffered an early set back as Furey went off injured after barely five minutes to be replaced by Pete Goodall. But this early substitution provided dividends soon after, when some impressive passing freed Swales on the right. His perfectly weighted cross found the head of the unmarked Goodall at the far post and his first touch of the game whizzed into the back of the net to put Chawton a goal up.
Captain Taylor-Penfold was lucky not to be booked for a clattering challenge that sent the away side's winger flying through the air. However Athletic were punished when the resulting free kick found the back of the net thanks to some scrappy defending.
TNCP firmly took control of the game before half time as a counter attack and some gaps on the left allowed them to score two silly goals. The side went in 1-3 down at half time and had a time to go over the tactics once more.
Chawton started the second half as they did the first, by scoring a goal. Talismanic striker Hodkin got on the end of scramble in the box, craftily pulled it back and shot for 2-3. This was his first goal for a few games and set him up for a great half.
Just as the home side were improving further, they got another set back when a defensive error allowed TNCP to put themselves two goals ahead again.
Hodkin added his second, and Chawton's third, goal of the game to set up a grandstand finish.
Taylor-Penfold did eventually go into the referee's book when another foul on the TNCP striker on the halfway line was one foul too many.
Five minutes from time, Athletic got the equaliser their second half performance deserved. Goodall's quick feet brought a foul inside the box and the home side were awarded the penalty. With pressure mounting, Hodkin stepped up confidently to seal his hat-trick in emphatic fashion, his first for the club.
The match had further chances but neither side could capitalise and the match ended 4-4. The Management team's man of the first match was Pete Goodall. But there was room for improvement, and improve Chawton did...
**************
For the second match, Waterfield added some fresh legs into the team. Goodall kept his place and started on the left, while Andy Vickers replaced Will Rietzler on the right. Nathan Ingram started up front, with Swales moving to the bench. Dave Nicholson passed a late fitness test and was rewarded with the centre-back position next to Taylor-Penfold. Waterfield himself started at right back, pushing Jake Channon into the defensive midfield position with James Harvey starting as sub and duly offering to run the line.
Chawton started the second game as they finished the first, full of energy and looking dangerous. It wasn't long before they took the lead, with Vickers finishing off a fine passing move from a cross by Ingram.
The "away" team were in the ascendancy and were really getting to grips with the new formation. Chawton's energetic wingers were causing no end of problems for TNCP.
Paul Nicholson's hard work in midfield was rewarded when his shot from the edge of the box proved too much for the TNCP keeper to handle. He couldn't get enough on it and it was 2-0.
Athletic added a third before halftime. A mammoth goal kick into the wind found it's way all the way to Hodkin, who made no mistake and scored his fourth goal of the day. The score remained 3-0 until half time.
Despite shouts from his teammates, Taylor-Penfold didn't hear the calls of man-on allowing the TNCP striker to nick the ball and pull one back.
But the Yellows immediately stepped up a gear and exerted more pressure on a tired looking opposition back-line. Goodall could have, and probably should have, added a fourth but his despairing dive failed to connect with a cross-shot and his effort went wide. Paul Nicholson almost got another when his free kick was tipped over the bar (see first video).
Goodall and P Nicholson were replaced with ten minutes to go, bringing on relatively fresh legs in the form of Swales and Rietzler.
The rout was indeed completed though, when Ingram battled hard cutting in from the right to find space. His shot was initially blocked but he hit the rebound with aplomb and the net bulged for 4-1 (see second video).
Chawton saw out the remaining minutes with little problems. A moment of pinball in their box was as close as TNCP got to another, but Vickers and then Waterfield on the line blocked inward shots on goal.
The match ended 4-1. Again the Management Team came up with the man of the match. In a game where the tactics worked well and the team played hard, the honours went to Jake Channon for his tireless efforts in midfield, protecting the back four - in which Dave Nicholson also impressed.
Next up, in the first of three more home matches in a row, is a game against Waterloo. A performance like the one in the second game is needed to get anything out of this game... look sharp!
