Honours Even in the Battle of Waterloo.

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?!