League: Chawton Athletic 5 Cove Youth Reserves 5.

Starting XI:  Martin Booth (GK?.  Jamie Oakley (RB), James Harvey (CB), Marc Taylor (CB), Kyle Bale (LB).  Will Rietzler (RM), Danny Taylor (CM), Jake Channon (CM), Mikey Phillips (LM).  Ben Hodkin (FW), Andy Vickers (FW).
Subs:  Carl Waterfield, Pete Goodall, Jordan Dunbar, Ashley Brooks, David Nicholson.


Chawton Athletic came from behind five times to earn a share of the points and maintain their unbeaten start to the season against a strong Cove Youth Reserves side.

Ben Hodkin slips a ball forward for his strike partner.

It took a while for Athletic to find any sort of rhythm, by which time they were a goal down.  Despite the lack of cohesion, the home side battled their way into the match and, after a few robust challenges, were awarded a free kick thirty five yards out.  Player-manager Marc Taylor stepped up hit it towards goal.  The shot should have saved, but the ball slipped through the keeper's fingers and into the back of the net.

The away side kept up the aerial bombardment and duly scored another before half time, with Booth in goal just getting his fingers to it.  It was a deserved lead at the break for the Youth side, but the Yellows were still in it.

Martin Booth dives for the ball.

After a good team talk at half time, Chawton finally got the ball down and played their usual passing game.  It soon paid off when Mikey Phillips equalised after a superb long ball from Danny Taylor.  The lead, however, was short lived as Cove pulled ahead again thanks to a half-volleyed finish under pressure.

Athletic were back in the game again when Phillips scored his second goal on his full competitive debut, following excellent work from captain Ben Hodkin who completely outfixed the defence.  Following another Cove goal, Phillips turned provider.  Marc Taylor's block and clearance found Phillips on the wing and his lofted ball forward sat up nicely for Hodkin to loop his shot over the keeper.

Danny Taylor slides in to win the ball.

Booth in goal then pulled off a couple of excellent saves, including a full stretch dive to tip a dipping shot onto the bar.  But he was powerless to prevent Cove going ahead for the fifth time late on.  But Chawton were not to be outdone and once again fought back.  Their persistence was rewarded when Andy Vickers opened his account for the season, by coolly slotting past an onrushing Cove keeper following good build up play from Ashley Brooks, on for his first competitive appearance.

There was still time for controversy at the death, when substitute David Nicholson thought he was about to snatch an unlikely winner only to find himself nudged in the back at the vital moment.  But alas, no foul was given and an entertaining match ended 5-5.

Man of the match, Mikey Phillips.

The first half display was one to forget, but the never-say-die attitude of the team in the second half meant it was a hard fought point.  Once again, Danny Taylor and Jake Channon impressed in midfield, but the Elstead Lighting man of the match was Mikey Phillips for his energetic performance on the left wing, topped off with his first two competitive goals for the club.


Goals:  M. Taylor, Phillips (2), Hodkin, Vickers.