Camberley Cougars lodged a complaint after the match about match cards, so the result of this game is in doubt. Further info will follow when available. For the record, this is how the match panned out:
27 November 2011
CHAWTON ATHLETIC 2
CAMBERLEY COUGARS RESERVES 1
Starting XI: Martin Skilton (GK). Jamie Oakley (RB), Steve Merritt (CB), David Nicholson (CB), Kyle Bale (LB). Will Rietzler (RM), Ben Hodkin (CM), James Harvey (CM), Mikey Phillips (LM). Paul Nicholson (FW), Ryan Furey (FW).
Subs: Jake Channon, Andy Vickers, Pete Goodall.
Camberley Cougars Reserves turned up at the Jubilee with a much stronger side than the Yellows faced in their previous league encounter, which ended in a big cat massacre. The Yellows' new signing Elliot Watkins was unable to feature in the game, as the club hadn't received his I.D. card.
From the off, everyone could see that this was going to be a feisty affair! The opening ten minutes saw Furey taking an elbow to the head in an aerial challenge and Skilts in goal getting a kick to the wrist, as the Cougars' striker attempted to play the ball from the keeper's hands. A free kick was duly awarded, but there were doubts in manager Taylor-Penfold's mind as to whether the glovesman would last the match.
Shortly afterwards, the away side took the lead thanks to a well taken finish by their winger as he broke through the Athletic defence with ease and neatly placed the shot past the outstretched arm of Skilton.
The rest of the first half was relatively mediocre by comparison with both sides pressing for a goal but to no avail. One such opportunity fell to Chawton to score and equaliser. Paul Nicholson fed a good through ball to Furey, who beat a couple of Camberley defenders and rounded the keeper to leave an open goal... but he dwelled on the ball too long before applying a finish, which allowed a defender to get back and block superbly on the line, twice!
Even Harvey was trying to get in on the action as he tried a thirty yard lob that went narrowly wide. Half time came at 0-1, leaving Chawton plenty to think about during the team talk.
Athletic were not helped at the break in having to make a forced change, with Oakley coming on in goal for the injured Skilton. Channon came on at centre-back, with David Nicholson reverting to right back.
The Yellows immediately set about making amends with Phillips working the flank and the home side nearly drew level, as Hodkin and Furey combining well but the resulting shot was gathered by the keeper.
Taylor-Penfold made his last two changes, replacing the wingers with Goodall and Vickers and the equaliser came soon after. A Channon free kick wasn't cleared properly and that gave Harvey the chance to slide in and notch his second goal of the season.
Chawton continued to apply the pressure on the Cougars, with Bale a constant threat with his solid runs. Vickers' tidy free kick from a tight angle panicked the away side's keeper and Hodkin could have got on the scoresheet if Furey had squared the ball rather than going for goal himself and slipping on the slick Jubilee surface.
Stand-in keeper Oakley was beginning to look bored in the Chawton goal with nothing to do, as the strengthened back line wasn't letting anything through. And it was indeed Chawton that took home all three points in a smash and grab, as Furey poked the ball into the back of the net with his right boot from yet another Hodkin pass.
The final whistle blew soon after to register a 2-1 win and end the run of five matches without a win. The points are yet to be confirmed of course, but the win was important nonetheless.
More good performances all round, despite the set back.
Elstead Lighting Man of the Match: Kyle Bale - another fine performance from the left back.
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