Yellows Go A.P.E.!

ADSFL Division 7 Cup: Quarter-Final
11 December 2011

ALDERSHOT PARK ELITE  2
CHAWTON ATHLETIC  13

Starting XI:  Jamie Oakley (GK).  Elliot Watkins (RB), Steve Merritt (CB), Jake Channon (CB), Kyle Bale (LB).  Will Rietzler (RM), James Harvey (CM), Danny Taylor (CM), Mikey Phillips (LM).  Ben Hodkin (FW), Ryan Furey (FW).
Substitutes:  Carl Waterfield, Martin Booth, David Nicholson, Pete Goodall, Ashley Brooks.


Chawton eased into the semi-finals of the divisional cup by demolishing basement club Aldershot Park Elite and equaling the club's biggest ever win record in the process.

The first half saw the away side plunder eight goals, itself a record.  But it was Elite that drew first blood, looking to carry on where they left off in the second league meeting between the two sides.  A free kick was conceded just outside the area and it was well struck past Oakley in goal.

The lead did not last long though, as Danny Taylor soon equalised.

The ten men of Elite were then subjected to a constant tide of Yellows' attacks for the remaining thirty five minutes of the half.  While a lot of attacks were quelled by the hard working Elite defence, Will Rietzler did find himself on the scoresheet.  He was joined before half-time by Ryan Furey who scored twice, allowing him to wear both gloves without being fined, and captain Ben Hodkin who helped himself to four!

With payback for the season's earlier league defeat well and truly dished out, Athletic went in 8-1 leaders at half-time.


The second half was very much like the first - a goal fest!  And again it was Elite that pinched a goal back first.  The referee gave a soft penalty, booking Danny Taylor for the foul in the process.  He also booked keeper Jamie Oakley after the penalty was scored for daring to ask why it was worthy of a card!

From then on in it was mostly one way traffic.  Rietzler added his second goal of the game before Chawton were given a penalty of their own.  Hodkin relinquished penalty duties to substitute Carl Waterfield, who was yet to score for the club.  He stepped up and coolly sent it to the keeper's left, although the glovesman did get a hand to it.

Danny Taylor, captain by this point after Hodkin was given a rest, scored his second of the match - but the scoring was far from done.  Another substitute, Ashley Brooks, scored a brace of his own - his first competitive goals for the club and both following hard work in the build up and well fashioned finishes.

There could even have been more goals with Mikey Phillips, James Harvey and Pete Goodall all coming close.  Kyle Bale's running, which caused panic in Elite's defence all game, almost yielded a goal for him too.

The pedantic ref, who had booked four Athletic players (but no Elite players, interestingly) called time on the match which ended in a 13-2 victory - the largest ever away win for the club.


Elstead Lighting Man of the Match:  Ben Hodkin - An all round captain's performance! He hit four first half goals, set up a few others too and even shared the glory with his grateful Treasurer!