Yellows Ruin Wandering Wonka's Return!

ADSFL Division 7
4 December 2011

ALTON WANDERERS RESERVES 2
CHAWTON ATHLETIC 3

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


Following the previous weekend's controversy following the Camberley Cougars match, in which the cards were not exchanged and the game went ahead at their insistence, Chawton looked to move on and turned their attention to arch rivals Alton Wanderers - who named former Yellow Matt "Wonka" Stevens in the starting line-up.

And it didn't take long for the first goal to fly in, straight from the kick off!  Wanderers kicked off and were immediately dispossessed by Hodkin who threaded a neat ball through to Ryan Furey who made no mistake.  The bench timed it as 10 seconds, although the official time given by the ref was 17 seconds - the fastest goal in Chawton history.  This was Furey's 14th goal this season, in just eight games!

Wanderers tried to hit back with a few good plays forcing corners, but Oakley and his defence were equal to anything that came their way.  The game, predictably, began to get a little fractious and Rietzler was brought down thirty yards from goal.  The resultant free kick was delivered into the box, but no Yellows' player got a touch on it!

But it wasn't long before Athletic went 2-0 up when a Paul Nicholson corner was hit low and hard into the box and deflected in off the Wanderers' right back (not Wonka) at the front post.  Was the ball going in?  Either way, Nicholson will claim it!

Chawton seemed to be coasting at this point and looked to extend their lead until the referee awarded a free kick to the home side (Wanderers!) after a foul by debutant, Elliot Watkins - the effects of adult football clearly telling on the youngster.  The centre mid stepped up and drilled his shot at Oakley who could only parry the ball into the path of an opposing player who tapped in the rebound.  The defence was a tad slow to react, 1-2.

Suddenly, Chawton were on the back foot and making it hard for themselves, with "Diggers Elite" being the first to almost every ball.  With the wind in their metaphoric sails, the equalised.  A ball crossed over to their right winger who finished superbly with a volley past an outstretched Oakley.

Danny Taylor and Paul Nicholson finished the half with some classy one-twos and some shots from Hodkin and Furey - 2-2 the score at half time.


The second half started as the first finished, with Furey coming close on several occasions.  One shot in particular came from a fantastic through ball from Nicholson to Reitzler, whose cross found Furey unmarked at the far post.  His header seemed destined for the back of the net but some determined goal line defending by the home team's right back kept it out.

The Chawton dominance continued with Taylor and Harvey commanding the midfield, with Hodkin offering to receive the ball on occasions.  Bale was marauding down the left flank and one such run took him inside the penalty box, his testing shot rebounding to Nicholson.  His well struck volley was yet again cleared off the line.

Rietzler also came close but only hit the side netting.  Vickers came on for the frustrated Furey soon after.

The game's tempo hit peak level, with Wanderers mounting some good attacks, but the Yellows' defence continued to match them.  The passing from both sides was quick and fast and the tackles were becoming hard and bordering on unfair, one of which saw Oakley forced off with a bloody nose.  Mikey Phillips volunteered to take over in goal at a crucial point in the match!

Athletic regained the initiative and came within a whisker of taking the lead.  First Bale hit the woodwork, then Reitzler's follow-up also came back off the frame of the goal before being cleared for a corner, much to the frustration of the Chawton bench who were at this point were jumping up and down and kicking every ball!  The corner from Vickers came to Nicholson whose audacious overhead kick was headed over at the far post by Rietzler.

Just when it looked Chawton's day was going to end is disappointment, they thought they'd finally got the break through their second half threat deserved, as Hodkin found the back of the net - only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.  It was a warning Wanderers did not heed as the Yellows did then take the lead.  A poor clearance fell to James Harvey and his header deflected in off the keeper.

Some very calm and professional passing then followed, as relief swept through the whole side.  Athletic saw out the final ten minutes with some good challenges from Channon, Harvey, Merritt and Watkins.  Not the prettiest match on the eyes, but an enthralling one nonetheless.  But three points and a 3-2 derby victory was all that mattered!

Elstead Lighting Man of the Match:  James Harvey - a dominating performance in midfield, capped with the winning goal.