Colliers Wood United 1 vs 1 Chessington & Hook United

So to still be in the competition at the end of ninety minutes was an improvement at least.

Fresh from back to back victories there was a confidence in the squad, which unfortunately did not come through in the overall performance. In fact in the opening fifteen minutes or so we could have found ourselves conceding on several occasions. Thanks mainly to the returning Mark Daniels in goal for a number of saves and a block by Charlie West to keep Colliers Wood out.

As seems to be the case in so many of our games, our slow start gives way for greater belief as the game unfolds and it is fair to say that by the mid point of the half the game was quite even. Our best chance falling to Leon White who shot wide when well placed.

Zak Graham was looking dangerous throughout the first half and it was no surprise when his run and shot led to the first goal, Cole Bolt benefiting from the goalkeepers fumble to slot home from six yards out.
Shortly after taking the lead another fine run should have led to a second goal but the final pass failed to find its target and the chance was gone.

At the break and with the lead intact we were a little fortunate to be in the position that we were, but grateful no doubt for the lead and opportunity to re group.

The second half was much brighter for us and certainly at the start any further goals seemed most likely to come from us, but that said it is fair to say that the game was almost drifting by at this stage, which most certainly suited us.

With twenty minutes to go Andrew Heath was withdrawn and Steve Lang put on to freshen up an ever increasingly tired looking midfield, as the previous five minutes or so had seen us let off the hook with some poor finishing from our hosts when well placed as our energy levels noticeably dropped.

Lang’s early involvement seemed to bring a turning point in the game when for a high-footed challenge on him the Colliers Wood player was shown a red card.

At this stage we really should have seen things through, but we looked weary and always vulnerable against the counter attack at the back and you could sense the game wasn’t settled.

As thoughts turned to the next round our resistance was broken. A long diagonal pass from the Colliers Wood right back, who went unchallenged, caught out a flat looking back line and a last ditch attempt to stop the attacker by Tim Pitt saw him concede a penalty and receive his marching orders in the bargain.

The penalty was converted to bring the game level and the ten men of both sides played out the final five minutes without any further score. Not that this period was chanceless as we seemed affected by the late goal giving our hosts a sniff of snatching victory and ourselves having two opportunities both falling to Kyle Green who was unable to convert.

At the end of the ninety a draw was probably a fair reflection and so to a replay.