Sandhurst Town 3 vs 0 Chessington & Hook United

The day couldn’t have been much worse with both a three nil loss and two sending offs to contend with.

With the squad (in the opinion of the staff), as strong as it’s ever been, there were high hopes and the new look side could and maybe should have been in front in the first minute.

A well-worked break down the left, saw Leon White’s shot hit the goalkeeper with the second attempt finding only the side netting.

To be fair to our hosts they reacted quickly, and could point to a number of half chances themselves during the next fifteen minutes all of which failed to trouble Mark Daniels, as the final attempt was continually wide of the mark.

With us looking surprisingly leggy and a little slow around the pitch, the movement of the Sandhurst front two and their midfield was causing us problems and the warning signs were there.

On twenty-five minutes we conceded the opener and it was one that we should have dealt with better. A free kick taken from the half way line saw us defend too deep, fail to mark or challenge properly, allowing the smallest player on the pitch to stoop to head home from six yards out.

Buoyed by the opening goal we came under increasing pressure, and a combination of poor finishing, last ditch defending and fine goalkeeping kept the soreline the same.

Offensively we seemed to lack a bit of sparkle and but for a couple of openings most notably for Malik Buari and Jimmy Harding we lacked a cutting edge.

At the start of the second half and with a slight change tactically, we were on the front foot and immediately looked more of a threat.

Half chances were falling to us more regularly early on in the opening exchanges, however none of them could be considered a real opportunity to draw level.

The turning point in the game came on the hour, when a well worked move saw an opening created for the lively Jimmy Harding who’s left foot strike was well saved by the home keeper.

Almost immediately following this chance, Sandhurst doubled their lead, when a swift break and the oh too apparent hesitancy in our defensive work saw a smart finish at the near post double the hosts lead.

Our reaction was positive and without question one of the two one on ones that fell to Zak Graham should have been converted, particularly the second opportunity that saw him round the keeper only to be denied on the line by the recovering defender.

Despite these missed chances we continued to push, and Charlie West denied by a goal line clearance from a header, Malik Buari whose vicious attempt was spectacularly blocked by a committed defender and Matt Ellis who’s free kick rebounded from the cross bar, can consider themselves unfortunate not to have reduced the deficit.

With late substitutions made to chase the game two further attackers were thrown on in the shape of Luke Fontana and Billy Harding.

Unfortunately the latter didn’t make quite the impact hoped for, as he was dismissed ten minutes after coming on following an unnecessary kick on him by the Sandhurst full back. The ensuing scuffle involving thirty plus players also saw a surprising red given to club captain Matt Holley, who can consider himself unlucky given he was unquestionably acting as a peacemaker in the melee.

The dismissals effectively ended the game as a contest and our nine men succumbed to one further goal when a last minute penalty was converted.

A disappointing day but with some positives to work on and a sour taste to put behind us given the alleged behaviour of a member of the Sandhurst coaching staff during the scuffle.