Chessington & Hook United 1 vs 4 Raynes Park Vale

But… Another defeat has increased the pressure on the club to get out of trouble, when the early stages of this contest promised so much.

In an almost entirely one sided opening, Smart was the first to be denied when his weak strike was comfortably saved, but the visiting keeper needed to work harder just a minute later when his outstretched boot denied Greens cross shot. This all before ten minutes had been reached.

We continued to push and thought we had managed to break the deadlock on nineteen minutes, when Green’s left foot drive rebounded off the crossbar. Still we drove forward and Leacock was the next to hit the target when his thirty-yard shot was saved just under the crossbar.

You could sense unease amongst the players as wave after wave of attack was thwarted by good goalkeeping and a degree of misfortune. At the midway point Smart was again wasteful when well placed and that miss only increased the frustration.

With virtually the visitors first attack we conceded, when a lack of pressure on the cross, poor marking and set up play, and some questionable goal keeping gifted the lead to the visitors.

Our reaction at least was positive, and Haywood should have brought us level on thirty-six minutes when he blazed over from Green’s pass.

At the half time whistle it was difficult to accept that we were behind but yet again we would need to chase a game.

Almost immediately from the restart we could have fallen further behind and it was this let off that sparked us into action.

In our next attack Heath was first to a loose ball in the middle of the park, winning his header comfortably, and allowing Burns and Smart to combine to set up Green who hit home from the edge of the box.

A perfect start in every respect. This saw us again enjoy a period of domination and for the next fifteen minutes the game resorted to type with Ellis Burns and Green all going close to giving us the lead.

If we thought it was a matter of time we were mistaken, as despite Fisher saving well just after the hour we were punished five minutes later when a hopeful cross again caught us out allowing a simple finish.

Our attempts to come back were now more fleeting, and there was an inevitability that we would lose again. A free header from a corner and couple of half chances the best we could muster.

As we entered the final ten minutes and with a remote chance of at least something from the game, we defended yet another cross with such inefficiency that it eluded three defenders and our goalkeeper, as the wide man gleefully tucked home the gifted opportunity.

That was that and such was our desire to get off the pitch we presented a further opportunity to our visitors, taken of course, to seal a humiliating four one defeat.