Godalming Town vs Chessington & Hook

Cup football hasn’t been particularly kind to us this year and a visit to a top three Ryman South side on a freezing evening meant another difficult cup encounter was on the cards.

The early exchanges saw little fluency in either teams play with the ground conditions affecting every pass and every run. Nonetheless both sides created half chances that gave little trouble to the respective goalkeepers.

Twenty minutes in and with Chessington having adjusted well to the quicker pace and competing equally with their hosts, the first goal of the match came via a deflection that left Michael Sharpe with no chance.

The response was good and a series of half chances fell to Timba, Todd, Smith and Weir but none were converted.

As half time approached a tussle that begun outside the box resulted in Paul West fouling the attacker for a clear penalty which was converted in some style.

The two goal deficit slightly harsh given Chessington’s first half performance.

The approach by us at the start of the second half was exceptional. Playing with an urgency and determination that would have seen most neutrals thinking we were the senior side, Godalming were forced onto the back foot and only keeping their two goal cushion as a result of some desperate last ditch defending.

It was clear a goal would result if we continued in this way and it arrived after fifty three minutes following a foul on James White in the penalty area that gave Scott Todd the chance to atone for his miss the previous Saturday. He converted his spot kick with ease to half the deficit.

We continued to press and Paul Timba was presented with a great chance to equalise only to lose his footing at the crucial moment, the chance going begging.

On sixty three minutes however following some superb wing play by Todd we drew level. His superb cross falling to Timba who again slipped, but with Gary Puckett backing him up the chance was converted confidently by the centre back.

With the upper hand now with us a further flowing move down the left involving Matt Holley and Andrew Weir produced a great chance to take the lead but Weir was unable to get his shot away and a relieved defence breathed a huge sigh of relief. An upset looked on the cards but a soft goal conceded from a corner on 70 minutes restored Godalming’s lead. We continued to press to the end but without troubling the home keeper but for a long range effort from George Baldock who had replaced Paul Timba for the last fifteen minutes.

Another cup defeat but the players gave a clear indication to everyone that they are capable of playing at a higher level.