Wembley vs Chessington & Hook

But add to that an opponent who had won six of their last seven and you know its going to be tough.

On a bare looking pitch and with conditions generally unfavourable to a fluid passing game our now commonplace slow start cost us as early as the second minute. Failure to close down a tricky winger and an unfortunate slip by Puckett allowing the forward to go unchallenged into the box before confidently slotting home.

Although we responded positively there was very little threat other than a side foot effort from Cheadle that looked to be heading into the bottom corner of the net only for a deflection to send it wide.
With the pace of Wembley’s forwards constantly a threat to our own goal it was little surprise when we fell two behind midway through the half, a combination of West and White being adjudged to have fouled inside the box for a penalty.

With our task that much more difficult an opportunity appeared to present itself when Holley was clearly fouled in the box at the other end. As we waited for the decision to be given the referee chose to ignore the foul presumably dismissing Holley’s fall as an attempt to con him.

The half time chat seemed to have worked when five minutes in Reece Jackson coolly converted a half chance from an acute angle. With us now back in touch a responsible five minutes were needed but with us now on top we seemed to throw caution to the wind in trying to get back on level terms. A throw in which should have been delivered forward was thrown in field and headed back to our defensive third only for the attempted pass to go astray, leaving us one on one. The pacy forward winning the race to restore the home sides two-goal advantage.

Try as we might to get back into the game our own chances were few and far between. Reece Jackson again coming close with a ferocious strike that the keeper did well to save and the follow up effort from Daryl Swaby although blocked, strangely seen by the referee as a miss in front of goal being our best chance.

As the clock ticked down it was clear that we were to travel home with nothing and one of our games in hand was gone with nothing to show.