Chessington & Hook vs Banstead Athletic

In what was always going to be an emotionally charged game it didn`t disappoint.

Clearly trying to avenge the one nil defeat that we dished out at Merland Rise, Banstead took the early honours with their passing and pace up front proving to be a constant threat to us. It came as no real surprise when after fifteen minutes a goalmouth scramble following some decent wing play resulted in the first goal of the game. If a positive reaction was needed we didn`t really get one, although in two rare attacks Daniel Bennett and Martin Jackson were denied by good saves.

Banstead continued to push sensing an opportunity to kill the game off in the first half and went further ahead after twenty seven minutes, a low shot deceiving Mark Daniels and going in at the near post. With a mountain to climb we were only spared going three behind with a combination of an unconventional stop from Mark Daniels with his left foot, and a rather poor miss from the follow up. If anything, this let off sparked a better end to the half, which was rewarded with a goal for Daniel Bennett following good work down the left from Todd and Reece Jackson. Bennett confidently driving home with his left foot five minutes before the break.

It was just the lift the side needed, and it clearly raised our belief as our start to the second half was much more purposeful. With ourselves probably now shading the game it came as a bit of a surprise when a well struck free kick on the hour flew into the top corner to restore Bansteads two goal cushion.

The reaction was first class and Cheadles strike on sixty seven minutes from a full thirty yards brought us back into the game. The team visibly lifted by the quality of the goal.
Andrew Heath replaced Paul Timba and he immediately had an impact with a series of challenges and interceptions that kept the momentum with us.
On seventy two minutes a corner from Weir which Puckett won in the air fell to Daniel Bennett who gleefully smashed into the roof of the net for the equaliser.

The game was well and truly there to be won in the final exchanges with the better chances falling to us. Daniel Bennett denied a hat trick by a great stop and only a timely tackle in the box preventing Todd from creating an opening.
But in the end it was a point a piece and I don’t think anyone can complain at the outcome.