Ash United vs Chessington & Hook United

On a very heavy pitch we started brightly and there were encouraging signs even before we took the lead. Marcello Graca on his first start since returning to the club catching the eye with some neat play, and the returning Malik Buari giving us a fresh look to our attacking threat.

The lead was ours after just six minutes when fine play down our right involving Pitt, Graca and Buari resulted in Gracas cross being cleverly retrieved by Holley who in turn found Gavin Quintyne who’s right footed curling shot found the top corner.

With confidence high we were rarely troubled at the back although on the rare occasions that the back four were beaten the returning Mark Daniels was on hand to confidently deal with what was thrown at him. Midway through the half our lead should have been doubled. Our hosts caught square at the back allowing the simplest of chances for Matt Ellis who was unable to find a way to beat the onrushing keeper.

After the initial flurry of activity during the opening exchanges the game settled and it was no surprise that chances at both ends were limited. This was down more to the ever worsening surface rather than us shutting up shop.

At the start of the second half the expected onslaught began. A series of attacks asking questions of our defence and goalkeeper, all of which were thankfully answered with a degree of confidence. Gradually however we seemed to lose our shape and gaps were beginning to appear and our goal was under more threat than it had been at any stage. The first of our substitutions happened on the hour when Marcello Graca was replaced by Jimmy Brazil also re appearing for the first time this season and with an unexpected need to warm up substitute goalkeeper Dan Fisher as a precaution for Mark Daniels who was complaining of a back injury suddenly there was a lot to consider.

Before that change could be made our hosts were level. After having lost the ball cheaply in midfield our marking was not good enough and the free hit at goal eluded the hampered Mark Daniels.

The substitution became inevitable and Fisher was called upon quite quickly to claim a couple of well-directed crosses.

With Ash sensing a second they were happy to take a few risks in pursuit of a winner such was our inability to secure possession. What came with this was slightly more room in midfield and just once or twice we strung a few passes together to regain a degree of control. As the game became spread a great chance fell to us Malik Buari and Gavin Quintyne combining well as they ran from the half way line only for Buari`s final ball to be over hit thus denying a certain goal.

With the chance gone we focussed again on securing a point when with just three minutes on the clock persistent work by Brazil down the right saw his cross reach quintyne who’s shot on the turn could only be parried by the keeper to the feet of Matt Ellis who tapped home for a late late winner.