Croydon vs Chessington & Hook United

With a slightly depleted squad to choose from, we adapted well after a difficult journey compounded by Gary Puckett missing the kick off and Andrew Heath having to be replaced in the first ten minutes. Johnson Oymelukwe taking over in midfield and doing a fine job on his first senior appearance.

Whilst we weren’t quite at our best, we always looked as if a goal was in us and half chances for Reece Jackson and Daniel Bennett could have seen us rewarded on another day.

At the other end we defended well, and Michael Sharpe playing for the first team for the first time this season looked assured, and proved his worth to the squad and the goalkeepers union.

As we prepared to accept a goal less first half a shot from distance from Bennett swerved viciously deceiving the home goalkeeper to give us the lead. A welcome plus point for the manager as he headed for the dressing room.

The second half saw us in the ascendancy, and we were guilty of missing opportunities in the opening ten minutes that would surely have sealed the points. The guilty parties being Bennett and John who desperately needs a goal to boost his confidence.

However we remained relatively untroubled and it seemed as if one goal may be enough but it wasn’t to be. A speculative effort rebounding of the underside of the bar before being turned home by the grateful Croydon forward.

With just twenty minutes remaining we needed a positive response and to be fair we got one. Countless opportunities coming our way with a combination of poor finishing and good / fortuitous goal keeping denying Jackson, Graca, Bennett, Holley and John.

In fact we nearly claimed the points with the final kick of the game when John broke clear of four defenders with some neat footwork only to miss the target with his shot.

Only time will tell if this was two points dropped but it certainly felt like it on the day.