CHESSY 3 - 1 ASH

When the fixture list came out a few weeks ago we knew the first two weeks of the season would be tough, our first two league games were against Ash and Redhill, both tipped for promotion this season.

Three changes were forced upon us for this fixture, AARON AGYEMAN and KIENION ROBINSON were ruled out through injuries picked up in our FA Cup win over Wick, ADAM MARIE is now away on holiday.

MARK DANIELS replaced IAN HEWITT in the Chessy goal with both experienced keepers sharing the minutes this season.

We didn't start well and it was Ash who made all the early running and looked dangerous with their direct approach, Richard Lediju was their main threat down their left hand side.

RUDOLPH TEWE making his first start of the season broke free down the right early on, a bad touch meant he couldn't get a shot away, his cross to KYLE GREEN wasn't the best and our first promising attack came to a end rather quickly.

24 minutes on the clock and Lediju opened the scoring for Ash after AARON JOHNSON was caught in possession deep inside the Chessy half, Ash attacked down the left and skipped over 3 possibly 4 challenges, a cut back to an unmarked Lediju was put firmly past the diving DANIELS.

I was hoping the goal would give us a wake up call but didn't, the first half played out with both defences standing firm and both forward lines failing to create any real chances, only one effort worth mentioning was when the consistent CHRISTIAN MONEY headed a DAN GREEN free kick onto the face of the bar, the rebound was skied over the bar by MONEY.

Half time, the team talk focused on work rate and energy, we knew we could do better and we had 3 or 4 more gears to go.

Ash started the second half lively and DANIELS had to react quickly to a fierce snap shot to turn it around the post.

Good work from FLACK down the right, he linked with K GREEN and whipped in a delightful cross to the back post, ADE PETERS with a free header but failed to work the Ash keeper.

MARTIN GANGE replaced TEWE for his debut on 54 mins, a minute later GANGE broke the offside trap with a fantastic run across the Ash high line, D GREEN'S through ball found GANGE, his first touch took him further away from the chasing defenders, he then unselfishly squared to K GREEN to tap home for his 3rd goal in 2 games.

The introduction of GANGE seemed to give everyone a lift, an injection of pace and energy made life hard for the Ash left back.

We started to turn the screw a bit more with Ash now dropping deeper and deeper, this allowing D GREEN, SKIPP and JOHNSON more time on the ball and able to pick out passes all around the pitch.

K GREEN then broke through, one on one with the keeper, he waited too long to get his shot away and the Ash keeper saved well down to his right.

It wasn't long until we did finally take the lead, some flowing football involving D GREEN, the impressive LEWIS SKIPP, FLACK, GANGE and K GREEN, ended with a decent cross from GANGE, this was eventually cleared only to the advancing JOHNSON who smashed a half volley low and hard from 20 yards out, his effort went through a crowd of players desperately trying to block it but you were never stopping it!!

JOHNSON was replaced by JOSH DOE 5 minutes later to appreciative applause from the home crowd, bench and players.

DOE made a superb tackle just inside our half, he then released FLACK down the right, FLACK played in SKIPP who crossed to K GREEN who found himself in space inside box, a world class first touch allowed him to get a shot off and he fired past the helpless Ash keeper!!

JOE CHARLES replaced PETERS for his first appearance of the season, ROSS TOMASSI struggling with cramp at left back meant we had to move a few players around, FLACK moved to left back and K GREEN to right back with TOMASSI moving higher up the pitch,

Ash managed to carve out one more chance when Lediju danced past MONEY and ANDREW JONES, Lediju's low drive was saved superbly by Daniels down to his right, this saved meant we saw the game out comfortably for the last 10 minutes, TOMASSI could of made it 4 but scuffed his shot when one on one with the keeper.

Chessington & Hook goals
K GREEN (55 & 75)
JOHNSON (65)

Ash goals
Lediju (24)

Attendance 68

MOM - CHRISTIAN MONEY