Good Win.

We made hard work in beating Horley Town last night but 3 points are 3 points and we deserved the three points.

The game itself started with both teams attacking so for the first five minutes the game was end to end Following some good work by Theo Woodhouse Matt Ellis had the first shot of the game on target which the Horley keeper saved,from the resulting goalkick Horley went on the attack and Tom Tyler gave away a freekick which set the tone for the rest of the game when Horley launched a high ball into our box looking for the evergreen Jupp but with our keeper stuck on his line Victor Martin not for the last time in the game out-jumped the Horley player to clear the ball and from this clearance Ade Butler Theo Woodhouse and Dan Harding combined well to create a chance for the latter but a Horley defender made a timely clearance.

In the 17th min. the young Referee was to make the first of many mistakes during the evening when he awarded Horley a corner when it was clear to everyone else in the ground in was clearly a goalkick,but again Victor Martin was first to the ball and from this clearance Jimmy Harding set up Theo Woodhouse for a long range shot but again a defender blocked the shot.

After 25 mins it looked like the only way Horley were going to score was from there long ball game and by a mistake from one of our players because Victor Martin and Aaron Leacock were winning all headers and Charlie Ottaway and Dan Heath were pushing forward so stopping the Horley wide men from getting in the game,but not for the first time this season we nearly gifted them a goal when our keeper Dan Burnett wanted to much time with the ball at his feet and was lucky when the Horley player nicked the ball off him but could only shot wide from the acute angle he found himself at.

Chessington were playing some good football now and it was pleasing on the eye and were unlucky not to score when Jimmy Harding found our attack minded fullback Charlie Ottaway who in turn switched play to Theo Woodhouse who fired in a great cross only for Ade Butler who could not quite reach it.This was a warning to Horley that if they stood off us and let us play they would get well beaten and to there credit they got stuck in which you except from a Horley side.

Horley looked dangerous from all set plays and in the 27th min.came close to scoring when we failed to clear a long throw on in my opinon our keeper should have come for the ball but in stayed on his line when I think our defenders were looking for him to come and claim the ball ,but form the resulting corner he done really well when tipping the ball over the bar when under real pressure from the on rushing forwards.

Chessington not for the first time or the last were getting behind the Horley full backs at will and to be fare it was only the final ball that was letting us down this and some of our players wanting to long on the ball but when we did release the ball early Dan Harding and Ade Butler forced the Horley keeper to make saves.

Half time Chessington & Hook Utd.0-0 Horley Town.

At the start of the sceond half we camped in Horleys half with our front three of Dan Harding Theo Woodhouse and Ade Butler causing Horley defenders all sorts of problems with all three being able to run with the ball and take players on and there cant be a better centre forward in the league then Dan Harding at holding the ball up to bring other players into the game.

Horley were now relying on the counter attack and from one of these they looked dangerous until a great tackle from Victor Martin broke up the attack we were now pushing for a result and all Horley had to offer was the long ball but again we were our own worst enemy when a mix up between our keeper and Victor Martin nearly cost us when all it needed was a call from our keeper.

We were rewarded for our efforts in the 57th min. when following some more good inter play between Theo Woodhouse and Dan Harding down the right resulted in an award of a penalty when the latter had his legs taken away as he left another defender for dead. 1-0 Dan Harding sends the keeper the wrong way.

This is were things started to go wrong for the ref as he took a load of verbal from the Horley players who were not happy with the awarding of the penalty and he duly booked two of them.but this seemed to spur on Horley and from a rare break were unlucky when a cross shot rolled just wide of the post,but it did not take Chessy long to extend the lead when in the 60th min. Matt Ellis being in the right place to fire into the top corner from the six yard box following again some great wing play by Theo Woodhouse and Dan Harding whos cross found Ade Butler at the far post and his effort on goal found Matt Ellis.

Chessington were now opening up the Horley defense at will and looked like adding to the score line when Carlie Ottaway went on one of his many ventures from left back and played in Theo Woodhouse who in turn layed the ball to the on coming Jimmy Harding but his shot went well over.

Horley reminded us they still were in the game when from a corner they were unlucky from there point of view but from ours bad defending was to blame when the ball just trickled past the post with our keeper sitting on his bum and well beaten but as it happens from the resulting corner he got down low to turn away a good shot that came through a muddle of players and he must have been unsighted until the last second again good save Dan Burnett.Then came the shot of the game from a goalkick from us a horley player picked up the ball made about 10-15 yards the unleashed a shot from 20 yards that had our keeper moving after the ball had passed him and would have beaten the best in the world had it not just flown passed the angle of the post and bar,now it was our turn and from a good ball from Tom Tyler Dan Harding had a one on one with the keeper but the keeper saved well.

Up until this moment the ref had made some strange decisions but right in front of me Victor Martin was pulled back and then fouled by a Horley defender and the ref gave a freekick to which to Horley players objected then to everyones surprise in the ground he gave Horley the freekick and duly booked Victor Martin.

Chessy had Charlie Ottaway to thank for keeping the score at 0 when Danny
Heath was caught out of position and from left back Charlie made up ground across the pitch to put in a great tackle.

With the game in injury time a late tackle on Matt Ellis resulted in handbags with the result Matt Ellis and the Horley player finding there way into the refs booked

It is in my opinion a great credit to both sets of players that the game never got ugly and to be honest there was not one bad tackle all night but this was no thanks to the ref. who made some frustrating decisions all-night.

Full Time Chessington & Hook Utd 2-0 Horley Town.

1. Dan Burnett.
2. Danny Heath.
3. Charlie Ottaway.(mom)
4. Tom Tyler.(sub 85min)(12)
5. Aaron Leacock.
6. Victor Martin.
7. Jimmy Harding.(capt)
8. Matt Ellis.
9. Ade Butler.(sub 75min)(14)
10. Dan Harding.
11. Theo Woodhouse.

12. Jamie Ellis.(sub 4)
14. Paul Gough.(sub 9)
15. Adam Marie.