Cove vs Chessington & Hook

A full week was available to the management and players to address the problems of the previous week as our intended midweek opponents, Raynes Park Vale , were involved in an FA Cup replay.

The time available was well spent as a solid display against a Cove side who had won three out of three going into the game saw us run out three one winners.

Mark Daniels returned in goal and a debut was given at left back to Andy Weir signed in midweek from Chertsey. A first start was also afforded to Dean Pitcher .

On a difficult surface we got the perfect start when from a deep Andy Weir free kick in the sixth minute Adam Cheadle volleyed home from a tight angle ten yards from goal.

Coves response was to pepper our own goal with shots and crosses and despite on occasions leading a charmed life we kept them at bay. That said the performances of the back line and in particular Leon Canning and Lloyd Welsh was such that we earned a little bit of good fortune for the way they went about their job. Just after the half hour a five minute spell saw a goal for Cove disallowed for offside and a penalty saved by Mark Daniels after a handball by Andrew Heath. The half time break saw our slender lead remain intact.

The second half saw chances created and missed at both ends with Cove having another effort ruled out for offside and Malik Buari firing just over the bar after a quick Adam Cheadle free kick and Dean Pitcher just missing the target with an audacious lob from thirty yards.

In the 78th minute following a foul on Scott Todd, Malik Buari fired home from fully thirty yards scoring an early contender for goal of the season. As is usual what should have proved to be a comfortable last ten minutes was again undone by a lack of concentration from a corner which allowed a free header to a Cove player from six yards out to reduce the deficit.

The nerves were finally calmed in the 89th minute when a quick incisive break saw Malik Buari feed Dean Pitcher who coolly slotted home a left foot strike from just inside the penalty area. Another three points earned from a hard working display.