Report

With bogey team Chilcompton this week’s opponents, the only team news was that Oggy was out due to an injured ankle and Savage was working, this lead to a starting place for Danny on the right wing and a surprise choice of Dawson in the centre of midfield?!

The game started and we soon knew why we had already come unstuck against Chilly twice this season already, they played with 3 in midfield and passed the ball around really well. Dawson was getting the run around until Wattsy told the big man to stick on number 5, making his life much easier as he didn’t seem to move from the centre circle. Sadly for Fran this meant marking two men who didn’t stop running the whole game. Cheers Fran.

It was Chew who struck first when a free kick on the edge of the area was crossed into the unmarked Dawson who after 34 failed attempts finally hit the target and scored a very pleasing goal to put the Chew boys 1-0 up. Mr Kirk really is a dead ball specialist, showing again why he takes the in-direct free kicks - wizard.

Although Chilly had a lot of the play they were failing to do a lot with it. Chew were defending really well from top to bottom with everyone working hard. A breakaway lead to a threw ball down the right for Nick to run on to. Gary has claimed it was his pass so as no one else has claimed the pass we’ll give it to him. Nick, full of confidence after recent good performances and a new job, completely skinned his man who bought him down. Penalty to Chew and Fran steps up to score his 3rd in 3 games. The fact that no one voted for Fran as leading goal scorer on the website is proving the inspiration for the gay man at the moment as he took his penalty very well to put Chew 2-0 up.

And still the pattern of the game continued, Chilly had all the possession, Chew had all the chances. We were biting into the challenges which was frustrating the Chilly, Gary in particular with one very entertaining tackle where if he had made contact, would have ended the player’s career. We had more chances, Dawson missing another diving header and an effort from a corner, both of which went over the bar. Lee probably missed another chance. We were creating the opportunities but sadly couldn’t put them away.
And then with their first noteworthy effort of the game Chilcompton scored, a cross over between the two strikers lead to none of the defence being able to close down the Chilcompton striker who finished well giving Pickford no chance. 2 – 1.

Deco was denied a blatant penalty when the unconvincing Chilly keeper stood on the back of Dec’s ankle. Sadly Deco didn’t recover. Having spent much of his winter training camp caring for a friend in Hospital at Butlins, Deco obviously decided to make up on lost time on Friday night as he tends to do every weekend by drinking and drugging himself senseless. The fact that the wonder kind came off at half time dizzy was most probably due to the drugs waring off. Sadly Bones didn’t have a spliff is his medical bag so Charlie came on to replace him.

Chew were defending superbly well, Gary leading the way in defence, tucking in to help Bouch leaving Stan to pick up the number 6 who was dropping off. Danny was doing a superb job defensively and to a man everyone was doing their shift. Sadly though for Chew Chilly did get an equaliser when a curling shot went through a lot of bodies into the top corner leaving Pickford with no chance in goal.

Chilly did have other chances to win it, Dawson was skinned on the edge of the box and the number 8 slipped in the Chilly striker for what looked like a certain goal but Pickford came a calling and made a superb reaction save. Pickford was at it again later (saving shots not taking drugs) when he denied another certain goal by blocking an effort at the back post. Other saves followed at infrequent intervals during the half and even when Pickford was beaten with 5 minutes to go the ball cannoned off the cross bar and away to safety.

Chew had a chance when excellent link up between Char and Fran lead to Nick crossing for the unmarked Lee 4 yards out but the temperamental striker decided to head when he should have volleyed and the chance went begging. And soon after Lee found himself in the book when he back chatted the ref. Quite annoying but to be expected from our gifted number 11. What was more annoying was when he kicked out minutes after. Chilcompton had obviously decided to wind up Lee, a cleaver tactic that worked as Lee retaliated to a kick on the back of the ankle and Lee was shown his second yellow and send off. Very frustrating and Lee will learn but Chew were now up against it with 25 minutes to go and down to 10 men. It was all hands to the pump. Boucher leading by example with one superb two footed block which would have been a straight red if he had got anything other than all of the ball.

The Chew boys were showing the character that has got them into this position in the league by completely dominating the last period of the game. Excellent work by Charlie lead to a free kick on the edge of the area but Kirkys effort was blocked. Charlie then missed a chance from a Dawson cross. Danny, who had spent so much of the game defending finally found his form going forward, terrorising his full back on more than one occasion. Nick on the other flank was excelling, time and again skinning his man to win corners and free kicks but sadly for Chew they couldn’t get the breakthrough. Higgins was on for the injured Rusty and was supporting Nick very well. With Boucher now at left bac supporting Dan, the big man though he should be allowed a bit more creative freedom. Trying to match his effort of the week before Dave attempted a 35 yard shot on his left that went embarrassingly wrong, not even going out for a throw in.

The ref appeared to blow up slightly early and the game was over. An excellent game with a draw probably being a fair result. It is amazing that Chilcompton find themselves so low down in the table but with them still having to play Meadow we hope they can do us a favour. A draw probably means Chew are out of the title race but stranger things have happened and with Meadow next up we have a chance to cut the gap from 4 points to 1, putting all the pressure back on the league leaders. It was testament to Fran and Nick, who at the end were rewarded with their excellent performances with a call up to the league team so many congratulations to them for this excellent achievement.