Caddington Chequers drew 1-1 today in their second pre-season friendly in a close fought match. The opponents were North Home Counties Sunday League team Bushmead Rovers where former player Jack Calow now resides. He was met with a hostile crowd with the Chequers faithful booing his every touch. The game started poorly for Chequers who often got caught out at the back with Bushmead’s poor finishing keeping the score level. Bushmead looked like taking the lead when they were awarded a dubious penalty only for their player to shank it wide in a poor effort. Tom Alan Smith had the two best chances for Chequers, the first putting wide from a yard out from Hinton cross. The second a difficult back post header from a delightful Enzo Scambati cross. Chequers began to crate chances and although Bishop was often caught in possession at the back Bushmead were no closer to scoring. The half ended 0-0 and this was a fair score for two evenly matched teams.
The second half kicked off with a scene from straight out of the movies. Bushmead Rovers came out wearing a different coloured kit from the first half in hope to change their fortunes. Unfortunately unlike D2: Mighty Ducks where coach Bombay’s team fought back for victory it made no difference at all. Bushmead took the lead with a long ball counter attack where heroic club legend Karl Davies was pushed leaving the Bushmead winger to stride through and able to wip the ball in. Roullier came to meet the ball but could not make enough contact to stop the ball from being played back across the goal for a free Bushmead player to notch it in. Bushmead might have doubled their lead but for Roullier pushing the ball onto the post before it was cleared to safety. Chequers fought on and themselves punished Bushmead with a counter attack and a great solo run from Hinton from the half way line who then calmly placed the ball in the back of the net 1-1. Chequers might have won the game late on when Onyon put in a 40 yard free kick and the keeper flapped it beyond the line, the referee was not in a position to call this and the ball was cleared. Only as far as new signing Tim One who was then deemed to be fouled and a penalty awarded. Naturally Onyon stepped up for what the pundits called a sure thing. Disaster as he placed it inches wide of the narrow goal to the keeper’s right. After the game Onyon announced his immediate retirement from football...... 5 minutes later he returned and said he would in fact not be retiring from football, instead passing on penalty duty to club idol Stu Rolls. Late in the game Tom Smith earned an unjust and what the referee called a 2 minute sin bin for an off the ball incident where he was fouled by an opposing player then retaliated by walking away. The result ended 1-1 and was a fair result but Chequers were disappointed that the pitch would not allow them to play there passing game. On to next week and Bulgarian coach sensation Ivan Arapov returns to guide the team back to form ready for a successful league campaign.
