Chequers picked up three vital points in hostile conditions away to Go Bowling Reserves today. Goals came from Almey, Smith and Hinton, with a concussed Stu Rolls dominating the back line. Chequers unveiled their new Kappa warm up tops in the pre-match pleasantries. The top already on high demand in the club shop following heavy consultation over the design with veteran centre back Stu Rolls. Things started badly for Chequers with them struggling to put a single pass together on the narrow pitch. This ended up with the team conceding when R.Mardell lost out in a 50/50 ball on the wing. The cross came over and Stu Rolls beautifully took a swipe at thin air with his right foot and the ball ended up being scuffed over the line by the striker for 1-0. Rolls hung his head in shame as the booing away supporters took their frustration out on him. Rolls channelled this negativity into his performance and following a heavy knock in the first half put in a near perfect performance. Chequers struggled with a congested midfield but managed to get an equalizer when W.Mardel took it past the right back on the wing before being completely taken out. The referee used the advantage rule to keep the game going. Hinton then took this on before planting a cross onto the head of Almey for 1-1. HT.
Chequers could not get their passing game going on the narrow pitch so dug in and tried to match their opponent’s physicality. Chequers had a goal disallowed when Smith pounced on a through ball and the flag was raised for Hinton rather than the scorer. But the referee waved away the protests and the score remained 1-1. CCFC finally took the lead when Smith found himself on the edge of the area and as falling over passed the ball into the back of the net. 2-1. Shortly after Chequers got a third as the Go Bowling defence got caught on the ball allowing Hinton the chance to lob the keeper. 3-1. Go Bowling’s behaviour then deteriorated further with the persistent foul and abusive language. All this from their players and in front of the women and children watching must have been embarrassing for the club. Go Bowling bundled themselves forward with lots of brute force and were awarded a penalty when W.Mardel was adjudged to have fouled the large Go Bowling player. This penalty was put wide and Chequers remained ahead. The only yellow card of the match was handed out late in the game when a Go Bowling player decided to kick Smith off the ball with a wild swipe. Chequers might have a had a few more after good runs from Almey and Wills on the wing but both attacks ended with no rewards. But Chequers still continued to give away possession cheaply and Go Bowling managed to salvage a goal by walking through the centre of defence and rolling it past the outstretched Roullier making it 2-3.
In the post-match interview Manager Robin Towler was far by happy with the performance and hoped that on a better pitch the team might be able to impress against the same opponents. Robin Towler was also quoted as saying “This lot were so mouthy it was like playing against a team of Neil Bishop’s”. Neil Bishop has yet to respond.
