Chequers won 3-1 today in what was a scrappy affair against bottom of the league Phoenix Reserves. This victory sees the team retain their unbeaten start to the league campaign. Goals came from wondering centre half Neil Bishop, Claude Mackelele-esq centre midfielder Rob Mardell and legendary striker Dean Hinton. Mardell picked up the man of the match award for his composed midfield display narrowly beating stand in keeper Jake Godfrey.
Both teams respected the minutes silence before the game for remembrance Sunday with a number of players sporting poppy’s and wrist bands. The game started off positively for Chequers but they lacked composure in the final third to create the chances they needed. However Chequers were gifted the opening goal when Phoenix’s aging keeper dropped the ball into the path of Bishop from a corner. 1-0. Following this clumsy centre half Stu Rolls then picked up a yellow card for persistent infringement. Hinton thought he had doubled the lead when his long range effort found the back of the net however it was given as offside. Phoenix got an equaliser when a long range floated through ball was headed directly into the arms of Godfrey, unfortunately it went straight through his hands and into the goal for 1-1. Chequers took the lead just before half time when the ball ricochet off Hinton and Mardell hooked it slowly across the keeper. It eventually made it into the goal after Phoenix’s keeper went into slow motion to try and reach it. 2-1. HT.
The second half was just as poor as the first and as poor as Chequers were playing, Phoenix wasteful play affording Chequers plenty of breaks. The referee put in a bizarre performance in what was not an aggressively played match and did not have too many fouls either way. First Bell Unknown? Got booked for a soft foul, then Davies received a yellow card for an unheard action of dissent following a dodgy handball being awarded against him. To finish it all off Tracy received a well deserved yellow for denying a clear goal scoring opportunity. Some say he should have been sent off for his silly foul. The subsequent penalty was a prime example of Phoenix’s shooting skills on the day. It was blasted into the cross bar and went up and away. The stats showed that Phoenix managed 1 shot on target during the whole game and that appeared to be intended as a through ball. The game went on and the ball remained stuck in the centre of the pitch where all the players were bunched together. Until Hinton eloquently turned the last defender and pranced through like a gazelle on the plains of Africa. This time he provided the finish with the game almost over. 3-1. FT.
Manager Robin Towler was quoted as saying “The sign of a good team is winning when they play shit....... and today we have seen a lot of shit”. He later went on to say “What was the score again? And who was playing?”.
