Pyrford turned in their most abject performance in many years, and were duly thrashed by division 3 Chertsey Harriers. Despite seeing significant improvements in recent weeks, this was Pyrford at their very worst, against a side they have overcome on numerous occasions in recent seasons.
Chertsey started brightest and soon got the goal their play deserved, when Duane couldn't hold a long-range strike and only pushed it into the air, giving a tap in to the oncoming striker. Pyrford should've had the chance to equalise against the run of play, when a long ball was flicked on by Matt and Denyer used his pace to get to the ball before the onrushing keeper. The keeper clattered Denyer, but the referee decided not to give anything, to the complete disbelief of everyone at the ground. It would've been undeserved though, as Chertsey were playing all the football and looked dangerous throughout. It was 2-0 soon afterwards, when sloppy play from Rob gifted the ball to Chertsey, who strolled through an absent midfield who had pushed forward, and the 6 on 3 scenario culminated in an unstoppable shot from 20 yards.
Pyrford were awful. Unable to play the ball from the back, slow with the ball in the midfield and completely incapable of controlling the ball up front. The lack of cohesion was astonishing, and the lack of quality was at times embarrassing. The communication that did exist was unconstructive or nonsense, or simply wasn't listened to, and this was in evidence for Chertsey's third. A harmless aerial ball was going through to Duane who called for it, but Scott then took it upon himself to head it towards goal, a chance which the oncoming striker couldn't miss from a yard with Duane stranded. It was the second unlucky goal that Pyrford had conceded, but it really showed the lack of quality and confidence that had engulfed the rest of the side.
Strong words were said at half time, and Pyrford resumed slightly better in the second half. Nathan came on for Alex, forcing a reshuffle sending Rob up front.
It was the same old story though, as Pyrford's midfield were overrun, allowing a seemingly mishit effort from 30 yards to catch the wind and loop over Duane's head into the goal. Again, a lucky strike that shouldn't have been a goal, but it was the result of, rather than the cause of Pyrford's deficiencies.
Pyrford at last managed to hit back, and although Ben missed a glaring chance with a header from a yard that went so far from its intended target the ref gave a corner, they finally got on the scoresheet. The Chertsey keeper spilled Wattsy's effort from a free kick, Ben followed up but his effort was blocked, and Rob was on hand to hook the ball home. It was a false dawn however, as Pyrford couldn't cope with the direct running of Chertsey's midfield, and they were carved open once again to restore the four goal lead.
Pyrford's one moment of quality brought them their second goal five minutes later. A good move starting at the back found Matt, who laid the ball off to Denyer. He played a good square pass to Ben who was in acres of space and he rifled home first time into the bottom corner. It was a move totally unbefitting of the total lack of quality shown by Pyrford in the rest of the match. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be repeated, and Chertsey got their sixth and final goal from a free kick, which was turned from harmless into a goal by Scott's flicked header into the top corner of his own net.
Everything that could go wrong did go wrong for Pyrford, but it only serves to mask the lack of basic skills, use of common sense, and positional awareness they collectively showed. Chertsey are a decent side, who play nice football, but if Pyrford played like that against stronger opposition they would've been on the end of a cricket score.
