PITCHING IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE
SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION
SATURDAY 1st OCTOBER 2022
CHIPSTEAD 2 UXBRIDGE 1 (HT 0-1)
An injury-time goal from Chipstead’s Jonathan Hood, earned the hosts all three points against ten men Uxbridge on Saturday. For the first time this season The Reds selected an unchanged side, with the same eleven that accounted for Bedfont Sports in the FA Trophy the previous Saturday taking the field at High Road.
Once again Uxbridge dominated possession in the opening exchanges, knocking the ball around and playing some delightful football. The home sides more direct play however, saw Tyler Tobin in The Reds goal the busier of the two keepers. Lewis Pearch stung his palms with a well struck shot and his handling was tested with a couple of low shots which he gathered in good fashion. Andy Kabuikusomo, the Chips centre forward, was a physical handful and Andy O’Brien had a battle to control him during the ninety minutes. Uxbridge took the lead in the 17th minute. Dan Williams held the ball up and found Victor Osobu with a superb pass that the pacey forward took in his stride before curling it past Matt Kerbey in the Chipstead goal. The Reds failed to build on their lead and when Ryan Haugh picked up an injury and was forced to retire, the reshuffle saw them lose their momentum and the half reached its conclusion with Osobu’s goal separating the two teams.
The second period began in a similar vein, Uxbridge trying to get the ball down and pass their way through the Chips defence, while the home side looked to get the ball forward to the hard-working Kabuikusomo as quick as they could. Both sides were struggling to create clear cut chances, with defences just about holding the upper hand over the forwards. The game took a dramatic turn in the 67th minute with the dismissal of the impressive Kensley Maloney. The Reds midfielder, who was already on a yellow card, stretched out a leg to make a tackle. Unfortunately it was mis-timed and referee Ross Murphy produced a second yellow and Maloney took a slow walk back to the dressing rooms. From the free-kick, close to the halfway line, Jensen Grant lost his marker and stooped to head the ball past Tobin without a challenge. Once again the Reds were forced into a reshuffle due to the sending off, although they looked to remain positive, replacing defender Harry Seabrook with midfielder Alex Witham. Despite being numerically disadvantaged The Reds upped their game and Williams and Osobu both went close, forcing Kerbey into action. With ten minutes remaining Osobu broke into the box and appeared to be impeded as he took on three defenders. The appeals for a penalty however, fell on deaf ears. With the game deep into stoppage time Chipstead furnished one more attack. Substitute Tom Smith found himself in space on the edge of the area and he fed the ball into the path of Hood who fired a powerful shot past Tobin to snatch victory.
Manager Danny Edwards will be hoping that his side can start converting possession into goals, as they look to get their promotion challenge back on track. They return to cup action this weekend with the visit of inform Walton & Hersham to Honeycroft in the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy. The two sides have already met this season in the Isthmian League. The Swans coming out on top with a 3-1 home win back in August.
Uxbridge Line-Up: Tobin, Goodman, Haugh, Poley, O’Brien, Jackson, Maloney, Seabrook, Williams, Osobu, Talla. Subs Used: Andrew for Haugh, Witham for Seabrook, Bitmead for Williams. Not Used: Jarra, Paine.