Curfews Unable to put Uxbridge to Bed

Whether this match will be viewed as a point gained or 2 points dropped will probably only be known come April - however this was a dramatic and fiercely contested match saw Chertsey & Uxbridge battle to a 3-3 draw, with both sides showing good character and fight in a game defined by swings in momentum, controversial decisions, and key moments of individual brilliance.

The visitors started brightly, and their early pressure was rewarded in the 2nd minute. A well-parried shot by George Moore, was quickly recycled and found its way to Joe Lawal, who curled a precise shot past Roberts in the Chertsey goal to make it 1-0. However, the lead was short-lived. Just two minutes later, the home side responded, with Jack Mazzone displaying some neat footwork to slot the ball past Mark Scott to level the scores at 1-1. The seesaw nature of the game continued, and in the 15th minute, a floated free-kick from Harry Rush into the box resulted in a penalty after Kai Hobbs was pushed in the back by a Chertsey player. Liam Prior-Tack stepped up confidently to send Roberts the wrong way, for his 3rd penalty in 3 games to put the away side back in front at 2-1. Uxbridge then looked in control, however the match took a significant turn in the 28th minute when Kai Hobbs challenged the keeper for a ball in the box, the referee initially was about to award a yellow card, however after careful consultation with the Chertsey defence decided there was enough for Hobbs to be shown a straight red card. Despite this, the ten men defended resolutely, with Scott only called upon in the 39th minute to make a good save from a snapshot by Daniel Hector. The home side did get the ball in the net just before the break, but Mazzone was adjudged to have impeded the defence, and Uxbridge went into the break ahead.

HT 2-1

Chertsey came out for the second half on full power, and got back on level terms on 47 minutes when a good break by Mazzone, saw him mishit a shot into the path of Oliver McCoy who made no mistake slotting home from close range. This setback only spurred on The Reds however and just eight minutes later, George Moore received the ball on the right hand side, cut inside, and smashed a powerful shot past the keeper to restore the lead at 3-2. The goal was not without controversy, as Moore was subsequently pushed into the post in the follow up - with only a yellow card the outcome. The game continued to be an end-to-end affair. A good break by Chertsey in the 60th minute saw a low shot saved well by Scott at his near post. The numbers were levelled up on 70 minutes when a Chertsey’s Oliver McCoy received a second yellow card for a late challenge, reducing them to ten men as well. Despite being a man down, Chertsey found a way to equalize,Scott made a great save from a breakaway, but from the resulting corner, Uxbridge failed to clear their lines, and the visitors pounced to make it 3-3 in the 72nd minute, as Fernandez’s low shot took a deflection to beat Scott. Goerge Moore. had two late chances, first being played in one on one,only for Roberts to save well down low. Moore then headed over from a cross in the 85th minute when well placed. The final say of the match came from Scott who made another crucial save in the 94th minute after the ball was not cleared, ensuring the spoils were shared in a fiercely fought contest that had it all.

At the end of the day Uxbridge remain unbeaten at Step 3, and can look forward to a home tie with Welling United in the FA Cup next Saturday.

FT 3-3

Att: 669

Uxbridge: Scott, Hobbs, Bacarro, Fearn, Tanner, Nnandozie (Osu), Lawal (Bradshaw), Rush, Nwachuku (Thorpe), Moore, Prior-Tack (Rowe).