'Stubb' Saved By Weather!

Chandlers Ford looked set to be on course for only their second win of the season this morning against strugglers Stubbington who have yet to grab a point.

The Blues led 2-0 at half time against the team they beat 7-4 a short while back, on a very poor pitch. The referee, who was late starting the game by half an hour decided that the rain was bad enough to abandon the game when really it was no worse than the conditions at the start of the game. In all fairness, the safety of the players must come first.

Michael Sawbridge notched up another goal with a lovely finish from outside the box ten minutes into the half. Left back, Michael Wall made the goal with a wonderful interception before the big front man slotted home with a curling left footed effort.

On the stroke of half time, a dangerous corner from Sawbridge came back off the cross bar where Jozef Montigue laid it on for David Bromhead. David calmly took a touch before smashing the ball against the bottom of the post and in.

Having played so well, keeping a clean sheet and playing some nice football going forward it was a shame to have come away with no result. The game will now be re-scheduled for a future date when we will have to start over again to try and get the win.

A BIG Improvement

CHANDLERS FORD 2-2 WARSASH WASPS
11.11.06 – MID SOLENT B LEAGUE

Chandlers Ford put last week’s performance behind them with tremendous effort and desire against the same opponents, helping them to come out with a very different result.

David Harris returned to the side, having missed the best part of a month for various reasons. Josh Harragan, however was missing from the centre of defence forcing Michael Sawbridge to slot into the back line.

Early on, CFY looked good both at defending and going forward. Their was effort and dedication all over the pitch from the Blues, none more so than the defence who got stuck in, won the challenges and cleared their lines well.

In particular, Michael Wall did very well winning the ball at left back, Michael Sawbridge brought confidence to the rest of the defence not to mention Robbie Hurst who gave his all once again getting some important interceptions. In the midfield Liam Godfrey and Ahmed Sfagsi managed to do exactly what the team couldn’t do last week and that was close down and not give Warsash any time on the ball. Not to mention Karthik Basker who made yet more breathtaking saves.

Most of the possession and play came from Chandlers Ford and their pressure finally paid off when a perfectly weighted through ball by man of the match David Harris, was met by a tidy left foot finish by Thorsten Tramishcus into the bottom corner. Having gone 1-0 up CFY didn’t stop here but continued to play confident passing football.

Jozef Montigue was unlucky not to have had a penalty when he was brought down by a heavy challenge in the box by the Wasps goalkeeper. And then shortly after, goalscorer Tramischus bundled his way through doing well to keep the ball in play. He then laid it back for Montigue who perhaps could have pulled the trigger a little earlier, however due to close marking it was not possible and the referee decided against awarding a back pass in the action that followed.

With just two minutes to go until the break, Warsash grabbed an equaliser totally against the run of play. A long ball down the right flank caught Michael Wall out of position and for the first time in the game CFY let sloppiness creep in costing them dearly. A sweet strike from Warsash’s midfielder was drilled hard and low leaving Karthik Basker no chance.

HALF TIME – CFY 1-1 Warsash Wasps

Despite being on top of the game for the most part of the first half and looking in control, Chandlers Ford went behind for the first time in the game.

This time it was a quick break down the right and with Karthik Basker rushing out of goal to snuff out the danger, the ball was lofted over the out-rushing goalkeeper and into the roof of the net – just like the first goal they had conceded a moment’s sloppiness led to their own downfall.

All credit to the boys for the way they battled back and didn’t let the setback get to them. At the heart of earning the point was David Harris who never stopped battling away and he got his just reward mid way through the half with a well-taken goal.

Montigue played it through for Harris who jostled with the Warsash centre half managing to squeeze his way through smashing past the goalkeeper from close range with an excellent finish to set up an interesting end to the match.

Warsash had the ball in the back of the net but this was quickly ruled out for two players interfering with Basker in an offside position as the cross/shot found it’s way to goal.

After this brief let off Chandlers Ford had their own chance to win the game. David Harris, who was involved in the first goal and then scorer of the equaliser, ran down the right before cutting in and smashing it hard towards goal. The power on the ball saw it bounce off Montigue’s outstretched left foot sitting up nicely for the Warsash goalkeeper to collect the ball to safety on the goal line. On another day Jozef would have taken this chance in an instant, but the player himself will tell you it was one of those days for him in front of goal.

In the end CFY will be more than happy to have held on for a well-fought, and thoroughly deserved point considering just seven days earlier they had lost heavily to the same team. It was a major improvement, the only disappointment being they couldn’t quite get all three points in a game where all the boys did so well.

FULL TIME – CFY 2-2 Warsash Wasps

Stung By The Wasps

CHANDLERS FORD 1-6 WARSASH WASPS
04.11.06 – MID SOLENT B LEAGUE

After a very impressive win against Stubbington last weekend, Chandlers Ford let their good work go to waste as they came out second best to the Wasps this morning.

The opening stages of the game were positive for CFY as they looked lively going forward creating a number of chances. Michael Sawbridge came close to adding to his scoring form early on but couldn’t find a way past the inspired Warsash keeper.

Similarly, Jozef Montigue created a chance out of nothing on the edge of the area with good control and skill as his turn and shot looked destined for the top right hand corner only to be denied by a superb diving save.

Despite this pressure, they soon found themselves behind to a very well taken goal. A throw in from the left looked harmless but soon resulted in the ball ending up in the back of the net. Warsash’s midfielder Sam Wiltshire turned his marker with ease before chipping from the edge of the area scoring with a lovely finish.

From this point, Chandlers Ford started to lose belief in themselves and were on the back foot more and more. Warsash doubled their lead soon after and the confidence from CFY was now wore down completely. Instead of fighting their way back into the game, many heads went down allowing the visitors to come at Karthik Basker’s goal far too often.

The usual suspects still gave their all and on rare occasions Chandlers Ford still had a few chances to score. Michael Sawbridge had a couple of free kicks off target along with Josh Harragan blasting wide from a tight angle.

On the stroke of half time, Warsash went 3 up as a long ball down the field saw the defence split in two leaving an easy finish to give the Wasps the upper hand going in at the break.

HALF TIME – CFY 0-3 Warsash Wasps

Barely ten seconds of the half had been played, when just three passes led to a brilliant goal for Warsash. CFY were completely torn apart with a wonderful move that led to goal number 4.

When Warsash went 5-0 ahead, the game was now dead and buried. However Chandlers Ford’s best move of the match saw them score from excellent passing football. Thorsten Tramishcus won the ball in the centre of the park tremendously well to gain possession. Substitute Ryan Chinn then delivered a peach of a cross for Michael Sawbridge who nodded home his fourth goal in two games to round off a well crafted build up.

Chandlers Ford conceded again towards the end as they ran out 6-1 losers at home. With the same fixture scheduled for next week, Chandlers Ford will now know what to expect against a good Warsash side.

FULL TIME – CFY 1-6 Warsash Wasps

Match pictures by Neil Sawbridge

(Click images for larger size)