Frome Town worked hard for a draw away at Chertsey Town. Marcus Day’s composed finish midway through the first half saw the Robins take the lead before the home side were awarded a penalty, one from which Conor Lee levelled the Southern Premier clash. Though Danny Greaves’ side were under the cosh for much of the second-half, they left as the side most content with the stalemate and a point to take home to Badgers Hill can be considered just reward after a committed performance.
In the first ten minutes, Zak Drew found himself free down the right and delivered a pinpoint cross, but the Chertsey centre-back just managed to get a yard on James Ollis and head the danger away. Amid corners aplenty and the occasional half-chance, Frome might have pipped their hosts for opportunities in the attacking third in the first forty-five. However, the speed with which Chertsey regularly counter-attacked was cause for concern, Warren Maidment receiving a booking when he brought down the winger on the attack in full flow.
Goals have been hard to come by this season, but there was no doubt of composure and panache involved in Day's finish. Ollis ended up sprawled on the floor but his nod-on unlocked vital space and the winger cut in in on the right and swept the ball past the keeper just before thirty minutes. The rain was light by now but the players were frequently slipping on the turf. Perhaps, that was at play for the penalty decision, a soft one as Maidment was adjudged to foul the Chertsey forward on the edge of the box. Phillips guessed right but Conor Lee had struck his spot-kick too well and duly equalised.
With four minutes to go before the break, Maidment (to whom the afternoon had not been kind) was hooked for Matt Wood, a sensible change with half an eye on several challenging fixtures in the league and cups to come over next few weeks. A goal apiece, the contest was on a knife-edge, both teams eager to play progressive football.
Just like the Robins, Chertsey were new to this league, their surprise transition from the Isthmian League in which they won the Isthmian South Central at a canter. Last year’s title had been won after an incredible unbeaten run of 37 games in the league and the Surrey side had brought their winning touch into the new season, recording a couple of victories.
There was no getting away from the feistiness of the encounter after the restart. One clearance saw a steward drop a beer as Marcus Day, shortly before being replaced, received a talking-to about some post-challenge antics. Attempting to take the ball from the opposition for a Frome free-kick, Alex Monks and his Chertsey counterpart were both booked for a scrap. To their credit, the officials ensured the action on the pitch did not descend into farce, but the 489 in the ground were stirred into frenzy as the home side turned the screw.
On the hour’s mark, Chertsey were playing the tidier football as Gianluca Botti dinked in a near-perfect delivery and Toby Little’s header flashed just past the post. The introduction of substitute Sam Ompreo, a rangy winger who switched flanks throughout his cameo, upped the ante and the goalwards traffic was all coming from the blue shirts. He strode through Frome’s defenders, angling in plenty of low crosses and efforts on goal, but for all of his creativity, the Curfews could not conjure up a score.
Frome needed to find a foothold again. Early in the half, Ollis had pushed one wide and mistimed a header and the striker failed to make amends, exchanging a clever one-two with Albie Hopkins but failing to get enough on a left-footed attempt as the ball drifted wide of the post with fifteen minutes to play.
The Surrey side were still offering that much more going forward. Having endured a busier afternoon than he would have liked, Kyle Phillips was brave, coming out to catch on several occasions and demonstrating a smart stop with his forearm from close range. The arrivals of replacements Evra Yao and Curtis Jemmett-Hudson did not provide any outlet, the only intention of the red shirts until the final whistle was to see out the five minutes added on and limit any chances.
In the two games at Badgers Hill prior to this trip, the Robins found themselves rueing both errors and just how little leeway this division gives. Today, however, the lessons learnt from those results were put into practice. As momentum swung in the Curfews’ favour, the defence snuffed out attacks aplenty, absorbing pressure from the hosts. A point on the road was the perfect antidote after a tricky run of games to start the season then, but greater challenges await, not least the visit of county rivals Taunton Town on Bank Holiday Monday.
Now the fixture list is out and the tickets for the first couple of months of home fixtures are ready for purchase, including Bank Holiday Monday's clash of the county with Taunton Town, you can secure entry in advance on the FanBase app and website (link below)
Excellent result from Danny & the Boys - Chertsey are now in a play off position! Our next 3 games are against teams below or around us - Taunton , Tiverton & Dorchester, so, a real chance to get some points on the board and move up the table..
we may be seven off the bottom but in reality we are only 2 points from a mid - table. - 11th. position.
G