Chipstead deservedly came away with a point after a 1-1 draw at Tadley-Calleva in their latest match in the Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League Premier Division South on Saturday afternoon

Despite still missing three players through suspension, the close-knit Chips’ squad battled together to create chances & match the effort of the home side, but, in an even start, they did have to rely on young keeper Klevis Muca, who got down well early on to save the first Tadley attack, & then pushed another wide for a corner

Chipstead went close too, as Elijah Hopwood’s curling free-kick found the side netting, after skipper Tijani Eshilokun had been tripped just outside the box

They were again thankful to Muca for tipping another Tadley effort over the bar, before Enrique Tiamuna broke away down the left, but found Mishael Matillon-Konan in an offside position

Archie Alexander saw his shot gathered by the keeper, but the home side did take the lead 1-0 on 22 minutes, as their no. 9 shot past Muca, although he did push another Tadley shot past the post, & saved again, with the rebound ricocheting off Evan Kelly & going behind

Chips’ player-manager Aaron Lamont had to come on as sub for the injured (Manaaf) Dilan Pauw, & his side soon went close, as Cameron Lewis-Brown’s teasing cross went just beyond Melford Simpson, with Tiamuna in close attendance too

The Tadley no. 9 thumped a shot against a post, as halftime approached, but Chipstead found an equaliser in added time, as Hopwood’s swirling free-kick deflected off the head of a defender for an own goal, after Matillon-Konan had been fouled

Chips had defender Jake Hill to thank for a vital header behind to stop a home attack in the second period, before Eshilokun put a shot wide at the other end

A Tadley header glanced off the crossbar, & Muca had to tip over a dangerous corner, as the home side sought a winner, while Chipstead had a chance, when Hopwood took another free-kick from just outside the box, after Lewis-Brown had been taken down, but it went over

Chips still had to depend on Kelly for a vital touch behind to thwart another home attack, but the lads deserved their hard-fought point, which consolidates 11th position in the league table over Christmas ahead of their next league game at home to Knaphill in a week