Chipstead bounced back in style from their heavy defeat to Jersey Bulls last week, as they deservedly beat Corinthian-Casuals 3-2 in their latest match in the Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League Premier Division South on Tuesday night

After a blank Saturday, they regrouped well, & didn’t let Casuals, pushing towards the playoff zone, settle

Indeed Chips took the lead on 18 minutes from their first real chance, as Elijah Hopwood’s dangerous free-kick into the box was touched in by skipper Tijani Eshilokun

Moments later, it appeared that they had scored a second, as a goalmouth scramble resulted in Melford Simpson scoring from a yard out, but the assistant referee had apparently seen a handball in the build-up

As so often happens, the opposition struck back to equalise, as a tricky cross from the left was headed in by their no. 11 at close range

New signing in goal, Klevis Muca, brought in as Finnley Davenport is away in Australia over the festive period, had already made one brave block, & was on his toes to tip over another Casuals’ shot, as they sought the lead

Emmanuel Robe broke through the visitors’ defence, but saw his shot gathered by the keeper at the second attempt, as Chipstead tried to secure a lead too, but it was Casuals who succeeded on 40 minutes, as their no. 7 shot past Muca to make it 2-1

Yet Chips kept up the pressure & were level before the break - in added time, Cameron Lewis-Brown cut the ball back to Simpson, & the burly striker’s delicate touch deceived the keeper on its way into the net

Chipstead took a final lead three minutes after the restart, as the ball wasn’t cleared from a corner, & fell nicely to Evan Kelly, who netted his first goal for the club

Muca made another fine save, as Casuals tried to equalise again, but Chips were proficient in nullifying their threat, & still looked to extend their own lead - the Casuals’ captain was shown a straight red card for pulling back Robe, as he burst through from halfway, & Robe’s low cross in another attack saw sub Ben Jordan’s drive smack against the crossbar - Jordan had come on for Eshilokun, with Simpson taking the captain’s armband

Player-manager Aaron Lamont came on as a late sub too, & his experience was handy in shoring up the midfield - indeed he came close to extending the lead, as his free-kick landed on the roof of the net, after Hopwood had been tripped

Casuals thought they had levelled the game just before the end, but the ball had been cleared off the line - Enrique Tiamuna, stepping in at left-back, found himself the furthest man forward in a Chipstead break in added time, but the ball just wouldn’t run for a teammate to finish

Thankfully it didn’t matter, & good game management had seen Chips through to the win and three precious points, which lift the side to 11th in the league table, ahead of Saturday’s long trip to Tadley Calleva