For the first 70 minutes Chipstead more than held their own with a team, which had nearly made it through to the first round proper of the FA Cup a few days before, but a penalty + a late goal left them with nothing to show for their efforts in their latest game in the Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League Premier Division South at Tadley-Calleva on Saturday afternoon

On a surprisingly good surface, although the promised rain arrived, as kickoff approached, Chips started well enough, as Levi Bassett intercepted a through ball, Reece Deakin flicked it on & Edd Mbango ran on to it, but slid his effort just wide of the far post

Tiago Santos David had another solid game in goal, grabbing an early chance at the second attempt from a Tadley drive, comfortably saving another shot, & then bravely diving at the feet of an onrushing attacker

Diego Munoz got away down the right, but Deakin skewed his shot wide from the promising cross, before Yonas Emhatsion attacked through the middle, pushing the ball wide to Mbango, but it ran away from him down the slope in the gusting wind

Chipstead had to regroup, as the limping Bassett had to leave the field, being replaced by Pedro De Brito Maco as substitute - Deakin shot from distance, but it drifted wide in the wind, before Munoz’s strong cross beat everyone in the middle, but it remained goalless at the break

Santos David was soon in the action again after the resumption, backpedalling, but managing to grab a lobbed attempt over him

Munoz put over another teasing cross, but his teammates couldn’t profit, & Deakin’s free-kick landed on the roof of the net

Tadley took the lead 1-0 with 20 minutes left - Santos David couldn’t get much distance on a clearance upfield, & Storm Glautier was adjudged to have brought his man down in the box, as the ball was run back - Santos David got his hand to the penalty from the home no. 9, but he couldn’t keep it out

This was tough on the Chipstead lads, who had battled well - they began to introduce further subs, but the killer second goal arrived 12 minutes from time, as the Tadley left-winger cut inside & fired past Santos David

Chips made their final subs, but Deakin being sinbinned for the remainder of the game didn’t help their cause - De Brito Maco had a late shot, & Santos David had to make two more saves, but it finished 2-0, although Chipstead are still 11th in the league table, ahead of next Saturday’s home league game with Epsom & Ewell