Chipstead returned to winning ways with a late, late show, as they defeated Marlow 2-1 on the road in their latest match in the BetVictor Isthmian League South Central Division on Saturday 

With Kyen Nicholas having moved on to Walton Casuals, & injuries still delaying the return of a few, it was Callum McAllister’s turn to make his debut for the Chips

They started brightly enough - a cross from Sam Clayton fell to Dan Moody, whose left-foot strike hit a Marlow post with the keeper beaten

Moments later, & it was Moody again, beating the offside trap, only for his shot to be saved by the keeper 

A little while later, good link-up play down the left by Spencer Cripps & Karn Miller-Neave led to a dangerous cross, which was turned over his own crossbar by a Marlow centre-half, before a short corner routine between Moody & Clayton saw the ball whipped across the face of goal, eluding everyone by inches

However, it was the home side, which took the lead on 18 minutes, as Chris Boulter was adjudged to have tripped his man in the box, & the Marlow no. 8 tucked the ball into the corner of the net beyond Oliver Pain to put his side 1-0 up

Chipstead tried to reply - Tom Collins latched onto a poor back pass, only to hit the keeper with his attempted lob, while debutant McAllister had to clear at the front post, as Marlow threatened a second on the break

The play became confined to the midfield for a while, as both sides cancelled each other out, but, as halftime approached, a free-kick from Clayton was headed against a post by Boulter

Cripps had a shot blocked for a corner, whilst another was swung in by Clayton, & punched away under pressure by the home keeper, so Chips still trailed 1-0 at the break

Marlow came closest to scoring after the interval, as they had a free-kick from wide on the left, which fizzed along the edge of the 6-yard box, & out for a goal-kick, before a long throw from their right-back had to be headed out for a corner

Chipstead brought on their substitutes, as they changed formation, & sought a way back into the game

Moody hit a first-time shot in the Marlow box, which was blocked - the Chipstead players appealed for handball, but their claims were waved away

As the game entered the 90th minute, it looked like being one of those days for Chips, but the equaliser finally arrived - sub Tobi Adaje cut the ball back to fellow sub Jacob Sewell on the edge of the box, & he fired home

Could either team grab a winner? - Chipstead were in the ascendancy - Sewell flicked the ball on for Cripps to run on to, but he was brought down in the box - Clayton had the chance to win the game from the penalty spot, &, after some delaying gamesmanship from the Marlow keeper, he kept his cool, & tucked the ball away

A scrappy game, but Chips won the three points, which keeps them in 10th place, 7 points outside the playoff zone ahead of Tuesday night's game at home to Ashford Town (Middlesex)