Marlow 2 Chipstead 1

Chipstead acquitted themselves well at Marlow, the meanest team in the league, in their latest match in the Pitching In Isthmian League South Central Division on Saturday, & will be disappointed not to leave with at least a point to show for their toils

Chips started well with a couple of half chances, but it was the home side who took the lead on 9 minutes, as their forward wearing no. 17 headed past David Wilkinson, who was standing in for the injured Matt Kerbey

The visitors didn’t let their heads drop, & Teo Kurtaran broke through on goal, rounded the keeper, but saw his shot cleared by a defender rushing back

Minutes later, Jack Beadle latched on to a fine through ball, but was again denied by the home defence, while Wilkinson kept the lead down to one with a strong parry to keep the ball out in a one-on-one with a Marlow striker

Kieran Lavery saw his attempt blocked, as he pressed for an equaliser, & it was the home side who doubled their lead just before the interval, as their no. 17 grabbed his second goal

After halftime, he nearly completed his hat-trick, but Wilkinson made another smart save

Chipstead put together a fine one-touch move, as they sought a way back into the game, but the home keeper smothered the ball - Sam Bell went close in another attack, & Lavery headed wide from a corner

When Jensen Grant was denied in another free-kick situation, you thought it wasn’t going to be Chips’ day, but Michak Stanic-Stewart did reduce the deficit with 10 minutes left, finishing at close range

Tempers frayed towards the end, as several minutes of added time were played, but Chipstead couldn’t muster an equaliser, ending the day still 13th in the league table, ahead of next Saturday’s home game with Tooting and Mitcham