Chipstead 1 Sutton Common Rovers 1

Chipstead again shared the points in a 1-1 draw with Sutton Common Rovers at the High Road on Easter Monday in their last home game in the Pitching In Isthmian League South Central Division season 2021/22

After Wednesday night’s 3-3 draw in Guernsey, Chips would have hoped for all three points, but a resolute visiting team held firm, & it seemed for 75 minutes as if it might end up 0-0

Daryl Coleman had an early effort for Chipstead, which skewed wide for a throw-in, before, minutes later, an Andy Somo header teed up Tom Smith, but his shot went over the bar

SCR had a shot just off target too, before Sam Bell’s cross-shot was deflected for a corner, from which Peter Wedgeworth fired over

Wedgeworth put over a dangerous cross soon after, which was claimed under his crossbar by the SCR keeper, while his opposite number in the Chips’ goal, Matt Kerbey, kept it scoreless just before halftime, saving low down to his left, before a ball over the home defence found an SCR forward, but he shot over the target - then Jamal Abubakari, Alpha Barry Diallo & Kerbey all combined to keep the ball out at close range

So it remained 0-0 at the break, but five minutes into the second period, Somo thought he was in on goal, having beaten the defence, but the visiting keeper kept the ball out with his left foot for a corner, from which Chipstead skipper Kieran Lavery shot over

The SCR keeper somehow avoided a card, as he mistimed a challenge on Somo, & he saved Wedgeworth’s free-kick low down to his left too

But Chipstead did make the breakthrough on 76 minutes - Lavery played a great ball with the outside of his right foot in behind the SCR right-back to sub Jack Beadle, who slid the ball into Somo, who fired left-footed across the keeper & in off the far post for a great finish

Yet the lead only lasted two minutes, as a curling shot from just outside the box went past the despairing dive of Kerbey into the net to make it 1-1

The home side might have retaken the lead on 83 minutes, as Lavery got away down the left, but his low cross in to Somo was diverted wide of the post - Coleman’s free-kick was saved by the keeper on 86 minutes, & SCR might have stolen all three points had their forward gone for goal instead of opting to pass

Beadle skied an effort over the bar in injury time, & it ended 1-1, with Chips still in 10th position in the league table ahead of two away games to end the season - v. Staines Town at Bedfont Sports on Wednesday evening & at Binfield on Saturday afternoon