Chipstead's under-18s battled courageously to win their Isthmian Youth League Cup first round tie on penalties at home to Cobham, having drawn 2-2 after 90 minutes, finishing the game with just 9 men

It wasn't that sort of game, just that the ref gave yellow cards to Chisom Iyke & skipper Kamran Campbell alone, then gave them both a second, resulting in a red, instead of a final warning

Yet Chips' young players fought well against the odds to get through & set up a second round tie at home to Burgess Hill Town

They started brightly enough, but needed a timely clearance from Matin Bakare in defence to keep it scoreless early on

Oscar Pegler & David Kabangu were linking up well down the left, & the young striker's low ball in was cleared off the line at the far post

Campbell made a dazzling run into the box, but his shot was blocked

In spite of plenty of pressure, but no real clearcut chances, Chipstead were still being held 0-0 at halftime

Yet they were soon ahead after the restart, as Othniel Charme-Kwakye got away down the right, crossed low & Charles Miguel-Bewaji turned it home

A Cobham shot cannoned off the crossbar, just before they equalised - their centre-forward & home keeper Lewis Markley tussled for a through ball just outside the area, the ball bounced kindly & was slid into the empty net

However Chips kept positive, even though this was tempered, as Iyke received his marching orders

Markley made a couple of brave blocks to prevent a Cobham second, & his team introduced their subs for fresh legs - the new impetus seemed to work, as Noel Sitsi sent Dylan Nguyen in on goal, & he finished well to make it 2-1

They nearly grabbed a third, as Sitsi & Nguyen combined to set up Haider Safi, but the visiting keeper managed to scramble & grab the ball

Cobham had to push forward - Markley clutched an attempted lob over him, then came out bravely to tussle with an onrushing forward, & delay him long enough, to ensure the shot which followed hit the bar & went over

As time ran down, Campbell was penalised for a foul just outside the home box, & received his second yellow card - Cobham scored from the resultant free-kick, & must have sensed they could go on & win the tie

Even so, & with 9 men, Nguyen was unlucky with a shot past the far post, but the referee's whistle blew, & our brave squad had reached a penalty shoot-out to decide the winners

Well done to Miguel-Bewaji, Nguyen, Kabangu, + subs Rehan Beaumont & Joseph Sear, who scored their spot-kicks, but special mention to Markley for his 2 saves - a real team effort to see us progress

The 2nd round date is TBC, but we next play Kingstonian under-18s at South Park Reigate FC on Monday 22nd September

Chipstead FC (Surrey)

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