Met Police 0 Chipstead 1

Chipstead's under-18s finished their 2021/22 season in the Anderson Travel Isthmian League Youth Central Division with a well-earned 1-0 win at Met Police on Thursday night, completing a rare double over their opponents, but just not enough to edge them out of 4th position in the final league table on goal difference

Josh Burr got the all-important goal in just the 8th minute turning home a cutback from the byline - by then, Tom Smith had earned himself an early chance, closing down the home keeper, nicking the ball, but placing it over the bar - yet the goal soon followed, plus other chances with George Craig shooting just wide from distance, & Leon Starkey-Dyer shooting wide too

Baldwin Kaluya had a busy time in goal, but was up to the task, pushing wide a header from a corner, saving another chance with his feet & getting down to his left to push another shot past the post

Burr had chances to extend the lead, shooting straight at the keeper, & putting another shot wide, but it stayed 1-0 at halftime

Chipstead stayed on the front foot after the break - Charlie Fisher combined well with Smith on the break, but he shot over the target, then put another effort wide - it was Joe Hasler who next broke through, but he lifted the ball over the bar, before good team play teed up Smith, but the keeper parried his shot wide

Chips introduced their subs to keep things fresh & the pressure on, & one of these, Kobi Asante, soon saw a deflected shot held by the keeper

Another, Farid Salifou, set up Ashley Armitage, whose shot dipped just too late & went over

The Met had to bring on a sub keeper, as their first one got injured, & Smith soon tested him down to his right, before Starkey-Dyer shot over & Craig had a shot saved

Good defending by Asante set Smith free - he teed up Salifou, but his shot went over the bar

The Met only really applied pressure in the last 10 minutes, principally through Abel Vendrells, who ironically started the season at Chipstead, but Kaluya was able to keep him & his team-mates out, as Chips kept the clean sheet ensuring the win

So the season came to an end, with 6 youngsters actually featuring for the 1st team - as the year 2s finish, it is hoped they all do well in the next stage of their footballing journey, while the year 1s will hopefully be back in action in the autumn