Match Reports
THREE BRIDGES 2-6 CHICHESTER CITY: CHI STUN SUSSEX RIVALS WITH 6 OF THE BEST IN THE VELOCITY TROPHY
By Hector Clements
Josh Clack hits hat-trick with George Cody snatching two as Chi’s attacking prowess proves too much for their same league opponents.
George Cody steers Chi ahead
Chichester went into the Monday evening fixture high on confidence having gained three wins from their last three competitive fixtures, two of those coming in the early stages of the FA Cup, against Hartley Wintney and Enfield Town respectively. These two teams have history this season having played three times already. The other two ended in a 1-0 win for Bridges at Oaklands Park in September and a 2-1 Chi victory in the FA Trophy two weeks prior to Monday night’s match-up.
Miles Rutherford made several changes to the side that struck a dramatic late winner against Enfield last week, with youngster Emmett Dunn coming in for the rested Matt Axell, and talisman Scott Jones absent from the squad. Winger Josh Clack started on the bench, with forward and brother of club captain Connor, George Cody leading the line up front. Three Bridges were on a poor run of form heading into the clash, having lost there last three conceding nine and only scoring three of their own.
The away side were the team in form but it was the hosts who started the brighter, with an early chance presenting itself to forward Tadley Bromage. Winning the ball inside his own half he had a free run towards goal before feeding defender Price-Placid who had supported the attack, but Mowthorpe pounced on his loose touch and gathered easily.
Another Opportunity for Bridges came about moments later when a dinked ball over the top found striker Jake Welch, but he was crowded out by the Chichester centre backs. Hutchings poor clearance only made it as far as winger Andrew McCollin, but his shot was tame and straight into the gloves of a grateful Mowthorpe.
The visitors were struggling to gain any kind of foothold in the opening exchanges, but that changed when Cody played through Biggs who won them a corner. Haitham’s ball in caused confusion but just as Dunn was about to pounce, a well-timed tackle meant Bridges got away with one. The number seven was presented with a chance to run at the defence on the 10-minute mark, and he played in Overton who in turn found the Canadian Emmett Dunn clear through on goal. He struck the ball across goal with power, but couldn’t keep his head down and the ball narrowly cleared the bar. It was a glorious chance for Chichester after a well worked breakaway.
Playing out from the back got the green and whites in trouble shortly afterwards, when Ryan Peake’s pass was intercepted by Bromage who was brought down by Jamie Horncastle. The referee had a call to make, as it was a goal scoring opportunity for the forward, but Horncastle escaped further punishment and the free-kick came to nothing.
City then made the breakthrough upon the 18th minute when Haitham’s through ball deflected off Bridges defender Troy Williams and fell at the feet of Cody, who calmly slotted home left footed back across goal. For all the home sides early pressure, it was their rivals who had the advantage.
Bridges tried to respond, but there was little they could do when the ever inventive Haitham’s beautifully weighted pass found Clack who had only been on for 4 minutes, and he coolly passed into the net to make it two for Chi. Manager Keith Georges team had lost their shape completely, as a lofted ball over the top found Clack again well onside. The winger still had so much to do, but dribbling into the left side of the box he rifled a fierce effort into the far corner that left keeper Tarell Annakie with no chance.
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If three was emphatic, it was about to get even better for the Lilywhites. Almost straight from the kick-off, the ball was again given away by Bridges and Ryan Peake’s perfectly timed pass down the left set Cody in one on one again. The number eleven stayed ice cold to simply caress the ball past Annakie, and complete a crazy thirteen-minute spell that had seen the visitors cruise into a 4-0 lead.
It could have got even more ridiculous when Haitham won a free-kick on the edge of the box, but Clack’s accurate effort was palmed away and meant he couldn’t quite complete a first half hat-trick.
Three Bridges were lacking a spark going forward and despite the best effort of Bromage who blasted high and wide, it looked as though nothing was going to change. On the other hand, Chi continued to attack but were kept at bay by Annakie, before the break.
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Whatever was said at half-time seemed to revive the hosts going into the second period, and they found themselves a goal in the 47th minute when a corner was bundled in at the back post by Tadley Bromage. City were straight up the other end minutes later and almost responded instantly in classy fashion, when the ever present Haitham ended a weaving run by driving the ball inches wide of the far corner.
The match ebbed and flowed between quick counter attacking football from Chichester and neat passing from their opposition until the 65th minute when a clearance was picked up by Bridge’s number 4 Dean Gunner. An eventual ball through found Tom Tolfrey, who’s powerful shot was heading straight towards Mowthorpe, but City’s number 1 let it squirm through his gloves and trickle into the net.
It was frustration for the leaders as they had given their rivals a potential route back into the contest, but it was to be short-lived as Jamie Horncastle got in on the act and fired in Chi’s fifth just two minutes later. Two poor passes, the second completely mishit by Andrew Sesay gifted the number 10 a free chance to beat the keeper and he duly obliged, side-footing home on the half-volley. That seemed to rub salt in the wounds of the hosts, who couldn’t muster up much, despite a glimpse of goal for Welch who couldn’t divert a cross-cum shot from Williams anywhere near the target.
Entering the 90th minute, Josh Clack put the icing on the cake and collected the match ball touching home from two yards out after Kaleems Haitham’s driven effort struck the post and fell straight into his path.
It put an end to a fine-evenings work for Chichester City, who travel to Barton Rovers in the FA Trophy next time out. Rutherford’s sides exciting season then sees them face Bowers and Pitsea in the FA Cup with a chance to reach the official first round stage. The stuff of dreams for a Club who struggled so much last year.
Team Line-ups:
Chichester City: Mowthorpe, Davidson, Hutchings, Dunn, Peake, Walster, Haitham, Biggs, Overton, Horncastle, Cody. Subs – Bennetts, Gurau, Clack, Heath, Rowlatt.
Three Bridges: Annakie, Williams, Hall, Gunner, Price-Placid, Tolfrey, McCollin, Sesay, Welch, Bromage, Lansdale. Subs – Kosia, O’Neill, Offei, Sabek, Azzouz.
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CHICHESTER CITY 1-1 SITTINGBOURNE: SECOND HALF SITTERS AGAINST SITTING COST CHI 3 POINTS
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Chi celebrate Clack's clinical second
By Hector Clements
Captain Connor Cody secures underwhelming point for Chi after a much improved second half display against their lower-placed opposition.
Josh Clack embarks on a mazy run, Photo from Jordan Colborne @JordanColbornePhotography
Saturday’s clash was the third league fixture for Chi and their first on home turf at Oakland’s Park since the ecstasy of the 2-1 win away to Bowers and Pitsea in the FA Cup. With the oldest cup competition in football history dominating all the talk in recent weeks, this was a chance to record a victory in domestic action at the third time of asking. However, the home side were made to settle for a draw by Sittingbourne who will feel they deserved more themselves after a positive first half performance.
Sittingbourne came into the game fresh off the back of two victories against both Hythe and Herne Bay respectively, and they started the brighter keeping possession and creating the first real chance from an early corner kick. The ball was punched clear by Steven Mowthorpe, and Chi soon threatened themselves with Josh Clacks close-range free-kick bouncing back off the post after Emmett Dunn had done well to win it in the midfield.
A 10 minute spell for the home side saw them put plenty of crosses into their opponent’s box, but despite the barrage of attacks, The Brickies stood firm and were rewarded for their resilience upon the 34- minute mark. Midfield maestro Thomas Fagg weaved his way past several challenges and made his way into the Chichester box before arrowing a low shot across Mowthorpe and into the bottom corner of the net. Sittingbourne had the lead and their fortunes were almost doubled in bizarre circumstance when Cory Heath’s over hit back pass ended up just wide of his own net, with Mowthorpe stranded. From the resulting corner, Walters-Wright was left completely unmarked, but wasted a golden opportunity as his free header was directed wide of the left-hand post.
Upon the 42nd minute, the away side were again presented with a clear run at goal as Sidney Sollis broke away after a Chichester corner but the hero from the Bowers and Pitsea match Mowthorpe stood firm to save well, low down to his right.
Chichester’s number 9 Scott Jones tried a spectacular bicycle kick after a corner kick had been headed clear, but it proved too ambitious as they headed into the break with it all to do and a 1-0 deficit to overturn.
Early in the second half, Jones was again handed a glimpse of glory as a lofted ball over the top found its way through but goalkeeper Perrin stayed alert to block the ball at his feet and save the blushes of his defence.
The Lillywhites didn’t have to wait much longer for a breakthrough however as entering the 58th minute, neat interchange between Rowlatt and Emmett Dunn resulted in the Canadian finding the run of Captain Cody and he made no mistake firing across goal and into the top corner. The equaliser came as just reward for an improved opening 10 minutes of the second half, albeit despite the help of a deflection from an unlucky Sittingbourne centre back.
Conor Cody celebrates with teammates after scoring the equalizer, Photo from Jordan Colborne @JordanColbornePhotography
A rejuvenated Chi continued to dominate proceedings and were almost ahead minutes later. Dunn released Kaleem Haithem down the left-hand side who found Rowlatt, but when his ball into the box was flicked on by Jones to find the feet of Josh Clack, he could only sidefoot over the bar when under pressure from his marker. It was a glaring chance, and one that the winger should have buried. Moments later a free-kick was awarded just outside the box, and substitute Matt Axell did well to force a save from Perrin from a difficult angle.
Sitting were living dangerously, and the pressure told when just entering the 74th minute Chi were awarded a Penalty after Heath was brought down in the box after another corner. A scuffle briefly broke out after protests from the away side, as Axell placed the ball down and prepared to take the spot-kick. Stepping up left footed, the number 14 drove the ball straight down the middle and Perrin, diving to his right did well to keep it out with his feet. Credit must be given to Axell after wanting to take it despite missing from 12 yards against Sevenoaks last time out, but in truth it was a poor penalty. Questions may now be asked over who is up for the task next time up.
You would have thought the missed opportunity might have woken up the away side, but it was Chi who continued to rally and press for a winner, again coming close when Rowlett tried to bend one from the edge of the box but his effort was too central and fairly straightforward for Perrin. Jones was then set up by Haitham, but his touch let him down and meant his shot lacked the power to cause any trouble.
Entering stoppage time there was only one side looking to win it, and Chichester very nearly did in peculiar fashion when Haitham’s attempted cross looped over Perrin and crashed off the upright with the keeper stranded. That was the end of Sittingbourne’s struggles to hold on however, as the referee blew his whistle to seal a hard-earned point for the visitors, and a disappointing third league draw in a row for Miles Rutherford’s side. However, they can take heart from a dominant second half display in which they had their opponents on the back foot from the off.
Chichester travel to Haywards Heath in the Velocity Trophy on Tuesday the 19th November before a return to league action against Phoenix Sports. They will then find out whether they will be facing Wycombe or Tranmere in the FA Cup 3rd Round to be played on December 1st.
Team Lineups:
Chichester City – Mowthorpe, Davidson, Hutchings, Dunn, Cody, Heath, Clack, Horncastle, Jones, Rowlatt, Lordache. Subs – Biggs, Axell, Wild, Peake, Haitham.
Sittingbourne – Perrin, Fitchett, Webber, Woollcott, Walters-Wright, Allan, Adjei, Fagg, Sollis, Oliver, Phillip. Subs – Smith, Barnard, Taylor.