Bookham 1   Chiddingfold 2 (League)

21^st November 2004

‘Always a good game against your lot …’

Bookham manager

A tense, gripping encounter against a team very much like us – a high-achieving village side who try to play good football in a sportsmanlike way.

In truth it should have been much more comfortable for us. In the very first minute Tom combined well with Jon Bn, and Eddie went close. The pressure was all from us as Jon Bn next put over a great cross which Will  scuffed agonisingly wide.

Then Jon Bn let fly a superb shot from all of 25 yards and he finally put us ahead with the most casual of lobs from practically the half-way line and his back to goal! 1-0.

Joint Man of the Match Scott was a tricky nightmare for Bookham on the right of midfield and Mike in goal was granite solid – he pulled off one terrific reflex save to push the ball round for a corner.

We weren’t looking that secure in defence though, in spite of another barnstorming performance from joint Man of the Match Jon Br and luckily for us a Bookham goal was (rightly) disallowed for offside after poor defending let them in.

Next Richard  and Scott had a good build up wasted with a poor final touch, but we needed Mike to push another shot over the bar to keep us just ahead at half-time.

Sure enough a defensive mix-up allowed Bookham to equalise, 1-1, but we were creating so many chances, we really should have been three or four up at this point.

At last Rupert  found himself one-on-one with the keeper, kept his composure and got us back in front, but the last ten minutes were nerve-wracking to watch and, as Bookham kept pressing forward, Mike had to pull of yet another sharp push round the post to enable us to hang on to a hard won three points.