With the match being switched to home due to a waterlogged pitch, you’d have thought Cranleigh would be on top, but it was Chesworth that started brighter, pressing high and bringing the Blues’ keeper into action a few times early on. It wasn’t until a good move, ending with Dom hitting the post after a great passing move through the midfield, that they looked dangerous.
Dom then pressed a short goal kick, stole the ball from the defender and passed to Raul for him to calmly slot the ball home – 1-0 to the Blues. It was then Dom’s turn to get on the score sheet; the ball played from our own half, splitting the defence for him to run on to, calmly passing the ball into the net past the oncoming keeper- 2-0. Chesworth continued to apply pressure and caught the Blues sleeping from a throw in, the ball being played into the box and the Chesworth forward reacting faster- 2-1. There was a free kick awarded to the opposition which was deflected narrowly wide off a Chesworth player.
End of half 2-1
I’d love to have heard what the coaches said at half-time as Cranleigh came out a different side, pressing hard, winning everything with a few early chances from Cranleigh, with Denis having a shot saved. The ref then gave a free kick against the Cheswoth keeper for handing outside the box, Dom blasted it in for his 2nd.
Next, after a great passing move, Dom is played in, goes on a mazy run, skips a tackle but then is brought down in the box. Dom steps up, the keeper guesses right but it has too much power and goes through his fingers, he wasn’t going to miss his hat trick! 4-1.
It wasn’t long before Cranleigh scored again with Gwilym getting on the score sheet after another great passage of play.
Cranleigh were giving Chesworth very little time on the ball, Dom stealing it this time to feed Hamza whose shot was just outside of the post. Chesworth were playing counter attack or long balls from the keeper. It was one of these that nearly caught the Blues out, Jake in the end making a comfortable save.
Raul then went on an amazing run, picking the ball up well in his own half after a Chesworth counter, running 3/4 of the pitch but unfortunately just ran into trouble and knocked the ball out of play, would have been a great individual goal. Chesworth then played a long ball over the top from the keeper, their forward picked it up, surely he felt he was one on one with the keeper, only for Ollie F to make a cracking recovery run and tackle. Great football!
Number six came when the ball was played from the wing, into Hamza, who played in Raul who rounds the keeper to slot into an empty net.
Number 7 came from another excellent passing move (and my goal of the day), Elliot played out from the back, to Jack who passes to Dom, onto Raul and then back to Elliot who turns, shoots and scores. Great team goal.
It wasn’t long before Elliot got his 2nd with Ollie L linking with Raul and playing in Elliot again.
Raul then became scorer, getting his hat trick, Jack combining with Denis this time, who crossed in for Raul to finish. 9-1
Scorers
Dom x 3
Raul x 3
Elliot x 2
Gwilym x 1
Match report by Steve Light
