Despite the heavy pitch conditions, Cranleigh’s determination to get the ball down and out wide, played a huge part in the outcome of this match. They started strongly, dominating possession and breaking down any momentum Chesworth started to build. They were rewarded after just 10 minutes when Rauri Stancombe thundered the ball home from close range after excellent work down the left by Luca Ellis, Harry Nicholas and Camron Lawson. With the seal broken and Chesworth unable to match Cranleigh’s high intensity football, a quick fire hat-trick from Lawson (on his birthday and with his mum watching!) and a well taken finish from midfielder Isaac Collins saw the home team pull away. Two bullet headers from Ellis (both from Lawson corners) and another from full back Archie Freeth, put The Cranes into an unassailable 8-0 lead at half time. Although legs began to tire in the second half, Cranleigh continued to dominate and a very well taken brace from centre back James Hughes, plus further goals from Cam Lawson and Isaac Collins extended the lead. In fairness to the opposition however, Chesworth never gave up and an excellent last 10-15 minutes saw them score twice and ruin goalkeeper Dan Laws’s day and the chance of another clean sheet!
(Goals – Camron Lawson 4, James Hughes 2, Isaac Collins 2, Luca Ellis 2, Archie Freeth 1, Rauri Stancombe 1) – MOM Harry Nicholas, Camron Lawson, Luca Ellis