WE CHALK UP FINE WIN AT CHALK LANE

Away games at Chalk Lane, home of Cockfosters, are invariably tough matches and who can forget our last encounters there last season when we lost 1-0 in the cup on 29/10/22 followed 3 days later by a 6-1 drubbing in the League. To make matters worse for us they did the treble over us winning 2-1 in Tring on 25/2/23.

However, prior to last season we had a reasonable record against our opponents losing just 6 out of the 32 games against them. With both teams coming into the game with some decent form it was nicely set up for an intriguing match.

We started tentatively, perhaps not helped by the bumpy surface, but by contrast our hosts started very much on the front foot. Most of the danger came down their right wing where Cory Ugbomah was a constant threat. After only 11 minutes he whipped over a cross that hit one of our defenders but fortunately landed in Josh Amenganyi’s arms.

But that left off was short lived as 8 minutes later the speedy winger got away again and his pacy cross was headed home from close range by George Lutaaya to put the home side into the lead. Score 1-0. Two minutes later the same two home players linked up again but this time Lutaaya shot tamely wide.

After a difficult start we started to get our passing game going and we grabbed an equaliser in the 25th minute when Greg Deer’s pass released Frankie Hercules down the right and his precise cross was slammed home by Liam Smyth. Score 1-1.

The equaliser boosted our confidence and we started to cause the opposition problems and from a lovely move down our left in the 32nd minute we took the lead. Max Hercules started it with a terrific pass to release Adam Sawyer who beat the offside trap to cross for Frankie Hercules to fire home. Score 1-2.

There was no more action of any note and we went in for half time cuppas with a slim lead. HT Score 1-2.

It was great to see Liam Smyth back in action after some injury concerns and he responded with a terrific performance. Just after the restart he cut in from the left wing and cracked a great shot that just cleared the bar. Fosters were still dangerous particularly down their right and another cross from Ugbomah picked out Joe Entwistle who shot was superbly tipped over by Josh Ameganyi.

We looked dangerous on the counter attack and just before the hour mark we executed a classic break to stretch our lead. Max Hercules started the move from an opposition corner, clearing the ball from the edge of the area to Liam Smyth who did so well to the hold the ball up and then release Max, who had made a lung bursting run down the right. Max then did the brotherly thing by setting up Frankie to slam home our 3rd goal. Score 1-3.

Both sides emptied their benches and with 30 plus minutes still to go the game was far from over. Our hosts pushed forward at every opportunity and being a side with some tall players they posed a possible threat from set pieces but we defended well to prevent the home side from creating any real scoring opportunities.

With 3 minutes of normal time left we committed the cardinal sin of losing some concentration when the Fosters number 11 Ugbomah was tripped just inside the area. Leading scorer Harrison Rookard put away the penalty to give his side some hope. Score 2-3.

It was now squeaky bum time as our opponents went all out for an equaliser but we were able to see out the game without too may problems for an excellent win over a good team. FT Score 2-3.

After a tough start the players did supremely well to come back from a goal behind and score 3 goals away from home and then defend so well, apart from the late blip with the penalty although to be fair the oppositions winger was extremely fast. It was also encouraging to see us be more clinical in front of goal and we have now netted 10 times in our last 3 league games.

As everyone played so well it is difficult to start naming names but it would be remiss of me not to mention Frankie Hercules who has been in fantastic scoring form notching 7 goals in the last 3 league games. He is now level pegging with bro Max on 10 goals for the season so far. Also it should be mentioned that we had an extremely strong bench which enabled Ryan Sturges and his coaches to make vital changes through out the game.

The 3 points has moved us up 4 places in the table to 9th position and a few more wins could see us on the fringes of the top 5. Our next league game sees the visit on Saturday of high flying Leverstock Green to the Michael Anthony Stadium for a tough local derby. In between we have a home Premier Division Cup game against Biggleswade United on Tuesday.

Team:

TA: Josh Ameganyi, Lee Stobbs, Adam Sawyer (Harry Jones 71), Dave O’Connor, George Carbery (Capt), Jack Harvey, Greg Deer, Eli Hearn (Noah Butler 60), Max Hercules, Liam Smyth (Jonah Howgego 68), Frankie Hercules.

Scorers:

C: (19), Harrison Rookard (Pen 87)

TA: Frankie Hercules (32, 57), Liam Smyth (25)

Crowd: 107