Chet Do The Double

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Park Tavern&rsquo;s visit to Glebe Farm provided Chet with a stern examination.&nbsp; This was an excellent game between two evenly matched sides; once again Chet drew clear in the final quarter as their superior fitness saw them through.&nbsp; This victory secured a double against the best team Chet have played this season and saw the team return to the top of the table.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">&nbsp;

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">The early exchanges were dominated by Park Tavern whose speedy centre forward kept getting beyond the home defence.&nbsp; After going close on two occasions he eventually scored in the 16th minute.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">&nbsp;

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Chet struck back immediately; a smart interchange between Craig Black and Dan Lowndes ended with Lowndes firing in a cannonball shot which the goalkeeper could only parry into the path of a retreating defender who turned the ball into his own net.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">&nbsp;

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Manager Jeff Cotter immediately altered Chet&rsquo;s formation; Gavin Horsfall (midfield) dropped back into defence which allowed Adam Hawkins to mark the speedy Park Tavern forward on a man to man basis.&nbsp; Hawkins played superbly throughout the remainder of the game, a performance which earned him the man of the match award.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">&nbsp;

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Park Tavern regained the lead in the 21st minute when they took advantage of a questionable penalty award; even now it is not certain what offence was committed.&nbsp; This was the only suspect decision made by local referee (Jurgen Popp, age 18) who had a particularly sound game.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">&nbsp;

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Injuries affected Chet&rsquo;s second half performance; Stuart Talbot (knee) was replaced after 51 minutes. &nbsp;Jason Rowley left the fray in the 58 minute; this provided Dean Bailey with his first open field action since he suffered an ankle injury in September 2009.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">&nbsp;

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Bailey (Dean) rose to the occasion; hitting the post twice then, after 68 minutes, he glanced a header through to Ryan Tait who equalised with a well placed shot.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">&nbsp;

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Chet took the lead in the 73rd minute; Tait&rsquo;s free kick from 30 yards came back of the crossbar and fell to Lowndes who slotted the ball home from close range.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">&nbsp;

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Another injury blow occurred after 78 minutes when Tait limped off with a tweaked hamstring.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">&nbsp;

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">The match was secured in the 86th minute; Lowndes latched onto a long clearance from Andy Thomas (goalkeeper) and lobbed the ball into the net.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">&nbsp;

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">This game demonstrated Chet&rsquo;s strength in depth; Mark Griffiths (work); Phil Irons (injury) and Chris Ridge (university) are long term absentees.&nbsp; The remaining eighteen players enjoy a good team spirit, they are a strong and balanced unit who should continue to press for honours.&nbsp;