CHASETOWN Reserves extended their unbeaten run at the top of the Midland Combination Reserve Division with a 2-0 success at Highgate United on Saturday, Karl Edwards and Chad Degville the scorers. Click below to read Duncan Gould's report.
21-Jan-2012: Highgate Utd Reserves 0 -v- 2 Chasetown Reserves
Chasetown’s second 11 stretched their lead at the peak of Division One to six points with a fine footballing display in blustery conditions at Highgate Utd.
The boggy pitch at the Coppice was ideally suited for teams that favour a good battle over the beautiful game. Andy Penny’s boys prefer the latter but soon found themselves involved in a spectacle hardly helped by the unplayable surface that continually denied opportunity to find the net.
Despite this, the visitors still managed to outplay their opponents throughout the first half.
Tom Brown and Theo Robinson both went close to opening the scoring but it took 45 minutes to prove Chasetown’s perseverance had not been in vain. Karl Edwards deservedly got his name on the score sheet with a close range tap in having beaten the Highgate keeper to meet Craig Deakin's cross from the corner flag.
Early in the second half Jamie Aiton almost produced the two goal cushion that Chasetown craved when he rose highest in the area only to see his header flicked over the bar by Eric Hathaway.
In reply, The Gates improved their style and carved out chances of their own with Ronnie Adje curling an effort over and Ondre Richards firing wide. They went extremely close to equalizing when Jamie Smith engineered a fine solo run forcing a near post save from Mark Wiggins.
At the other end of play Jonathan Gould had a glorious chance to secure the Scholars’ second when he hit the post after stealing a yard on Jake Scott but the decisive goal from Chad Degville came on 74 minutes. Gould picked out Edwards on the left with an astute pass. Edwards foiled Harry Slevin and his high cross found its way to Chad Degville who lost his marker on the far post and headed home.
Highgate’s second half performance gave the impression they were more than a side that have failed to win all season. They almost got a life line with 2 minutes of play remaining but Degville headed off the line from a Tom Hughes bicycle kick. Deggie, the smallest player on the pitch had now fashioned two vital headers. He scored from the first and his goal line clearance ensures Chasetown’s defensive resilience continued as they have yet to concede in 2012.
Next Saturday see’s the visit of Stratford Town to the Scholars Ground. Please come along and see the ‘Young Guns’ aim for another victory.
Scholars Line Up: Wiggins (Capt), Deakin, Sowe, Wood, Hulin, J Aiton, Degville, Brown (Darby), Edwards (Lowe), Robinson, Gould (Leese).
Goal Scorers: Edwards 45. Degville 74.
Subs not used: Hill.
Referee: B Green. Assistant Refs: R Wilson, A Cooper
