On a blustery afternoon at Theobolds Lane, defences were on top as Cheshunt and Folkestone Invicta cancelled each other out as the game ended in a 0-0 stalemate, although it was at a cost to Invicta as Matt Newman injured the same knee that resulted in his long absence last season, although hopefully the prognosis will be better in the cold light of day.
With Jordan Wright still nursing his injury, Kieron McCann retained his place at wing back, whilst skipper Callum Davies returned to the centre of the defence with Ian Draycott returning to the bench. Our opponents made one change from the team that won at Corinthian-Casuals in the Buildbase F.A. Trophy last week, with Tom Gardiner replacing Amadou Kassarate.
Invicta kicked off and made an early chance when Alfie Paxman won a corner and Newman rose to head towards goal, but he fouled the challenging defender, and the opening went. Up front, Cheshunt have three lively attackers in Reece Beckles-Richards, Mo Camara and Zac Newton and in ‘The Ambers’ first attack it was the latter two that combined, but as Newton tried to get his shot away, Paxman got back and deflected the ball back to Tim Roberts. At the other end, Ade Yusuff and Scott Heard set-up Josh Vincent, after a good interchange the full back played in a dangerous cross, which was well defended and headed away for a corner, which was also cleared. Yusuff then had a decent chance himself as having been played in by Paxman, he shot over from just inside the penalty area, although the ball did appear to bobble up as he shaped to shoot. Paxman was again involved as he was brought down by Taylor McKenzie on the edge of the Cheshunt penalty area, but Ronnie Dolan’s free kick was poorly struck straight into the wall and the danger was averted.
Beckles-Richards, skipper Joe Re and Chevron McLean created a good opening with the latter’s cross being nodded wide by Camara, and shortly after, Beckles-Richards fed Re, who’s shot from outside the area was brilliantly saved by Roberts as he tipped it over the bar for a corner, which when it came in was nodded over the bar by Camara under the challenge of Roberts. Whilst our opponents were looking the more dangerous at this stage, we were still also making half-chances, Heard sent in a dangerous cross which was cleared for a corner by Adam Crowther, this was also cleared but only as far as Paxman on the edge of the area, but his shot was charged down. Heard and Paxman were again involved as they set-up David Smith, but his shot went wide of the far post with the Cheshunt goalkeeper, George Marsh, flat-footed on his line.
Cheshunt continued to try and use Newton as their outlet on the right-hand side, and on separate occasions both Newman and Davies did well to cut out the probing cross-field passes. At the other end, Paxman sent in a cross which Marsh just about dealt with at the second attempt and then Dolan sent in a good corner under the bar, but Vincent didn’t get a clean connection and the ball went wide of the far post, whilst, in time added on, Roberts was swiftly off his line as Camara chased a long clearance out of defence.
So, that was the end of the first half action and the 0-0 score was just about right as although both sides had chances, neither created many that were clear-cut, and the gusty wind also made things difficult for the players.
Having kicked off in the second half, Cheshunt made an immediate chance when Beckles-Richards found himself clear in the penalty area, but he shot wide of the far post. McCann then won a corner for Invicta, which was headed away by Re who got a nasty knock in doing so, but thankfully it looked worse than it was and after treatment he was able to carry on. Yusuff, who was his usual busy self up front, did well to shake of his marker, but he was then fouled by Crowther, some thirty-five yards from goal, and Paxman’s free kick just cleared the crossbar.
Cheshunt then thought they had taken the lead as Beckles-Richards played in Newton, who finished well, but the Assistant Referee had his flag up for offside. Paxman then sent in a cross which Smith headed tamely into Marsh’s arms and McCann played Heard through the centre of the Cheshunt defence, but this time Marsh was swiftly off his line as the midfielder closed in.
Then came the most controversial incident of the game, our opponents made a quick break, but Beckles-Richards delayed his shot, and it was deflected for a corner. From the corner the ball dropped in the six yard box and a melee ensued in which the Cheshunt players claimed the ball had crossed the line, but neither the Referee nor his Assistant seemed to think it had and eventually the ball was cleared, only for it to be returned and Crowther nodded home from close range, but this time the Assistant Referee did have his flag up. Shortly after this, in the sixty-first minute, Newman was replaced by Finn O’Mara having received his injury. Newton then sent in a good cross which was well cleared by Vincent for a corner which was also dealt with.
Despite Cheshunt being in the ascendancy at this time, Heard went on a one-man crusade to put Invicta ahead! Marsh made a good save from his shot from the edge of the area and then he curled his shot wide having been set-up by Yusuff and McCann, before finally having third pop at goal when following a poor clearance from Marsh under pressure from Yusuff, he tried to return the ball into the net from some forty yards, but it drifted over the bar.
Newton then had a real chance at the other end, but although only six yards out he inexplicably rolled the ball back rather than taking a shot. In the seventy-third minute, ‘The Ambers’ made their first substitution when Jamie Reynolds replaced Tom Gardiner as they made a slight change to their formation, and he was involved almost immediately as his shot was scrambled clear, before Beckles-Richards hit the rebound wide.
Yusuff then played the ball to Paxman, and it looked like he had beaten the offside trap, but as he ran through, the Assistant Referee flagged. Yusuff then won a corner which was taken by Paxman and although it was cleared it went straight back to the wing back, but his header was collected by Marsh, who then made a fantastic save, tipping Heard’s shot from the edge of the area round the post.
In the eightieth minute, Ian Draycott replaced the industrious Smith, although two minutes later Ryan Johnson picked up the game’s first yellow card when he pulled back Newton. Up until then the Referee had let the game flow and had been lenient, but he had very little choice on this occasion. Johnson then had a shot himself, which was easily saved by Marsh.
As the game approached the ninety-minute mark, Cheshunt were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the area, Beckles-Richards took it and Roberts collected lowdown at the near post. McCann then gave away an unnecessary free kick to the right of the penalty area, but Re over-hit the ball and it bounced to safety having cleared everyone in the box. Heard just had time to make one final probing run and he sent in a cross which reached Paxman at the far post, but when he returned the ball, it was collected by Marsh at the second attempt.
And that was it, Invicta rarely have 0-0 draws, so it must be a while since we’ve had two in succession (I’m sure Mr. Murrill will have the information later!), but overall, that was about right and in the final judgement as the season reaches its climax it will be seen as a good point gained. Although, it has to be said that as we celebrate the demise of Guy Fawkes at this time of the year, there were very few fireworks on the pitch!
Talking to Neil on Sunday, he started by mentioning Matt Newman: “I’m afraid I’m expecting the worst concerning Matt as it looks like it is the same injury he had before to the knee, if it is this will be a real blow as he has been playing so well recently and with his organisational skills is almost a second Captain on the pitch. “We’ll have to wait for the scan results, but I think he may be out for some time.”
Moving onto the game he added: “I thought both defences and goalkeepers were excellent, and it looked like either a mistake or an act of brilliance was going to decide the game. “I thought they were the best Cheshunt team we’ve played, and they are among twelve or thirteen sides that will be looking for a Play-off place at the end of the season. “In the first half, Zac Newton enjoyed a lot of freedom and threatened on a number of occasions, so in the second we switched Alfie [Paxman] and Kieron [McCann] and that nullified things a bit. “We don’t have many 0-0 draws, but I’m pleased with the work the defence is putting in and we have let in the least number of goals this season, whilst we are also fourth in the goals scored table, which shows we are performing well as a team.”
Finally, many thanks to Cheshunt for their hospitality and we wish them well for the rest of the season.
Cheshunt: George Marsh, Enock Ekongo, Chevron McLean, Tom Gardiner (Jamie Reynolds, 73 mins), Adam Crowther, Taylor McKenzie, Reece Beckles-Richards, Joe Re (Capt), Mo Camara, Taylor Miles, Zac Newton, (Unused substitutes: Ola Williams, Nodirbek Bobomurodov, Daniel Ojo & Charles Taylor).
Folkestone Invicta: Tim Roberts, Josh Vincent, Kieron McCann, Matt Newman (Finn O’Mara, 61 mins), Callum Davies (Capt), Ryan Johnson, Scott Heard, Ronnie Dolan, David Smith (Ian Draycott, 81 mins), Ade Yusuff & Alfie Paxman, (Unused substitutes: Micheal Everitt, Luca Borrello & Connor Collins).
Referee: Shelby Elson
Assistant Referees: Colman O’Meara & Erno Vajda.
Attendance: 247, many thanks to all the Invicta fans who went to the game this afternoon to support the team, it is much appreciated.
Next Fixture: It’s a quick turnaround next, as on Monday (8th November), we visit Carshalton Athletic for a Pitching In Isthmian League Premier Division game, kick-off 7:45pm.