Sutton Common Rovers first team played out a 0-0 draw against Chertsey Town, in a fairly drab encounter at Alwyns Lane on Saturday, writes Gary Brigden
Both sides were struggling to keep possession and all to often passes went astray and the ball given cheaply back to the opposition. Wadmore released Joe Jones on ten minutes, he quickly found Andy Crossley who had his shot blocked and Okiror just did enough to prevent Wadmore from getting a shot away from the loose ball.
Andrew White saw a soft header comfortably saved by Chertsey's keeper George Armstrong on 12 minutes and on 19 minutes, after good work by Ben Geraghty, Chertsey's Joel Thompson fired high over Leigh Bowdens crossbar.
Crossley curled an effort over the bar midway through the half, as Chertsey started to turn the screw. Minutes later great link up play between Thompson and Crossley led to the latter being through on Bowden, but the big keeper did enough and the chance went begging. From the corner SCR struggled to clear and Joe Jones hooked an effort over the bar.
White would have been disappointed not to hit the target on 28 minutes as he headed a Sam Blowers cross goalwards. That aside and we were fairly toothless, and somewhat relieved to find our opponents had also left their shooting boots at home.
White saw a goalbound effort on 40 minutes crash into the head of Francois Gabbidon before dropping to safety, but Chertsey ended the half in the ascendancy, and twice Bowden was out sharply to deny on-rushing forwards when left one-on-one. Half time came scoreless.
Chertsey opened brightly forcing a couple of early corners, which we defended well, and Crossley saw an effort drift just wide of Bowdens post. White headed over on 55 minutes after a decent ball into the area by Richie Smith, and Paul Frith saw a shot blocked by Anson Cousins on 58 minutes.
SCR made their first changes of the game replacing Sam Blowers and Andrew White with Danny Fernandez and Richie Monan. Fernandez, who everyone is relieved to see back and slowly getting back to match fitness, fired an effort wide on 63 minutes, and on 67 minutes, neat link up play between Monan and Liam Holden released Fernandez again but this time his effort was just wide of the left hand post.
We were certainly performing much better in the second half, and giving our hosts something to think about, although a Fernandez strike on 71 minutes just about went off for a goal kick.
Chertsey almost caught us out a minute later when a great run by Keiran Woodley almost embarrassed Aaron Bogle, but the SCR full back did well to keep him opponent at bay. The prolific Pomroy almost opened the scoring on 75 minutes, when latching onto a Crossley flick on inside the area, his close range effort bought a superb save by Bowden.
SCR forced a free kick on 80 minutes, when a strike by Holden was blocked and Fernandez clipped as he went for the rebound. From the free kick Fernandez fired over the crossbar.
Harry Smart replaced Okiror on 79 minutes as SCR made their final change. Five minutes from time and Holden curled an effort wide of the Chertsey goal, after keeper Armstrong had done very well to clear an SCR corner.
Bowden saved well from Pomroy as the 90 minute mark passed, and in injury time, Bogle pulled off his second stunning goalline clearance in a row, somehow blocking a goalbound Crossley effort.
There were no further chances and both sides were forced to settle for a point.
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