City down Deans to keep up pressure
Horndean 0 Chi City 3 Isthmian south east
A penalty from Josh Clack, a super Jimmy Wild header and a lovely Ethan Prichard strike extended City’s unbeaten run to eight league games as they maintained their play-off spot.
City recorded their third 3-0 win on the bounce in a eight-game run where they’ve scored 21 and conceded only two.
It left them in the final Isthmian south east playoff spot of fifth ahead of this Saturday’s home clash with Sheppey.
Kieran Magee returned after a one-week concussion lay-off in an otherwise unchanged starting XI.
Electing to play up the hill in the opening 45, Horndean forced the first corner as Rob Hutchings and Curtis Da Costa slipped. Cade Dyer took this but it went out for a goal kick.
Wild had a shot at the other end, although it was blocked and Isaac Bello’s corner was gathered by keeper Cameron Scott. Rob Hutchings got across to clear as Zak Willett got in on Emmett Dunn and the visitors broke up the left.
Wild and Clack hooked up for a cross and Joe Clarke had a go and won a corner. Hutchings whipped this over for Connor Cody and next Dunn to head over.
Former Chi player Robert Taw steered the ball out for a throw as Mo Jammeh and Clack combined. Bello launched this long again and Taw conceded a corner which came to nothing.
Referee Jonathan Wilks overlooked a foul on Clack in the box but the same player put the Sussex side one up from the spot in the 18th minute after Dyer’s handball and red card.
A couple of minutes later Connor Duffin was booked for a foul on Da Costa before Bello hit a poor cross.
The hosts won a free-kick which Joe Clarke, magnificent all game, cleared and then Da Costa struck an effort over the bar on 25, as did Wild on the turn a minute later.
Duffin did well to hold off opponents before Clarke conceded a set-piece which Duffin fired off target.
Willett picked up a yellow card and then a neat exchange of passes between Hutchings, Clarke, Dunn, Jammeh and Joe Moore led to a corner.
Wild dragged an attempt wide on 35 and Magee dealt with a cross from the right as the ten-man Deans broke. A super run from Bello teed up Wild for a shot that Scott got behind easily enough.
Next, Clarke was fouled but Cody’s free-kick was a little too strong and nice play from Clack set up Bello whose touch was too firm.
Duffin made way for Liam Callaghan in the 41st minute and Hutchings found Wild for a free header which he couldn’t convert. Bello had an effort blocked and Clack fizzed a loose one wide as we entered added on time.
Willett and Callaghan threatened but Chi smuggled the ball under control and Wild doubled the visitors’ lead in the 50th minute with a fantastic header, his eighth goal in seven games, after clever play from Clack and Jammeh.
The away side forced a couple of corners in the first minutes of the second half. Clack then fired a shot off target and Taw was flagged offside.
Clack fizzed a cross over which just missed Wild and Bello. Dunn conceded a freekick in the 57th minute after a sharp Horndean move and Tommy Scutt ended Bello’s run with a fine tackle.
Both Bello and Clarke had chances on 65 although the ball was turned out for a corner which Hutchings delivered. Willett then cut inside but the move got snuffed out.
Prichard replaced Bello on 68 and the sub’s first contribution nearly led to an immediate impact although Scott pulled off a fine stop.
Chi’s top scorer, out for some time, then won a corner which Hutchings took and Clarke struck just wide.
Cody joined the others in the notepad with 15 to go and Magee, against his former club, punched the freekick away.
The Chi No1 was also called into action to deny Callaghan and another Deans’ attack fizzled out.
Matthew Kellet-smith was cautioned late on for a foul and the hosts’ manager Michael Birmingham was sent to the stands late on.
Wild rose to beat Callaghan and win a corner on 87 which Prichard took and then the Chi substitute wrapped things up in the final minute with a lovely longranger after smart work from Jammeh.
Lloyd Rowaltt and Kaleem
Haitham were introduced for Jammeh and Wild in additional time.
Jarvis Brook 1 Bosham 0 SCFL Division 2
Bosham’s hopes of the title faded further as the long trip to the Limekiln ended in a heartbreaking defeat, leaving Storrington in the box seat for the trophy.
The first quarter was quiet and tense with neither keeper tested. Joe Boschi looked sharp for the Reds and the presence of Ash Sharp saw chances come, but Brook looked strong.
Connor Edmonds had the best opportunitychance of a tense first half as he latched on to a ball in space and fired a good effort only just over the bar.
The second half was similar although Bosham looked more dangerous. Their best chance came as Boschi broke but with only the keeper to beat, he was denied by Matthew Harman’s great save.
As the game entered injury time a last-ditch effort from the hosts brought reward as 18-year-old debutant Angus Rumm drove a shot home to spark wild celebrations among the home faithful and leave the Robins feeling deflated.
Bosham entertain Southwater in their last home game this Saturday.