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| Rayners Lane Match Report |
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Chinnor were without manager Richard Carr again for the visit of Rayners Lane on Saturday so Assistant Dave Ridgley took charge and immediately handed a first start of the season to Matt Dedman in goal and debut to new signing Richard Gregory who started at sweeper. Robbie Eason and Ed Janes also returned to the side after being unavailable last week, whilst injuries meant Darren Peverill started in the centre of midfield alongside Mark Jones with Colin Bird on the left.
The game started at a frenetic pace and the first opening came after two minutes when a mix up from a free kick at the back set Antony Dawson clean through on goal but his shot was well saved by the Rayners Lane keeper. It wasn't long before Dawson's name was on the score sheet however as two minutes later a through ball from Janes was mis-judged by the Lane back line and once again Dawson was clean through. He made no mistake this time though and finished low into the far corner to give Chinnor another early lead. This seemed to jolt the visitors into life and they began testing the new Chinnor backline with Eason and Turtle locked in an aerial battle. After 14 minutes this pressure paid off as the scores were leveled, a slick move down the Chinnor right saw a cross delivered and, just as it appeared the danger had been cleared, the ball fell to Brighton who finished well past Dedman's despairing dive. This threw Chinnor into sixes and sevens and a minute later they found themselves behind. More good work down the left again led to a crossing opportunity which was this time met by the head of the ever threatening Turtle and again Dedman could only watch as the ball hit the back of the net. Stand in Manager Ridgley immediately changed the formation, reverting to three at the back to counter the growing threat. Rayners Lane began to get incensed with the referee after a series of disputed decisions went against them and three players went into the ref's book for foul and abusive language which was to prove costly later in the game. Chances were few and far between for the remainder of the half until, on the stroke of half time, an accurate through ball set a forward free on goal and only a magnificent Dedman save prevented Chinnor going into the interval two goals behind.
HT: 1-2 Yet again Chinnor surrendered an early lead and found themselves behind, but there was enough encouragement from the lively Dawson up front to suggest the home side could grab more goals in the second half.
Almost immediately from the restart and the scores were level once again as a through ball allowed Dawson to show his searing pace once again and he finished low although the keeper will be disappointed to have been beaten so easily at his near post. The break seemed to have done the trick for the home side's defence as they stood firm under an aerial barrage with Dedman in particular catching well when called upon. The turning point in game came after 75 minutes when Dawson again caused havoc and was brought down on the edge of the area. The defender was incensed by the decision, feeling that Dawson had gone down too easily and his anger boiled over leading to him being shown a second yellow card. From the resulting free kick Neil Pearson saw his effort sail over the bar. Ridgley sensing that the game was there for the taking immediately made changes bringing on Mark White and James Matthews for his first game since breaking his ankle over a year ago. The move paid dividends straight away with Matthews' first touch being to charge down an attempted clearance, the ball broke to Janes and with the back line obviously stretched, he slid in Davis who finished well to give Chinnor the lead. Five minutes later and the game was effectively all over as Chinnor grabbed as direct a goal as you will see. A long Dedman clearance caught the Lane defence stepping up for offside and Dawson raced clear yet again there was still plenty to do however, but a first time volley into the top corner capped an excellent hat trick for the youngster who looks set to challenge for the honour of leading scorer this season.
Ridgley was happy with an excellent second half performance and said after the game "We conceded two soft goals in the first half, but the lads more than made up for it in the second half with a great display. Dawson was obviously top quality but I think Dedman pushed him hard for man of the match today with an excellent display between the sticks."
Chinnor will be out for revenge next Saturday with the visit of Englefield Green and should see the return of three of four faces along with manager Carr.
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