Keeper saves Chasetown from defeat

Oct 30 2008

CHASETOWN 0 SOHAM TOWN RANGERS 0,

BGB SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION 1 MIDLANDS, SATURDAY OCTOBER 25

GOALKEEPER Ryan Price was the star of Chasetown’s goalless draw with Soham Town Rangers with a trio of fine saves, writes Dave Goddard.

The Scholars had the majority of the possession early on, but their first chance did not come until the 12th minute when Gary Birch spotted keeper Lea Jordan off his line, but his lob went wide of the post.

Moments later Danny Smith tried to nod home a John Branch cross, but Jordan punched the ball away for the defence to clear at the second attempt.

The visitors had their first chance on 20 minutes when Adam Weston shot straight at Price, before the Scholars lost skipper Adie Smith with a leg injury, forcing Chris Slater to move into the centre of defence in his place.

The Scholars continued to dominate the game, but could find no clear-cut chances. Birch’s shot on 27 minutes was blocked for a corner, with substitute Harry Harris blasting his resultant 20-yard shot inches over the bar. Birch then had a goal disallowed for offside in the closing minutes of the half and a further Chasetown attack in stoppage time saw the ball again clear the bar.

After the break Price leapt to push Aaron Turner’s 25-yard shot over the bar for a corner, but then dropped the ensuing kick and Slater cleared the ball from danger. Price then stopped another shot from Turner, before John Branch and Vaughan Thomas both sent efforts wide.

Danny Smith broke free after picking up a loose ball only to blaze his shot over the bar, while a further run by last season’s FA Cup hero saw his cross blocked, and a scramble following a Mark Branch corner ended when Jordan punched clear.

Price dived at full stretch to stop an Andrew Furnell shot with ten minutes remaining, and on 87 minutes Danny Smith pulled the ball back to Birch, but his shot was the latest to fly over the top and the match remained goalless.

l Chasetown striker Danny Smith has reflected on Saturday’s draw with Soham Town Rangers by declaring it as two points dropped. The Scholars were held to a 0-0 draw after a frustrating game of few chances, a frustration felt by Smith.

“It is always frustrating when you don’t get chances but as a striker it is important to make your own chances and I managed to create one but missed the target with my shot.”

“Every point in this league is good but on the performance I would say it was two points dropped,” Smith said.

“The expectations at the start of the season were to win the league and do well in the cups and so far we are doing well in both.” Smith commented.

Chasetown get back to cup action this Saturday when they face Unibond Premier side North Ferriby United in the F.A Trophy.

“Cup games are always good fun but the whole team really want to get on a good run in the league.” Smith added.

“The F.A Trophy is an important competition because if we can win as many games as we did in the F.A Cup last year then we will make it to Wembley.”

l CHASETOWN’S GX League Cup opener against Leamington on Tuesday night was called off due to bad weather.

Heavy rain and even snow showers hit the Midlands during the afternoon as the winter closed in, and the club took the decision to postpone the fixture at 5.15pm.

The match has been re-arranged for next Tuesday evening at 7.45pm.

The club has also decided to loan out Montserrat national captain Wayne Dyer to Coleshill Town, the move coming hot on the heels of Phil Harris’s loan to Malvern Town.

The next action at the Scholars Ground will take place this Thursday, as Aston Villa and Manchester United’s Under-16 sides take to the field at 2pm. Admission is just 50p, and proceeds will be donated to the Grenadier Guards Colonel’s Fund.

The Scholars are next in action this Saturday (3pm kick-off) as they take on Humberside club North Ferriby United in the second qualifying round of the FA Trophy.