A Chip stroll

It’s August Bank Holiday Monday, and that means only one thing…spending time stuck in a jam on a motorway somewhere. But once you’ve escaped that, it means only one other thing- Pitching In Isthmian football, and generally, derby day. Which is why we took the High Road to Chipstead, for their Pitching In Isthmian South Central match against Corinthian-Casuals.

The Chips started the league season with a bang, welcoming Hartley Wintney and hammering home six goals to ensure that the visitors headed back to Hampshire in a rather dispirited fashion. Last weekend saw them make a trip to Binfield, and whilst they were unable to bury the Moles they made the return journey with a point in a match notable for a third goal of the season for Arlie Desanges (a nightmare for our spell checker, as he clearly isn’t Deranged despite what Bill Gates minions might suggest) and a red card for Nathaniel Kenlock which in the end didn’t affect the outcome, although perhaps it might have prevented an away win?

Casuals would have loved an away win, or indeed any kind of win. Indeed, the Tolworth Titans would perhaps have been happy with a point. Newly relegated to this level, they’d not yet recovered from the departure of manager James Bracken at the end of the 21-22 campaign. Bracken had taken the side to unprecedented heights, and when he left, most of the squad he’d built did the same. Last season saw eighty different players wear pink and brown. It also saw repeated managerial changes, with three leaders in the dug out over nine months, and inevitably, a relegation. Enter stage left former Crystal Palace legend Andy Gray, but nine goals conceded in two league matches and seven more in two cup outings told its own story. Sometimes the drop from the Premier Division takes rather a lot to rebuild from, and those from King George’s Field were perhaps looking at Merstham’s start to the previous South Central season and making nervous comparisons.

The Chips entered our ranks in 2007 and have been comfortably in mid table almost every season since. That might seem rather unremarkable, but actually, the opposite is true. Chipstead is a tiny village, three thousand inhabitants, close enough to London to have to compete with the big boys for supporters, and yet not easily accessible to those who might fancy a Non League day out. Even the railway station is a half an hour walk from the ground, and as any away fans who have made that journey can tell you, it isn’t an easy walk, either. High Road might be picturesque, but it pays for its countryside location. The Chips have consistently punched above their weight, consistently delivered fine entertainment, and deserve to have more people watching them. The average crowd last season was around 5% of the population of the village, which stands scrutiny alongside any of our sides in any Division- but it isn’t big enough to ever make the club cash rich. Season after season they have to build a young side and compete with clubs far better resourced, and season after season they make a fine job of doing just that. Last season their victims included Leatherhead, Chertsey Town, Hanworth Villa, Southall- all sides fighting for the play offs; but every season sees similar results.

Upon arrival the sun was out, the Muddy Boot Snack Bar was open, and the away team, in white shirts with a pink and blue diagonal stripe like a Tolworth Peru, were warming up in front of the stand. A collection of football dogs wandered around greeting people- one, wearing a Chipstead bandana, by rolling on its back for a tummy tickle, which is perhaps the best greeting you could ever get at a football ground- and a small boy struggled to balance a hot chocolate on which had been piled the UK’s entire supply of marshmallows. It was a rather perfect day for football; all we had to hope now was that the football was of a similarly high standard.

The hosts got us underway, kicking towards the clubhouse end, and the Casuals fans switched ends, perhaps sad that, unlike at home, there were no chips with four types of cheese available. As they walked, the hosts had their first chance, a free kick from Brad Wilson headed wide. Any of three home players could have been first to the ball, which was a bit of an early wake up call for the Casuals back four.

On six minutes, another chance for the hosts, Jacob Sewell from close range drawing a save from Kevin Manuel, the keeper again doing well from the resulting corner. The game was thus far scrappy, but Chipstead were in control. It then got much worse for the visitors, as Abideen Abiade was shown a straight red card for- it seemed- violent conduct. There were no complaints. It.would be a long eighty minutes for Casuals.

The ten men settled in for a long afternoon. Their number eleven, Haziz Kone, seemed to be everywhere, throwing himself into tackles left, right and centre, and in goal Manuel was a calming presence, but there was some hot headedness amongst their teammates, exemplified by an entirely unnecessary yellow for Rory Spence, whose challenge would have been more suited to Big Daddy than Big Rory.

The Chips had the majority of the play and the majority of the chances, but hadn’t really troubled the visiting goal as we passed the half hour mark despite their dominance. Casuals even began to have the occasional foray forward as the hosts became a little frustrated by their lack of progress, and one such attack saw Francis Quarm fire a shot over.

The last five minutes of the half saw a collection of corners and free kicks fired into the Casuals box, with Manuel immense in the way he dealt with them. The Chips would have to find something special if they were to find a way past him after the break.

The second half begun as the first had ended, Chips sub Danyaal Iqbal crossing, Manuel catching acrobatically. And then, something different. The free kick, from Wilson, was aimed at the near post rather than the far post. A flick header from Chad Goulter and Manuel had no chance to get involved. One- nil, and a green and white celebration.

Chipstead 1 Corinthian- Casuals 0

One minute later, two- nil. A run down the right, a cross, and Desanges entirely unmarked to finish. Casuals had been loud, encouraging, but suddenly all the sound- Manuel apart- seemed to be coming from the hosts. It was unsurprising.

Chipstead 2 Corinthian-Casuals 0

Another yellow for the visitors, and a stern taking to, for Quarm. The pace had slowed considerably, perhaps a little because of the heat and a little because the game looked won. A patient build up and a shot from Sewell brought a fine save from Manuel, and we moved beyond the hour mark, as Matt Kellett-Smith became the first home player in the book.

Nathaniel Kenlock tested Manuel from distance. A stream of people headed to the bar. A big dog in an orange collar went to sleep. And Casuals fired a free kick into and over the box, clearing everyone by many feet and going out for a throw. Yes, you’re right, the match had become rather short of excitement- which, of course, was the cue for a Chips break, a cross, and an easy finish for Desanges.

Chipstead 3 Corinthian-Casuals 0

With eight minutes remaining a neat passing move for the hosts would probably have brought goal number four, if Reuel Powell-Downey had managed a better first touch in the opposition box. Instead Manuel was able to save, and at the other end Casuals earned a corner- and then a goal. It was a fine finish, substitute Jason Evans with the outside of his foot from outside the box leaving Baldwin Kaluya with no chance. It was rather surprising, too.

Chipstead 3 Corinthian-Casuals 1

The ten men, boosted by this, found a second wind, but there were only four minutes left for it to blow. They committed men forward, and finally began to play with some confidence, urged forward by their supporters. After eighty five minutes with nothing to do, Kaluya was suddenly occupied.

Of course, sending men forward leaves you vulnerable, and the inevitable happened. The goal was a carbon copy of the previous two, only this time Wilson took the plaudits.

Chipstead 4 Corinthian-Casuals 1

There was little more to add. Kaluya was tested from distance, Chipstead played a little keep ball, and with five added minutes on the clock, that was that.

It’s rather difficult to draw firm conclusions from a match which saw one side play eighty minutes with ten men. The hosts passed the ball nicely, and once they’d found a way to unlock the Casuals defence the outcome was never in doubt. The visitors only really came alive- Manuel and Kone apart- after introducing a plethora of subs and falling three-nil down.

What we can conclude, however, is that Chipstead is a lovely place to watch football, and that the team play the game in an attractive way. The visitors? There is no shortage of individual talent, but they are not yet a team. Boss Gray has something to work with, but a lot of work to do.

Final score: Chipstead 4 Corinthian-Casuals 1

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