Brave
Platt Denied As Chipstead Capture Cup
Chipstead 5 Platt 3 Report
courtesy of Russ Bravo
A dull, grey day at Brasted
on Sunday was brought to life by a full blooded, end to
end battle as Chipstead beat challengers Platt to win the
Smith's Charity Cup (Senior).
The District League Premier
Division champions and current leaders were stretched to
the limit by a Platt side who led early on, and then came
from behind twice.
Early exchanges were
fairly even, although the speed and control of Fisher,
Bowen and Durrant for Platt gave Chipstead some awkward
moments.
The first good chance
fell to Chipstead, when MacLening set Thrush hurtling down
the right with a well weighted pass. The young winger cut
in and placed his shot well wide of the keeper only to
see it come back off the post.
However, it was Platt
who went in front on 14 minutes. A free-kick was headed
on neatly by Durrant and Bowen cracked the ball in from
12 yards. Encouraged, Platt surged forward and Bowen had
the ball in the net once more but the linesman had flagged
for offside. Chipstead looked less sharp on the ball and
another goal during this period would have made a comeback
very hard.
Keeper Gary Allen had
to be alert to tip a swerving Durrant 25 yarder on to the
bar, as Platt's leading scorer continued to harass the
Chipstead defence.
Within the space of a
couple of minutes the game had swung right back Chipstead's
way. First, Black's corner from the left was met with a
flick header by Thrush, and the ball looped in off the
far post. Then, with Platt still shaking their heads, Best
turned beautifully on the left to knock a cross in which
the defence made a hash of, and John Berry was left with
an open goal from eight yards.
Platt pushed forward
once again, Hollebon shooting straight at Allen, and Fisher
hitting wide after good work from Durrant. The aerial threat
of Mick Westwell coming from the back also kept the pressure
on Chipstead.
Just before the break,
Thrush set off down the right and shot into the side netting.
The action continued
in the second-half, Blundell, Black and Best all having
a go for Chipstead, and Hollebon blasting a free-kick through
the wall for Platt, keeper Allen having to parry after
seeing it late.
Confusion surrounded
Platt's equaliser on 59 minutes. A scramble in the box
ended with the ball in the net via a defender, but referee
Stubbings had already blown for an infringement, possibly
handball. In any case, Bowen stepped up to slot the ball
home and make it 2-2.
The playmaking of Whiffen
in midfield began to produce openings for Platt, Allen
somehow got in the way of Durrant's flying header at virtually
point blank range.
Chipstead stormed ahead
once more on 68 minutes with a fine individual goal from
Steve Sanders, who ran from the midfield, beat several
players and planted his shot wide of keeper Peacock.
Moments later Sanders
was on hand to head away Bowen's goal bound effort. He
was powerless, however, to prevent Platt's equaliser as
the impressive Bowen completed his hat-trick, firing home
after another flick on from Durrant on 78 minutes.
Platt's Westwell was
booked after a bad tackle on Thrush, and soon after Chipstead
went ahead again, in circumstances keeper Peacock will
want to forget. Full-back Ian King's intended cross drifted
aimlessly towards the Platt keeper, who somehow allowed
it to slip through his hands and roll over the line.
Chipstead now had their
hands on the trophy and made sure soon after, when Best
pounced to score after MacLening's shot had been parried.
Platt attacked frantically,
and while De'Ath shot wide from a good position, Chipstead
held firm to clinch the trophy that has eluded them for
so long.
The presentation was
made by former Dunton Green player Mr John Clifton - a
well known figure on the local football scene.
Credit should go to Gordon
Williams and all at Brasted / Sundridge FC for staging
the finals despite the appalling weather.
Team: P.Peacock,
M.Lovelock, D.Green, M.Westwell, T.Hollebon, I.De'Ath,
R.Webb, D.Fisher, N.Bowen, G.Durrant, T.Whiffen.
|
