CHIPSTEAD 0 WHITSTABLE TOWN 0
Pre-season friendly
Saturday September 5 2020 15.00

Chipstead and Whitstable played out a goalless draw in sunny Surrey, although it was not the most entertaining game for the few spectators in the High Road ground. There were a couple of good saves by each goalkeeper and Whitstable hit the bar in the closing minutes, but generally the defences were in control.

Former league rivals, Chipstead were moved across to the South Central Division in 2018 and were sitting in 10th place when the 2019-20 season was terminated. Whitstable travelled without the injured Harry Stannard and Liam King, whilst Aaron Millbank and Luke Girt were unavailable. A couple of other players were carrying knocks, so their time on the pitch was carefully managed with the FA Cup match at Carshalton just seven days away.

Chipstead started on the front foot and little was seen of Whitstable in an attacking sense during the first quarter of the game. For all their promising approach play, particularly down the left hand side, Dan Eason in the Whitstable goal was rarely troubled, although was relieved to see one low shot skid just past the far post. Whitstable eventually won a couple of corners midway through the first half and the home goalkeeper was first called into action in the 25th minute when a quick break gave Luke Medley an opportunity, but his low shot was saved. Some good play by Chipstead led to a dangerous cross from the left to the far post, but the ball was fired into the side netting. Jadama had a long range shot blocked and when Charles Etumnu was adjudged to have been fouled just outside the box, Medley’s low free kick was straight at the goalkeeper. In the 35th minute, the Chipstead number eleven tried a curling shot from distance that Eason managed to tip over the bar. Medley was then put through on goal on the right and tried to beat the goalkeeper who had advanced out of his goal, but his shot was saved. The lively Chipstead number ten then cut in from the left before shooting wide of the far post and the final action of the half saw another home effort volleyed high over the bar.

Both teams replaced their number nines at the start of the second half, as Dean James came on for Medley and Chipstead added even more height to an already tall team. If some of the play lacked intensity, the referee tried to compensate by brandishing three yellow cards in the space of fourteen minutes with Victor Aiyelabola, Etumnu and Liam Gillies all finding themselves in the book. As for the football, the home number six almost took out a corner flag with an attempted shot and the home keeper smothered a cross by Aiyelabola before it reached Tom Mills. Jay Hards almost scored shortly after coming on in the 58th minute when some good play by Liam Gillies on the right saw his cross dropped by the goalkeeper, who then redeemed himself by saving the close range follow up by the Whitstable substitute. A few minutes later, the Chipstead number fourteen found himself clear with just Eason to beat and tried to chip the ball over the Whitstable goalkeeper who just managed to get his hand to the ball and divert in past the post. In the 68th minute, the home number ten worked himself a good position, but his powerful shot was well blocked by Leo Mazzone. Both teams made further substitutions and there were a few half chances at each end, but the closest anyone came to a late winner was in the 88th minute when Bryant hit a long free kick up to Jadama on the right and his shot hit the top of the bar, but the game was destined to end 0-0.

It felt like one pre-season game too many, with everyone looking forward to getting back to competitive football for the first time in six months, although it was perhaps useful for Whitstable to face a different kind of test following three games against Isthmian Premier teams at the Belmont. Lloyd Blackman and his coaches now have a week to prepare for their FA Cup opener.

Chipstead
Team details not provided

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Leo Mazzone, James Brown, Liam Gillies, Ollie Rowe (c), Tom Bryant, Victor Aiyelabola (Jay Hards 58), Charles Etumnu (Trialist 58), Luke Medley (Dean James 46), Tijan Jadama, Tom Mills (Muhammed Cham 75).
Yellow cards: Victor Aiyelabola 50, Charles Etumnu 56, Liam Gillies 63.