With both sides featuring the core of the coming season’s squad, a well-paced match was played out between the closest of neighbours.

Staines Town, having just won promotion to the Blue Square South are now three leagues higher than their more modestly placed hosts.

However, the difference to see on the field of play looked much closer. Chertsey Town were never allowed to seriously threaten Swans’ goal but traffic was far from one way in a defence dominated work out.

Chertsey’s defending was top line stuff that only allowed their opponents less than a hand full of shots themselves and new face in goal, Liam Stone, more than adequately dealt with what came his way and could not be implicated in the goal that was eventually conceded 12 minutes from the end.

But by then both sides had made a series of substitutions and it was Staines, not unnaturally, that showed to have greater depth of talent on offer.

Nevertheless, Chertsey came away from the game with a lot of pluses, especially with their rock solid defending made more credible after having Stuart Bamford dismissed halfway through the first half for a loose arm.

Chertsey have two more home games in the next week by hosting Southern League side Beaconsfield SYNCOB on Saturday and Blue Square South Hampton & Richmond Borough on Monday.