Chertsey Town 2 Croydon 0

Although the stormy weather put paid to a succession of surrounding matches, the Alwyns Lane pitch stood up well to the elements and there was never any doubt that the game would go ahead as scheduled.

There was not much doubt who would be the winners either for Chertsey always had the edge and often dominated.

Only one freaky, weather generated moment almost put Croydon in the driving seat, but the scare lasted less than five seconds in a remarkable sequence just before the interval.

Chertsey’s line up assumed a more familiar formation after their midweek Southern Combination Cup win over Cobham with Steve Gibson, Andre DeLisser, Andy Crossley and Steve Tyson returning to the starting eleven. Steve McNamara was out, serving a one match ban and John Swift was still injured.

A new signing was made just before the Friday midday deadline for the beleaguered forward line.

Potentially, this could be Town’s most significant mid season addition to the squad after the signature of ex Brentford Charlie Ide was obtained.

He started the season at Carshalton Athletic but in the end did not get a regular start.

His teenage career at Griffin Park saw him make over 50 first team appearances only a few seasons ago.

The late inclusion of Ide into the side was well justified but he will become more influential when his match fitness returns.

Chertsey lost the toss and so were required to play into the fierce blustery wind. This did not daunt them as their football was kept close to the playing surface whereas visitors Croydon was apt to rely on a long flighted ball with a hope that a forward would get lucky.

Some success was felt at first for the visitors were quicker at picking up on the second ball than Chertsey for a while, but it was to little effect.

Chertsey made all the goal chances in the first 43 minutes and for the whole of the second half. The first two came early on from crosses emanating from the left flank.

Gavin Bamford came close then John Pomroy clipped the ball against the post from a very advantageous position after good approach work from Andy Crossley, then Ollie Treacher.

Andre DeLisser showed real strength in the clinch on the right and often came away with the ball, seemingly against the odds.

Good work from him midway through the first half looked certain to pay dividends but his low cross scudded across the Croydon goalmouth without touching any of the three attendant Chertsey attackers, or any defenders either, which was just as well for them as it would almost certainly have produced an own goal.

Croydon produced their golden moment just before the midway break, but sadly for them, it quickly became tarnished.

A free-kick, thumped in by Rob Bartley from 35 yards, just caught the finger tips of goalkeeper Liam Stone. The ball hit the inside of the post and rebounded to Jensen Grant.

His instinctive strike at the ball at point blank range sent it upwards to again find the Chertsey woodwork, this time the underside of the cross bar, and down onto the line from where it was cleared.

That scare over, Town soon made sure that the tie was thereafter, about to go only in one direction, and they went ahead within two minutes of the restart.

A throw in on the left found a well advanced Gavin Bamford.

He cross low where John Pomroy nipped in front of waiting goalkeeper Michael Lidbury to prod the ball into the near side from five yards.

The game was all Chertsey’s from then on with confident passing and a high work rate ensuring that Croydon was not going to get back into the contest.

All was lost for them by 68 minutes when a two goal chasm was opened up. The hard working Marcus Moody was fouled 28 yard out.

Pomroy took the free kick and curled the ball into the net, past a despairing lunge from Lidbury.

Play was held up for ten minutes when Croydon defender Rob Bartley was knocked unconscious in a goalmouth melee.

Unnoticed at first, real concern was felt as he was brought to. It was therefore all the more surprising that he resumed a place on the park soon after as all Croydon substitute options had been exhausted.

The same could be said for his team’s challenge as Town comfortably rode out the final 20 minutes without drama.