It was a game of two halves as the Ambers suffered a home defeat at the hands of Chichester City on Saturday afternoon, in the first ever meeting between the two clubs.  A very impressive first half wasn’t enough to earn the hosts any points on the day.

Craig Edwards named a starting eleven full of changes on Saturday afternoon. Remi Sutton made his home debut in amber and black, partnering Raul Da Silva at the back. Jeremy Bisau also came in from the start as Sam Mvemba returned at left-back. The Ambers got off to a decent start, just three minutes in Sam Mvemba’s cross from left-back was headed over the crossbar by Jack Thomas at the back post after a late run into the box. They went even closer less than a minute later, Nathaniel Orafu’s line breaking pass found Sam Granville in on goal down the left side, his low driven effort was saved by the foot of Kieran Magee in the Chichester goal.

The hosts had another big chance as Jack Thomas’ smart thinking won his team the ball back in midfield. He passed it out to Jeremy Bisau on the right wing, his tricky run ended in the keeper making a strong save at the near post. The chances continued, Bisau’s corner from the right was inches away from being headed in by Darion Furlong but a City defender just beat him to it. Furlong went even closer from the resulting corner from the left this time, he rose the highest at the back post, but again Chichester player was there to clear it off the line with perhaps a suspicion of hand ball?  Certainly the Cheshunt supporters behind the goal claimed it.

Taylor Miles gave the Ambers the lead after 24 minutes, his swinging cross from deep on the left swept up the pitch beyond the Chichester back line, Magee in goal got caught in two minds and let it bounce, and  a firm bounce it was, sailing over the goalkeepers head to give the Ambers the lead.

Cheshunt went into the break just the one goal up with both Cheshunt & Chichester supporters thinking they should be at least three up.

HT: Cheshunt 1-0 Chichester

It was the visitors that started the second half strongest. The Chichester striker Jimmy Wild went close on two occasions. The first was a strike from the edge of the box which was tipped over excellently by keeper Sami Nabbad. The second was a huge stroke of luck for the Ambers. Wild found Nabbad just off his line and hit a rasping shot goal wards  flying just wide of & over the keeper, luckily for Nabbad it cannoned off the post and out.

Cheshunt couldn’t keep the visitors out for much longer. A shot from distance was spilled by the former Chelsea academy man into the path of Ben Pashley, who was able to tap home to level up the score.

The Ambers almost regained the lead as an excellent ball to the back post was headed over from short range by Jeremy Bisau when it must have been easier to score than clear the bar. In return  the visiting Lillywhites went even closer minutes later as captain Rob Hutchings’ powerful effort hit the crossbar. Craig Edwards’ side regained the lead with just under twenty minutes to go. The referee pointed to the spot after a foul in the area on Sam Mvemba as he cut into the box from the left, after much delaying tactics from the visitors, the penalty was smashed into the roof of the net by Tommy Wood.

Now was the time for the experienced heads in the home side to settle things down and play out the last ten minutes, instead Chichester turned the game on its head. Emmett Dunn equalised for the visitors with a header at the back post. Three minutes later, an extended  scramble on the goal line with bodies strewn everywhere  led to Jimmy Wild tapping it into the back of the net to give the visitors the lead.

The Ambers pushed for an equaliser with striker Khris Oti coming on to replace defender Sam Mvemba. Dernell Wynter forced Magee into a save but they couldn’t find another way past him. Vas Vasiliou also went close in the final moments, but it fired just wide of the far post after cutting in from the left wing.

A very tough defeat for Cheshunt to take after such an impressive first half performance. Much to be worked on having shipped ten goals in the last four league matches.

FT: Cheshunt 2-3 Chichester City

More photos available courtesy Scott Lear here

And Amy Eve Photography here