17/3/2008

Sport

Cam caught Hook, line and sinker

by Lee Hacker

CAMBERLEY Town slumped to their heaviest defeat of the season thanks to a shambolic defensive display at Chessington and Hook United on Saturday.

A chronic lack of height and organisation condemned Camberley to just their third away defeat of the season, leaving Paul Barry’s side with a mountain to climb to claim a second spot in the table.

The runner-up spot in the Combined Counties Premier Division may yet be enough for promotion, but Camberley seem to have their minds set more on a summer break than an end of season push.

Conceding yet another early goal, Camberley made life doubly hard for themselves by wasting a number of clear chances in the first half, much to the frustration of Barry.

The Camberley boss has witnessed his team go from a cohesive unit to a nervy and disjointed side that has completely lost its way, and with the season quickly falling apart, Barry was at a loss to explain the implosion.

“With the ball we looked OK at times, it was just without the ball we created problems for ourselves,” he admitted.

“It’s something we’ve struggled with in both boxes all season. There were too many people not taking responsibility.

“We created a few decent chance but we just seemed scared to attack the ball in the box. We’ve got too many players that aren’t performing at the moment.”

Following the disappointing midweek draw at lowly Raynes Park Vale, Barry made three changes to his side, most notably up front where Mitch While and dual-registration
Farnborough striker Paul Harkness came in to replace Jourdain Coleman and Rob Lance.

Meanwhile, in defence, youth player Lewis Phillips made his first appearance at left back, replacing Jamie Hoppitt.

After taking just twelve seconds to take the lead at Raynes Park, Camberley should have taken an early lead again through captain for the day Julian Sills.

When the Chessington defence failed to deal with a Jake Galbraith corner, Sills latched on to the loose ball, but the skipper pulled his shot wide from the edge of the penalty area.

After some good early pressure, however, Chessington took just twelve minutes to expose the frailties in a defence that currently seems desperately short of confidence, as well as height.

After a smart save by John Peacock diving to his right, Neil Wicks picked up the ball on the left and delivered a cross into the middle.

Afforded the freedom of the Camberley penalty area, Andy Heath’s header struck the post, only for Matthew Bennett to tap in the rebound and put Chessington ahead.

Buoyed by the strike, the home side began a period of domination that saw Camberley struggling to get out of their own half.

Just after the half hour mark Chessington should have doubled their advantage when Darren Smith latched on to a long ball by Heath, but the midfield lofted his shot wide of the goal.

Two minutes later a high ball into the area confused  Phillips and Peacock, who palmed the ball straight to the lurking Wicks, but the winger fired wildly over the bar.

Phillips soon atoned for his error though when he fired in two superb cross from the left in as many minutes.

First the 17-year-old used his pace to beat Wicks to the byline, but his whipped cross was headed into the arms of the goalkeeper by Harkness.

Then Phillips turned his attention to Heath, tormenting his fellow full-back before again crossing, only for the diving Galbraith to head wide.

On 39 minutes Ross Chalke advanced into the area from the right, before laying off to Shaun Davies, who fired well over.

A minute later though Camberley were made to pay for their wastefulness when Chessington scored an undeserved second.

After breaking from defence, Glen Nichols played a delicate through ball to Richard Webber, who slotted home comfortably past Peacock.

After conceding so close to the break, Barry made two changes at half time, replacing Davies and Tom McGarry with Hoppitt and Lance.

Despite the changes Camberley again started slowly, allowing Chessington to grab a decisive third just four minutes in.

Once again exposing the lack of height in the Camberley defence, Adam Cheadle headed home easily from a Phill Page cross.

After Sills sent a smart effort just wide with the outside of his boot, Chessington added insult to injury on 56 minutes when the home side cut easily through a vacant Camberley midfield and defence.

Allowed a generous amount of time in the middle of the pitch, Nichols picked out Wicks on the right, who all too easily was able to pick out Cheadle in the box to notch his second of the afternoon.

With the match in danger of turning into a farce, Camberley restored some parity just three minutes later when the impressive Phillips forced an error in the Chessington area.

Latching onto the loose ball, While took the ball past the exposed keeper’ before playing to Harkness who passed into an empty net.

Despite having more than half an hour to get back into the match, Camberley never looked likely to mount an unlikely comeback, instead focusing their efforts on the officials, who became the focus of Town’s frustrations.

Instead it was Chessington who had the final say when the visiting defence was again split wide open by a Wicks through ball that left Darren Smith with a simple finish.

Comprehensively defeated and now five points off second place, Barry admits that decisions are being made for him in terms of the playing squad for next season.

“After being knocked out of the Vase I expected us to be stronger and big enough to keep performing,” he said.

“We had a good start to the season and we are in danger of wasting all the hard work we have put in.

“We’re looking at players for next season and at the moment some of the players in the shirt are making our choices very easy for who we keep on.”

How they rated:
John Peacock – Vulnerablity to high balls cruelly exposed, 5.

Ian Messenger – Never looked comfortable and often caught out, 5.

Lewis Phillips – Dynamic going forward and generally sound in defence, 7 MOM.

Peter Millington-Lee – Gave the ball away far too often, 5.

Tom McGarry – Didn’t do too much wrong in 45 minutes, 6.

Julian Sills – Lone source of height in defence was unable to assert himself, 6.

Ross Chalke – If Chalke plays well Camberley play well. Today he was ineffective, 6.

Jake Galbraith – Anonymous in central midfield, 5.

Mitch While – Good movement was generally ignored, 6.

Paul Harkness – A few good touches but was quiet overall, 6.

Shaun Davies – Again looked lightweight before being subbed, 5.

Subs:
Rob Lance (on for Davies 45 mins) – Wasted at full back, 5.

Jamie Hoppitt (on for McGarry 45 mins) – Unable to stem the tide, 5.

First printed in: Aldershot News and Mail