Chichester City 2 v 0 Three Bridges (Second Half Only)

Saturday 28th November 2009
Sussex County League Division 1
Oaklands Park, Chichester
Admission: N/A
Attendance: 70

At the conclusion of the Midhurst game, I made a swift exit and then drove the twelve mile journey down to Chichester, to catch the second half of the Sussex County League Division 1 game between Chichester City and Three Bridges. Having recently been redeveloped, the facilities at Oaklands Park are now very good, with two small covered standing areas and an all-seated stand with cushioned seating, not dissimilar to that found at the Emirates Stadium. The ground improvements are still ongoing, with a new clubhouse and changing rooms in the process of being built and due to be completed next summer.

Soon after I arrived, Chichester scored the first goal of the game, with an excellently directed header floating over the keeper and into the net. For most of the second half, the match was a scrappy affair in conditions that were made increasingly difficult and slippery by heavy, consistent rain, with Chichester having the better of the few chances they fashioned for themselves. A 1-0 home win looked a fair outcome of the second half, however Chichester won the game with the last movement of the game, James Temple scoring his second with a glancing header from a corner. And so Chichester stay in third place in the league, but are now within 5 points of the league leaders, Whitehawk. As for Three Bridges, they remain deep inside the lower half of the table, although it would be surprising if they were to become involved in a real relegation scrap by the end of the season.