Another 120 miles on the M25 to pastures new in the shape of the exotically named Eversley & California FC in the Suburban League Challenge Cup.

We started brightly and had dominated for 10 mins and missed a couple of presentable chances when our opponents scored after an error .

Fortunately this failed to put us off and within 5 mins Callum Gregory carried the ball from midfield on the heavy pitch before striking a left foot strike beyond their keeper. Ollie Ruttle who had a hobby of going/standing offside then scored with a very neat lob to put us apparently in charge.

Without particularly pressing well we forced our opponents into playing long and after 30 mins their no.10 was allowed to hold the ball up and then set up their winger who with no one within 5 yards of him scored.

Till half time we then played with little or no quality and the game descended to a poor spectacle.

At half time the players were reminded of what an awful journey back it would be if the result didn't go the right way. The second half started with the pitch getting heavier and heavier but having kept Eversley & California at arms length we then took advantage of a corner cheaply given away for Les Barkers- Obua to finish at the far post.

Within minutes Ollie Ruttle worked hard to earn a penalty which Ryan McMahon duly converted.

The game was now effectively done and with the spaces created by opponents pushing on Joe Naylor and Tom Shaw scored 2 further goals to see out an ultimately comfortable victory.

Whereas on another day stronger opponents could have taken advantage of our poor patch,as ever,this entire squad scrapped and battled their way to a home fixture with Redhill Res. in the next round.

Team: M.Evan, Z.Crawford, P.Bagatti, L.Barkers- Obua, C.Church (M.Bulpit), C.Gregory, R.Mcmahon, J.Shaw (K.Goldberg), T Shaw, O Ruttle (R Zekri), I Ejimfer (J Naylor)

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