Match Report: Chasetown (h)

Vauxhall Motors were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw at home to Chasetown on Saturday afternoon in their pursuit of a place in the playoffs at the end of the season. 

Striker Kevin Ellison got the Motors off to the perfect starting, netting his 11th league goal of the season after just 5 minutes following a melee in the away side’s 6 yard box.

The home side felt aggrieved that their opponents weren't reduced to 10 men on separate occasions. Firstly, striker Connor Harwood was felled inside the Chasetown half, the referee deeming the offence to not constitute a denial of a goal scoring opportunity. Their second grievance brought even more consternation, after Chasetown keeper Curtis Pond wiped out winger Jawad Jebrin with a mistimed jump, clattering the Motors player rather than the ball. Astonishingly, the officials only saw this as a yellow card offence, and kept the away side to 11 men.  

The home side were comfortable the better side in the opening 45 minutes, but their profligacy in front of goal would haunt them in the second half. 

Just 2 minutes after the restart, the away side got their equaliser through Jordan Evans, after a miss-hit clearance fell to the Chasetown winger, who calmly slotted into the bottom corner of the net. 

The Motors should have retaken the lead twice almost immediately, but Jebrin’s effort sailed high wide and not very handsome over the bar. 

Jebrin then squandered a second chance on the hour mark, after breaking through the Chasetown defensive line, had all the time in the world to set himself, but somehow put the ball over the bar instead of the back of the net. 

Manager Danny Holmes’ sent on his reinforcements to try and change the game, striker Joe Malkin not able to control his effort after great work by Jebrin down the left hand side. 

Fellow substitute Nathan Sandison came the closest to winning the game on 80 mins, but his effort was cleared off the line by a frantic Chasetown defence, who would ultimately hold on for a draw. 

It was a disappointing afternoon for the side chasing a promotion spot, but with results going their way on the day, they still sit in 5th position on goal difference ahead of Lower Breck. The trip to Anfield on Bank Holiday Monday has a winner take all feeling about it. 

Before the game, defender Jordan Deer was presented with an award to celebrate making 150 appearances for the home side since making his debut in the 2021/22 season. After missing the majority of last season through injury, he has fought his way back into manager Danny Holmes' first choice 11, making 36 league appearance so far this season. 

Congratulations Jabba!