Eversley & California earned their first draw of the season as they picked up a point on the road away at Chessington and Hook having taken the lead.
Chalky Lane, Chessington was the venue for Saturday’s game, grey overcast conditions and a good playing surface.
Eversley had a good strong squad on display today with James Griggs partnering the consistent George Marsh at the heart of the defence, due to Connor Allston’s knee problem and a new face upfront, that being Connor Harlowe.
With both teams needing points to get them up the table, it was Eversley playing down the slope who had the better of the early exchanges.
On 10 minutes after good work down the left wing by Ross McKernan, his smart cross found Charlie Scope, whose weak shot hardly troubled the home keeper.
Chessington weathered the early Eversley advances and in the 31st minute created a great opening down their right wing, with their winger getting past the resolute Stephenson to cross for the on rushing centre forward who couldn’t direct his shot on target.
Eversley again took the initiative, with the outstanding Ross McKernan leading the way.
His 43rd minute drive through the middle resulted in the onrushing keeper getting nutmegged on the edge of the “D” and the charging McKernan was brought down when he would have been clean through on goal and scored. However Referee Mr Wright thought that this foul was only worth a yellow.
The second half started much like the first Eversley probing in the wide areas and Chessington continuing to thwart Eversley’s advances.
Eversley took the lead in the 54th minute. Good work by new boy Connor Harlowe down the left wing as he cut in and found Kia Frances who from eight yards out made no mistake to finish past the keeper.
The goal galvanised the hosts who equalised just five minutes later. Fast play down the Chessington right enabled the home side number 10 to cut in shoot only for Liam Vaughan to make a fantastic save low to his right. But the ball to found the busy number six who followed up and nodded into the net.
With 20 minutes left to play, both sides were pressing to find a winner as Harrison Shade replaced Chris Robson.
Great play down the Chessington right channel by Sabin Thapa, his cross found Charlie Scope in space, but his shot was saved onto the crossbar by the keeper. The rebound fell to Kia Francis whose half volley strike was charged down by two Chessington defenders and away to safety.
Eversley and California: Vaughan, C Robson, Marsh, Griggs, Stephenson, Dickie (c) C Allison, McKernan, Scope, Francis & Harlowe.
Subs. Shade, Harvey and Thapa
