Gee, the Chi assistant manager, sadly passed away in April 2024 and was a former player and also part of the coaching staff at the Hampshire club with Miles Rutherford before moving to take charge of the Lillywhites in the 2015-16 campaign.
Last season the two teams drew 4-4 in the inaugural Memorial Cup at Oaklands Park as Moneyfields spectacularly turned things around after trailing 3-0 at the break.
There are all sorts of connections between both sides – Ben Pashley, Joe Moore, Lloyd Rowlett, Curtis Da Costa, Rob Hutchings and ex-striker Steve Hutchings have all played for Moneyfields.
Rutherford & Co started regular Kieran Magee at No1 with captain Rob Hutchings and a new player at left and right back alongside Ben Pashley and Jack Farrier in the centre of the back four. Mo Jammeh partnered Isaac Bello, Moore, Dunn and Munt in midfield and Ethan Prichard led the line instead of the injured Jimmy Wild.
The visitors to the John Jenkins Stadium started brightly as Dunn, Hutchings, Prichard, Jammeh and Moore combined for a cross that didn’t come unfortunately 60 seconds in.
Chi were at it again a couple of minutes later when Moore and Bello linked up but the hosts cleared the ball easily enough and then Munt spurned a chance moments later.
The Sussex side’s skipper then made a smart one-two with Jammeh only for a teammate to be flagged offside.
Hutchings whipped over a decent corner in the eighth minute but the new defender headed over.
Bello got tackled after a nice pass from Pashley and Prichard conceded a needless foul.
In a rare Moneys’ raid their No8 pulled one wide and at the other end the centre back shepherded the ball safely to his keeper as Chi pressed once more.
Next, Prichard did his marker down the left but fired into the side-netting and on 16 Bello’s cross/shot was no trouble for the Portsmouth custodian.
A bit of fine stuff from the hosts resulted in a poor final ball and Munt and the left back battled hard before Farrier, who is now away with England Universities in Edinburgh for a fixture against Scotland, headed clear.
Prichard got caught by the No10 on 20 minutes for a Chichester free-kick and Farrier prevented the centre forward getting in seconds later.
Silky skill from Bello set Dunn up for the opener in the 22nd minute before Hutchings fizzed a cross over only for the shot-stopper to gather.
Things swung back and forth with Moneyfields almost profiting from a defensive slip on 27 before Moore had to hook away.
On the half hour mark Munt whacked one wide of the target and Moneys blew a chance of their own when the No9 also dragged an effort wide of Magee’s right-hand post.
Then Prichard played a controlled pass to Munt who couldn’t find the back of the net, and Chi wasted a couple of long balls and subsequently a corner.
The Moneys keeper made a decent save to deny Munt on 40 and also prevented Prichard’s attempt moments later but could do nothing to block Munt’s close-range effort three minutes from the interval as the visitors doubled their lead.
And the first-half ended as Magee got out effectively to tidy things up following a slick move from the Yellow & Navy.
Chichester introduced eight new players at the break with only Magee, Pashley and Hutchings still on the field.
A corner kick was won two minutes after the restart which Hutchings delivered and then Joe Clarke opened up the centre of the park with an impressive run and tried to pick Lloyd Rowlatt but the home team steered the ball out for another corner that came to nothing.
Moneys earned one of their own which was eventually blasted over on 56 before Hutchings impeded No7 and the set-piece got headed away
It got a bit scrappy to be fair during the following 10 minutes as both sides gave away cheap fouls before Farrier and Dunn were reintroduced for Hutchings and Pashley.
Ryan Davidson then couldn’t direct his header on target after a neat exchange with former Arsenal and Hastings teammate Billy Vigar.
Next, the Moneyfields’ play-maker won a free-kick on the edge of the box which was wasted and Rowlatt missed an opportunity after Davidson cut the ball back.
The hosts’ keeper then saved with his feet to deny Lewis Rustell and Dunn hit one wide with 11 to go before lifting an attempt high over the bar.
Vigar got teed up by Rustell but fizzed over as well late on.
Chi travel to Horsham, who won the Isthmian premier division last season, on Tuesday 8th July (Kick Off 7:45 pm) for the next friendly before Havant & Waterlooville are at Oaklands Park on Saturday 12th July (Kick Off 3pm).
Chichester – Magee, Trialist, Hutchings, Bello, Farrier, Pashley, Munt, Dunn, Jammeh, Moore, Prichard.
