Miles Rutherford, Dabba and H made two changes to the starting XI that beat St Albans City 2-1 in that resilient performance last time out in Hertfordshire. Misha Djemaili replaced midfielder Joe Clarke and Jamie Horncastle partnered Ben Pashley in the heart of the defence instead of Curtis Da Costa who was also named among the substitutes with Theo Bennetts, Olly Munt, Lewis Rustell and Clarke.
Emmett Dunn, scorer in both games against the visitors last campaign when City did the double over the Ambers winning 3-2 away in a topsy-turvy game followed by a 4-0 thumping at Oaklands, lined up in the centre of midfield with holder Joe Moore.
Isaac Bello started at right back once again in front of custodian Kieran Magee together with skipper Rob Hutchings on the other side. Lloyd Rowlatt began in his usual No10 slot accompanied by Miles Obodo and wonder-kid Ethan Prichard up top.
Bello got whacked early doors and Moore was upended – neither Chi free kicks according to referee Jonathon Wilks before Connor Kurran-Browne’s ‘worldie’ super strike stunned the Oaklands Park faithful as his rocket flew into Magee’s top left-hand corner to make it 1-0 after barely two minutes.
The same opposition player then went on a decent run and crossed moments later but the Lillywhites backline dealt with this and Rowlatt won the hosts a throw-in up against Lordon Akolbire.
Next, good strength from both Hutchings and Pashley denied Sam Granville before the away team’s centre forward Nahum Melvin-Lambert fired one wide.
Under the cosh, the hosts conceded a dodgy corner and Jesse Effa struck a shot high and wide 12 minutes in as the Herts side’s intensity didn’t allow Chichester to settle.
Both Dunn and Jack Turner went down in the penalty area after a coming together and Cheshunt played a set-piece into the box that Magee claimed safely.
And then a fantastic hit from Obodo was only parried by keeper Aymen Azaze and the loose ball presented Rowlatt with a gilt-edged opportunity to grab the equaliser but he fluffed his lines.
Azaze had a Bello bomb and a subsequent Hutchings’ corner to cope with which he punched unconfidently clear before a lovely hit from Prichard levelled things up on 24 minutes.
Good work from Dunn was undone when Djemaili got flagged offside before Pashley jumped effectively to head the ball out for a throw.
Nice upper-body strength by Djemaili then teed Dunn for a chance that he couldn’t control and a lovely delivery from the impressive Kurran-Browne set Melvin-Lambert up for a neat finish to put his side 2-1 up on the half hour.
Chi forced another corner which Hutchings took once again and Azaze punched clear before the Cheshunt goalie had Prichard’s high ball into the box to contend with which he got a glove of sorts on.
An exquisite touch by Prichard led to a shot on 33 before Hutchings was fouled and a good Moore recovery saw Bello win a throw.
Next, Effa’s turn of pace led to a threatening cross that Horncastle cut out brilliantly.
The second equaliser came 39 minutes in though with Djemaili given too much time and he slotted a Dunn pass home to make it 2-2.
Bello danced down the right in the following Chichester break but the move broke down after too many touches before Djemaili bought a free-kick.
And on the stroke of an eventful first half Prichard fizzed one wide of the mark before at the Tennis Club End Effa’s shot nicked off Moore for a Cheshunt corner which Matthias Fanimo took and the Chi defence headed away.
There weren’t any changes at the break and in the hosts’ initial attack Hutchings blazed one off target before Prichard also struck a shot wide.
The Chi captain then won a throw off Kurran-Browne and Akolbire hit an attempt over the woodwork.
Hutchings’ cross was poor; Rowlatt got fouled as the hosts rebuilt; the Sussex-based skipper headed out for a Cheshunt throw; and Pashley finally cleared a dangerous ball in from Akolbire.
Azaze gathered Prichard’s cross at the second time of asking 57 minutes in before Bello went down for some physio treatment.
Next, Magee saved when Granville got on the end of a decent ball and on 60 minutes Prichard spurned a chance to cross first time after good work from Obodo.
Djemaili then overhit a pass intended for Obodo and at the Archery End Melvin-Lambert was flagged offside.
On 66 Obodo’s fierce shot was blocked and Bradley Roberts came on for Jamie Murefu.
Obodo won Chichester a corner that Hutchings took before the hosts passed up two glorious opportunities through either Pashley or Djemaili, and Dunn who missed a chance to make a clear-cut header with 20 minutes to go.
Next, Prichard struck one inches wide in the 71st minute before firing a free-kick in a dangerous spot over the bar.
Pashley’s slip forced Horncastle to bail him out by conceding a corner which the centre back headed away.
Obodo saw his cross claimed by Azaze and both teams exchanged offsides.
Rustell replaced Obodo with five minutes of normal time to go and good physicality from Turner broke up a move spearheaded by Prichard.
Clarke came on for Djemaili after Chi won a corner which Prichard delivered only for Azaze to then deny him, gathering at the second attempt.
The visitors should have claimed all three points in time added on when a shot appeared to hit the stanchion but the officials didn’t give it and Chichester wasted a golden opportunity at the other end late on.
So, it finished all square and as you were with Rutherford’s men in 16th place in the league and Cheshunt 17th, one point behind.
Chi welcome Hashtag United to Oaklands Park on Saturday 20th December (Kick Off 3.00pm).
Chichester – Magee, Bello, Hutchings, Moore, Horncastle, Pashley, Djemaili, Dunn, Rowlatt, Obodo, Prichard (Bennetts, Da Costa, Clarke, Rustell, Munt).
