On their return to the ground where five years ago they made history for winning by the same score line in the last round of qualification in the world’s oldest knockout competition when a Matt Axell penalty and a fortuitous Kaleem Haitham goal as the ball diverted past the keeper off his back there were a couple of changes to the starting XI that were beaten by Cray Valley PM last time out. Kieran Magee lined up between the sticks with Ryan Davidson, skipper Rob Hutchings, Curtis Da Costa and Ben Pashley in defence. Emmett Dunn returned to midfield alongside Lloyd Rowlatt, Mo Jammeh, Isaac Bello and Chadwick with Jimmy Wild up top.
The visitors started well when Pashley and Rowlatt combined to play Bello and Hutchings in only for the goalie to get in ahead of Wild.
A minute later Wild was flagged offside after good play from Da Costa and Hutchings before Bello was then caught offside as Chi pressed again.
The away team won a free kick in a dangerous area but the Bowers defence headed clear a couple of times.
Hutchings then caught No20 and Davidson made a decent block before Wild forced a defender into a super clearance.
Next, the hosts were adjudged offside and Alfie Evans dragged one narrowly wide ten minutes in.
Magee was forced into a smart save to deny TQ Addy on the turn and Wild’s attempt from some way out caused Rhys Byrne few problems.
Good defending from Dexter Peter snuffed out the threat posed by Rowlatt and Bello before Bowers took the lead through Evans after Magee only half cleared on 17 minutes.
The Essex side lost their captain Lewis Chambers moments later before Wild forged an opportunity.
Chadwick was booked in the 23rd minute and Rohdell Gordon took the resulting set-piece which was blocked effectively.
Jacob Bland then had a shot/cross and Wild’s effort at the other end was cleared.
The two sides exchanged free kicks which came to nothing before Bello hit one just wide on 28.
A decent penalty shout was overlooked as Rowlatt, Bello and Wild combined.
Chadwick’s clever reverse fell to Hutchings whose delivery was cleared and good composure from Joe Halsey similarly led to another clearance.
Chi got caught out offside a couple of times and a decent Bowers move ended in sub Dembele striking the ball into the side netting.
The Bowers No10 then got booked for a foul on Da Costa and a pass from Wild to Dunn was just too long.
Chadwick was then sent off for a second yellow on Addy and the subsequent free-kick was struck straight into Magee’s gloves.
Dembele curled one off target before Wild, Bello and Rowlatt were all involved in a decent move that ended in a corner that the hosts’ Byrne punched away.
Bland’s effort was poor in time added on; Hutchings got booked for a foul on Addy; and Chi cleared a corner twice.
Joe Clarke replaced Mo Jammeh at the break and Magee did well to prevent Evans doubling the lead.
A slip from Pashley led to a corner kick which Magee took before a nice tackle by Clarke got the ball to Rowlatt.
Bowers were caught offside and then won a corner from which Magee made a smart stop before Chi broke and forced Byrne into one of his own at the opposite end.
Wild couldn’t keep an effort down as Ethan Prichard and Billie Clark replaced Rowlatt and Bello.
Wild got fouled but his set-piece was easy enough for Byrne who moments later gathered when Clarke, Hutchings and Wild threatened.
Both Prichard and Clark had goes ahead of the 70th minute that weren’t far off and a move between Addy and Tariq Straker didn’t quite work out.
Addy made it 2-0 on 74 following a neat freekick.
A promising pass towards Wild was then second guessed by Byrne; Magee denied Addy; and Olly Munt and Joe Moore replaced Dunn and Da Costa for the last 13 minutes or so.
The yellow cards kept coming before Chi won a penalty kick as Clarke was upended in the box on 93. Wild stepped up and although his effort was saved the rebound fell at the feet of Clark who tucked it away for a consolation.
Next up is the away trip to Plymouth Parkway in the FA Trophy on Saturday 26th October (Kick Off 3pm).
Chichester – Magee, Davidson, Hutchings, Dunn, Da Costa, Pashley, Rowlatt, Chadwick, Wild, Jammeh, Bello. (Munt, Clark, Prichard, Moore, Clarke)
(Photos to follow)
