Miles Rutherford, Danny Potter, Dabba and H made just the one change to the starting XI that somehow drew 2-2 with Cheshunt midweek at home. Curtis Da Costa replaced Jamie Horncastle to partner Ben Pashley in the heart of the defence alongside full backs skipper Rob Hutchings and Isaac Bello either side of keeper Kieran Magee. Emmett Dunn once again lined up in the centre of midfield with holding player Joe Moore, Lloyd Rowlatt and Misha Djemaili. Ethan Prichard began up front together with Obodo.
The visitors did the double over Chi last season thumping the Lillywhites 4-0 at Oaklands and nicking an injury-time win 2-1 in Aveley but Billy Vigar and Ryan Davidson scored in Chichester’s victory there this campaign in August.
Billy’s family were at Oaklands for the game and after 30 seconds applause to mark his passing Pashley and Hutchings set Bello up for a chance early-doors but his air-shot didn’t cause Tags goalie Jack Giddens any problems and Praise Ogbebor got flagged offside two minutes in.
Djemaili, scorer of goals for the Essex team in both matches against Chi last year, then went on a defence splitting run that was broken up and Moore interceded as the Tags counter-attacked.
The sides probed but neither really got going in a rather drab first 45 with passes going astray regularly and linos pulling things up for constant offsides.
Moore hooked away on 10 minutes and Hutchings did well battling with Ogbebor.
A free-kick was given for a foul on Moore who subsequently played a poor pass towards an advanced Hutchings.
Next, Dunn’s final ball got cut out; both sides exchanged throw-ins; and Giddens beat Obodo to the ball when the hosts threatened.
At the mid-point the visitors went close with a header that was steered out for a corner which came to nothing and Chichester forced one of their own at the Archery End.
Jay Devereux’s men cleared this though before Obodo’s foul presented his opponents with a set-piece just outside the box.
Then on the half hour mark Jason Ring linked up with Ogbebor whose cross was redirected for a corner and Joshua Rusoke’s consequent delivery went out for a Chi goal kick.
Then Pashley was well-in on Sam Park and Chi won a couple of throws as things meandered this way and that without any real clear-cut chances.
Jaxon Brown shot wide of the mark on 33 before Luke May-Parrott was adjudged offside twice.
Giddens had to punch away Prichard’s in-swinging corner in the 35th minute before Dunn’s cross towards Obodo nicked off a defender for another corner on the College Lane flank which the Tags custodian also gloved clear of danger.
Next, Obodo and Bello combined but the eventual shot was hacked away and Ogbebor bought a foul off Moore.
The visitors had the ball in the back of the net four minutes before half time but it was ruled out for offside and the following Chichester corner was an easy take for Giddens.
On 44 Joe Christou struck a hit narrowly wide of the post and in the two minutes of additional time of a rather uneventful first half Brown blazed one over after Dunn was dispossessed.
Sixty seconds into the second period a Chi move involving Rowlatt, Djemaili and Prichard fizzled out before Nathan Wilson went down for some lengthy physio treatment.
Obodo then lost control and City won a corner which Prichard took and at the other end Magee cleared as May-Parrott threatened.
On 56 Prichard tried his luck with a free-kick that was hit off-target and his keeper gathered as the Tags pressed.
Rowlatt saw his shot blocked moments later; Prichard got clattered; and Magee collected a set-piece without any issues.
Next, a Bello bomb was headed away and Brown got cautioned for bringing Prichard down harshly.
A slick Hashtag attack involving Brown ended up in an offside decision before Park was replaced by Evans Kouassi in the 66th minute.
Dunn then struck one way over the woodwork in front of the Tennis Club and Ogbebor’s effort was also misdirected at the other end.
A decent block by Prichard saw him concede a throw with 20 or so to go before Rowlatt cleverly dummied allowing Hutchings to have a go.
Then came the turning point in the game when Brown was given a second yellow card and a red as a result of poleaxing Bello.
And the only goal of the game followed three minutes later after Dunn’s fierce effort was parried by Giddens and Obodo followed up to make it 1-0.
It might have been two in the following Chi attack but Djemaili unfortunately hit the post.
The Tags swapped Ogbebor and May-Parrott for Max Cornhill and Ziad Bakaar on 80 minutes as they rejigged before Kouassi hit a cross too deep.
Next, Prichard fired wide and Obodo then might have taken his marker on.
Prichard had an attempt saved as we headed into eight minutes of additional time where Joe Clarke came on for Bello before referee Jacob Wright finally blew full time.
So, Chi move up to 12th spot in the league following the win at St Albans last Saturday and a point at home to Cheshunt mid-week while Hashtag remain in the bottom four.
City are away to Burgess Hill Town on Saturday 27th December (Kick Off 3.00pm).
Chichester – Magee, Bello, Hutchings, Moore, Da Costa, Pashley, Djemaili, Dunn, Rowlatt, Obodo, Prichard (Bennetts, Horncastle, Wild, Rustell, Clarke)
Happy Christmas everyone!!!
