The reserves opened their account today with a solid, professional display away at Chipstead (Surrey) who fielded no less than six first team players, running out 4-0 victors. Angels imposed themselves right from the start with Shaw, White and Rainbow looking solid at the back and with McKeown, Neville and Sinclair working tirelessly in midfield Chipstead hardly got a look in during the first half.

After 15 minutes a quick interchange between Cramp and Carpenter led to Carpenter unleashing a drive from 25 yards with his rarely used left foot that crashed against the bar. As the Angels continued to press it was inevitable that they would score, this happened on 27 minutes when Sinclair’s quick thinking released Cramp who lobbed the ball into the net over the advancing keeper.

With Brock and D’Arcy working the flanks, it was D’Arcy who was released down the right by Neville and crossed for Cramp to get his second goal of the game. On 39 minutes Cramp almost got his hat-trick when his header from another D’Arcy cross was well saved by the Chipstead keeper pushing the ball onto the post. On 40 minutes the Angels were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box when Sinclair was felled. White whipped the free kick in and Sinclair beat the keeper from 6 yards. The Angels were now well on top.

The second half started much the same way the first had started, Angels controlling the midfield, looking solid at the back and with Carpenter and Cramp always a threat up front. After 47 minutes the Angels won a corner on the left, the ball was half cleared by the Chipstead defence and Rainbow struck a shot that was goal-bound only to be blocked by a defender, the ball dropped to Sinclair who calmly struck the ball low into the corner of the net for his second and the Angels fourth.

With the Angels well in control Holland replaced the hard-working McKeown on 55 minutes, Holland slipping into McKeown role. On 70 minutes Kennett replaced Brock at left wing back and with his pace continually caused problems to the Chipstead defence along with Cramp and Carpenter. Cramp was replaced by Burn on 75 minutes as a precaution after taking a heavy kick in the ribs in the first half.

The Angels goal was not threatened until 80 minutes when Goldsmith was forced to back-track and tip over the bar a drive from 25 yards. Goldsmith again preserved the Angels clean sheet with an excellent penalty save low to his left after Holland had up-ended the Chipstead striker as he was about to shoot on 88 minutes. The Angels finished the game with 10 men when Shaw came off injured with the Angels having used all their permitted substitutes.

Report by: Kevin Goldsmith