Camberley Town v Sandhurst Town
Combined Counties Premier South
An 11.30am kick off scheduled for this match which, unlike the game down the road at Fleet Town, this one actually went ahead as planned. Camberley is just a 45 minute bus ride and a 15 minute walk for me so there were no dramas getting there even with an early start. It’s always good to visit Krooner Park and it was nice to see a healthy crowd there for this local derby.
Adult entry was £8 and I didn’t see any printed programmes although I believe an online copy was available.
It had been a disappointing start to the new season for the hosts, losing all three games, two of them by the odd goal. Sandhurst had fared a little better, a draw in their league opener, two defeats by the odd goal before a confidence boosting 4-1 win against Epsom & Ewell.
It was a fairly even start to the game with the only action of note a long distance effort from Cosmin Huhulea which Krooners keeper Owen Crawford watched drift harmlessly wide.
Camberley started to take a foothold after quarter of an hour, a succession of corners, and dangerous long throws into the box from Tom Wensley which caused a few problems but were all defended well by Sandhurst. On a quick break the Fizzers came close, a nice cut inside and superb strike from Carter from 25 yards rattled the crossbar with Crawford beaten and the rebound hacked clear.
The goalmouth action turned to the opposite end where, after a melee in the area, the ball eventually fell to Stan Jones but he could only fire wide of the target. The home side took the lead in the 33rd minute and it came from another set piece. A nicely flighted Luis Hamblin corner to the far post was met by a powerful Jacob Wheeler header with the ball flying across the keeper and into the opposite corner. 1-0
Camberley were now in the ascendancy and came close again moments later, a forceful run from Jones down the right took him into the box with Fizzers keeper Hugh Scott making a good stop with his legs. Right on the stroke of half time the Krooners doubled their lead and it came from another set piece. Hamblin’s corner again causing problems for the visitors defence, the ball bobbing around in the box before falling to Jones at the far post who stroked the ball home. 2-0
H-T: Camberley Town 2 Sandhurst Town 0
The second half started with Sandhurst very much on the front foot. After being outmuscled by the home side for long periods in the first half, they were now playing a slick passing game, passing it around their opponents and using pace to create chances.
From a corner, Charlie Sell sent it into a dangerous area where it was palmed away by Crawford, Carter picked up the pieces on the edge of the box and made space for a shot but could only hit the outside of the near post, the ball nestling in the side netting.
The Fizzers next attack saw them halve the deficit and a good goal it was too. Some nice build up play down the left by Carter found Maurice Black on the edge of the box. Black made space for himself as the defender stood off and curled it through the defenders legs and into the bottom right corner. 2-1 and game on!
There were shouts for a penalty soon after when Josh Smith went down under a challenge in the box but it looked to me like the defender got the ball and the official waved away the protests.
The visitors continued to push forward and dominated the play but Camberley nearly took advantage of a mistake on the edge of his own box by Huhulea which was pounced upon by Hamblin. His strength took him into the box where he twisted and turned, making just enough space for a shot only to see it hit the base of the post and roll away to safety.
Sandhurst were playing some nice one touch football as they continued to search for an equaliser. Another dangerous Sell corner beat everyone and was picked up beyond the far post by Toby Thompson but his effort was well blocked by the packed defence.
The visitors continued to press for the leveller in the final ten minutes but couldn’t break through the resolute Krooners defence.
F-T: Camberley Town 2 Sandhurst Town 1
A very entertaining and hard fought local derby with the hosts coming out on top and taking their first three points of the season. Sandhurst looked a different side in the second half and probably deserved a point from this game but the damage had been done in the first half. Camberley had to battle to keep the visitors at bay and defended superbly under pressure for much of the second half.
Best of luck to both sides for the rest of the season.