Chichester City enjoying their football again as form returns
Chichester City have come through a poor run of results and performances to start enjoying their football again and picking up wins.
Their latest success was a 3-0 Oaklands Park win over Canvey Island last Saturday which has left them closer in points to the Isthmian premier play-off places than the relegation zone.
The victory, courtesy of goals by Lloyd Rowlatt, Isaac Bello and Olly Munt, made it seven points from the past four games – after they’d taken only one point from their previous four.
They still need seven or eight more points to see off the last lingering relegation worries but assistant boss Harry Bascombe said recent displays had been hugely positive after a couple of off-days at places like Ramsgate and Cheshunt.
"We’ve played well in recent games at Chatham (where City won 3-2) and Aveley (2-2) and it felt like it all came together against Canvey. We sort of it took it out on them,” he said.
"Our keeper didn’t have a save to make and although we scored all three goals when Canvey were down to 10 men, I felt we’d have done the same against 11.
"Even in games we’ve won this season, we’ve not been finishing teams off, so it was nice to go on and win 3-0.
"The other positive is the goals are being shared around.”
It’s only a few weeks ago – after a 3-1 loss at Ramsgate – that manager Miles Rutherford was talking of wanting the season to end.
But now there is a much happier feeling about the squad – and Bascombe said the five-minute three-goal comeback at Chatham, on a day when they did not play that well, was a real turning point.
They go to Dulwich Hamlet – a point and a place above City in the table – on Saturday and Bascombe said: “Our win there last season, in front of a huge crowd, was a day we realised we felt at home at thls level.
"They’re a good side – they beat Chatham on Tuesday – and it will be a hard game.”
Top scorer Miles Obodo is out until the end of March after picking up an injury training with parent club Reading.
But there are no other injuries and Bascombe said it was particularly pleasing to have full-back Ryan Davidson fit and playing again.