Top six spot is ours! Chichester move up table by felling Sevenoaks

Goals from Matt Axell, Lloyd Rowlatt and Ryan Davidson cancelled out a Frankie Sawyer goal for the visitors to make sure Chi quickly brushed off midweek defeat from a vengeful Ashford United side, to secure their 4th win in 5 matches and continue their playoff surge.

In the reverse fixture back in early November, it finished 2-2 in an entertaining draw at the Bourne Stadium. Sevenoaks came into this match on the back of a dramatic late win over VCD Athletic but they'd had some patchy form of late with three consecutive defeats prior to that victory. Chichester boasted the third best form in the league with just two defeats in their past eight matches.

Chi made three changes. Josh Clack returned after his suspension, new signing Ben Mendoza made his first start after his debut appearance off the bench during the week, and Rory Biggs came in to the side - those three playing in place of Ryan Peake, Jamie Horncastle and Scott Jones.

Chichester started with purpose. A good counter led by Biggs ended with Davidson stinging the gloves of keeper Patrick Lee. But moments later there was nothing the shot stopper could do when Axell picked up the ball on the edge of the box and curled a fine effort into the top corner with the ball crashing off the underside of the bar and across the line, just three minutes in.

Sevenoaks looked for a response as Ryan Hayes put a dangerous corner into the Chi box, Dan Parkinson rose highest, but he couldn’t get a clean connection on his header. At the other end Rob Hutchings, who returned to a more customary left back role, sent a long awkward ball over the top for Clack to chase which Lee did well to eventually deal with.

Sevenoaks did manage to get back on level terms when in the 26th minute Hayes skipped past a challenge from Ben Pashley and crossed to an unchallenged Sawyers who tapped home for his third goal of the season against City. The hosts instantly retook the initiative when Clack fired a free kick at Lee who couldn’t hold on and the ball landed kindly at the feet of Rowlatt, who had the simple task of stabbing the ball in.

Chi looked to further their advantage as Haitham shot over the bar after a good interception from Biggs in the middle of the park, and then Lee did expertly to claim a Davidson cross. Just before the half-time whistle, good centre-forward play from Clack set up Haitham who cut back inside on the left wing and bent an effort just the wrong side of the right post.

Mendoza and Clack linked up well for the first chance of the second half when Clack was played forward and drove at the defence the striker tried to roll the ball under an onrushing Lee on the stretch, but the Sevenoaks keeper blocked the effort.

Hayes proved a threat from crossing positions and again tested the Chichester backline with another dangerous ball which Steve Mowthorpe punched clear back out to Hayes to cross again - the ball did end up in the Chichester net, although the hosts were saved by an offside flag.

Mendoza dazzled the Oaklands crowd as he danced past a couple Sevenoaks challenges and was then brought down on the right wing as the Rocks loanee showed what he is capable off. Rowlatt sent the free-kick in and the ball ricocheted to Clack who managed to dig out a shot which Lee got down quickly to save, but Davidson showed a poacher’s instinct as he slotted the ball home to give the hosts a comfortable two-goal advantage with just over ten minutes to play.

Chichester could have extended their lead when substitute Gicu Iordache had a shot charged down, then Rowlatt fizzed in a low cross which had to be palmed away by Lee and on the rebound Clack could only fire at a Sevenoaks defender.

Substitute Emmett Dunn then dinked a ball over the top for Clack to pounce onto he got his shot off which Lee saved with his feet then rather fortuitously the ball dropped for Iordache who mishits his shot wide off the target.

In the closing minutes the home side went close one more time when a Davidson throw-in from the right made its way to Rowlatt who struck the ball goalward first time and forced Lee into making one more stop, with the keeper doing well throughout the game to keep the score line down for a lacklustre Sevenoaks side.

The victory for Chi, a fourth in five games, saw them move one place up the table to sixth and it now leaves them six points off Herne Bay, who beat Sittingbourne 2-1, but Chi have three games in hand over the Kent outfit.

Up next for Chichester is a midweek visit from old county league rivals Haywards Heath at Oaklands Park (Tuesday, 7:45pm) - then Chichester travel to Kent to face Sittingbourne on Saturday.

Chichester: Mowthorpe, Davidson, Hutchings, Axell, Cody, Pashley, Clack, Biggs, Mendoza, Rowlatt, Haitham. Subs – Dunn, Heath, Peake, Iordache, Ender.