Uxbridge hand Chichester City their biggest defeat for three seasons
Chichester City were thrashed by Southern League Premier South leaders Uxbridge in West London – their first loss after four wins on the bounce and heaviest defeat for almost three years.
City made just one change to the starting XI as skipper Rob Hutchings came back into the side after a holiday and Ryan Davidson dropped to the bench.
James Sweet lined up at right back with Ben Pashley and Curtis Da Costa in front of keeper Max Evans. Joe Clarke, Lloyd Rowlatt, Emmett Dunn, Lucas Pattenden and Isaac Bello were in midfield once again with Harry Bridle up front.
Joe Moore, Jake Lawrence, Brandon Chebby, Olly Munt and Davidson were the subs.
The Reds signalled their intent from the off as George Moore almost got in following a Dunn mistake. Former Chi player Ciaran Martin then cut out Bello’s pass and Dunn cleared after Luis Le Paih had a go.
Alan Massey and Martin linked up but the ball went out for a Chi goal kick. Rowlatt and Pattenden one-twoed and won the visitors a first corner which Rowlatt took and the hosts cleared.
Nice control by striker Francis Amartey instigated another move for the Londoners and Troy Perez-Duah shot just over the bar in the seventh minute – it appeared to have been tipped over by Evans but referee Jonathan Lam awarded a goal kick.
Bello took on defender Cole Brown but lost the ball – before Evans denied debutant Eddie Allsopp 10 minutes in and Uxbridge captain Toby Nnadozie hit a wild one.
Bello and Uxbridge keeper Sam Morris battled for the ball and Pashley fed a marauding Hutchings, though it drifted out for a goal kick.
At the mid-point of the half Amartey, Perez-Duah and Martin combined for a cross which was headed poorly off target. A Dunn delivery got hooked away by the hosts and Sweet caught the Uxbridge No7.
On the half hour mark Perez-Duah found Massey to head home the opener.
Sweet was fouled by Jack Burchell but no one met Hutchings finely taken set piece. Pashley took one for the team blocking Moore’s shot on 39 before a lovely ball in from Rowlatt wasn’t capitalised on by Pattenden.
Chi were ripped apart two minutes before half-time as Moore doubled the lead with a clever finish. Da Costa went down after being beaten to the ball by Moore and had to be replaced by Davidson.
Clarke, carrying a knock picked up last time out, was exchanged for Joe Moore at the break as Chi rejigged.
Rowlatt had a shot blocked for a City corner and Pattenden struck a disappointing reverse pass 50 minutes in.
The ref wasn’t interested in giving a spot kick when Bridle was challenged on 51 and Davidson clipped the home side’s No9 and then made a terrible back pass which the Londoners almost profited from. And it was 3-0 in the 54th minute thanks to new signing Allsopp’s delightful finish.
The Honeycroft faithful had another one to celebrate as Amartey got the final touch on Allsopp’s goalbound effort.
Lawrence came on for a tiring Rowlatt and an Evans’ clearance was charged down by the hard-working Allsopp before the hosts won a couple of corners.
Davidson nearly scored an own-goal but his header went over for another Reds’ corner and George Moore got his second with a bullet header in the 70th minute for 5-0.
Chebby replaced Bridle and Munt came on for Pattenden. Pashley picked up a yellow for a professional foul on sub Trevan Robinson.
George Moore lifted one over the bar and at the other end Bello also fired off target.
Munt had a shot saved comfortably in the 90th minute and Lawrence’s attempt was saved in the last bit of action.
Chi host SE Dons in the next round of the FA Cup on Saturday (Sep 19).
Chichester City: Evans, Sweet, Hutchings, Clarke, Da Costa, Pashley, Dunn, Rowlatt, Bello, Pattenden, Bridle (Lawrence, Davidson, Munt, Chebby, Moore)