SIMPLY THE GREST


DEVA CHAT FC will consider themselves unfortunate to suffer their first defeat of 2008, going down 4-3 to high-flying Halifax at the BT Cellnet River Deeside Stadium last weekend.

The defeat sees the Chatters remain in mid-table security, lying in 36th of 79 positions, whilst Halifax went top of the table for a few short hours by recording their ninth win of the season.

Chatters boss Nath Auty made two changes to the side that started the 5-1 mauling of FC Buxton last time out, though kept faith with the much tried and tested 3-5-2 system.

Matt Darlington came into the heart of the three-man defence in the absence of Stef Lambe and Andy Sheehan was handed a much-deserved opportunity at left wing-back. Alan Hitchin dropped to the bench and was joined by Jon Mulligan, returning from injury.

The sides were far more evenly-matched than the league table suggested although the conditions, notably the bobbly pitch, certainly played their part.

It was Halifax who imposed much of the early pressure on the Chatters goal, and Elliott Hill was forced into an excellent palm over the crossbar from a fierce drive inside the opening ten minutes.

Yet the visitors otherwise struggled to break down the strong Chatters backline early on, with Darlington flanked by ever-presents Andy Wall and Wayne Ingram, with skipper Rob Cartwright and Sheehan doing their fair share of defensive work on the flanks.

The defence held out untill the 33rd minute when slack marking from a corner allowed a Halifax attacker to rise and send an accurately-placed header across goal and inside the far post from 12 yards out.

Halifax could have doubled their lead shortly later when the Chatters crossbar was rattled by another header, this time from a long throw that was flicked on at the near post.

It wasn't all one-way traffic though, as Rob Cartwright and Sheehan showed glimpses of their attacking threat on the wings and Joe Cartwright linked up well with the front two Mark Ephgrave and Ash Dolan.

But the Halifax defence proved tough to crack, so it came as a blow to the Chatters to fall two goals behind three minutes before the interval.

Midfield battler Andy Holliday was unfortunate to see the ball bobble up off his shin as he attempted an interception, and that played in the Halifax striker who raced clear of the defence to slot inside the near post - despite the best efforts of 'keeper Hill and his star jumps.

Trailing 0-2 at the break, Auty's inspirational mantra was complimented by two immediate changes in a bid to claw his side back into the game. Hitchin replaced the impressive Sheehan in a straight swap on the left, and Steve Gresty was handed his bow up front with Dolan making way.

With the wind in their favour, but the pitch equally as uneven for both sides, Deva Chat pulled a goal back on 56 minutes through substitute Gresty.

Ephgrave hooked a delightful ball beyond the Halifax defence, which had held its line high up the pitch and allowed strike-partner Gresty the freedom of the half. He raced clear before cooly rounding the goalkeeper and running the ball into an unguarded net.

Within ten minutes the scores were miraculously level - this time Gresty turning provider for Ephgrave as he chased down a lost cause on the right, turned inside the defender and played a low ball to the near post for the chunky number nine to hook across goal and into the bottom far corner from a tight angle.

With the scores level, a third change was made as skipper Rob Cartwright headed off to a rousing applause from his missus. Mulligan filled in at right wing-back for some much-needed match fitness.

But having fought hard to get back into the game, the Chatters fell behind again just two minutes later, in the 67th, through a 25-yard strike that found the top corner with Hill only just beaten.

Once again though, as has been the case in recent outings, Auty's men proved their 'never say die' mentality and levelled at 3-3 with just ten minutes left on the clock.

Yet again it was the Gresty-Ephgrave partnership that brought a goal. The former jinked his way into the box after capitalising on a defensive error, but almost carried it too far and ran afoul of the advancing, scrambling 'keeper.

Luckily the ball spilled to Ephgrave who picked his spot in a crowded penalty area and somehow found the bottom corner for his second of the game.

By this time, Dolan had returned to the field in place of the injured midfield general Matt Mort, who had run himself into the ground yet again, and this switch effectively turned the system into a 3-4-3 in the hope of snatching a winner.

But there was an agonising twist to the tale as Halifax snatched the lead for the third and final time with just three minutes left on the clock.

Mulligan couldn't cut out a cross from the left and the ball sailed onto the head of an on-rushing Halifax attacker who guided his header firmly beyond Hill via a wicked deflection off defender Ingram.

It was a bitter, bitter blow for the Chatters having faired so well to twice level the scores and the final whistle signalled a valiant effort against one of the best sides in the league.

Following the game, Auty declared his satisfaction in the team performance and in the impact of one player in particular.

"It was an almighty effort from our lads to twice draw level against a strong Halifax side," he said.

"At 0-2 at half time we probably would have capitulated four or five months ago, but the way we fought back proves just how far we have come in such a short space of time and it also shows how difficult we are to beat on our own patch.

"Even the games we have lost at home have certainly been no walk-overs at all.

"Steve Gresty, in particular, came on at half time and did exactly what I asked of him. A goal and two assists is a pleasing return from 45 minutes of football and he and Mark Ephgrave looked the dog's b*ll*cks up front during that second half.

"I now challenge Gresty to put ni a similar performance next time around.

Commenting on the conditions, Auty said: "Yes, the pitch is ridiculously bobbly but both sides have to deal with it, not just the opposition, and some of the football we have played recently has been a joy to watch. When we play to our strengths, with the ball on the deck and the wing-backs bombing forward, we are a match for any side."

The Chatters have a break this weekend but they are hoping to arrange up-coming matches against Crewe Alexandra, Port Vale and Mansffield Town in the coming weeks.



Deva Chat FC (R-L):

1. Hill

17. Wall
#. Darlington
32. Ingram

8. Cartwright R. (©)
7. Holliday
#. Mort
27. Cartwright J.
15. Sheehan

16. Dolan (on for Mort, 80)
9. Ephgrave


Substitutes:

3. Auty
11. Hitchin (on for Sheehan, 45)
12. Mulligan (on for Cartwright R., 65)
21. Gresty (on for Dolan, 45)

An excellent team effort - best I have seen us play as a unit, and but for the 25-yarder and some unfortunate deflections could have been a result-shocker!

Surely its time I earned a squad number though, particularly as I've ditched the green socks to look more professional...