League Leaders Chichester Grab Late Equaliser At Peacehaven

Steve Hutchings and Sam Ndlovu celebrate Chi's late equaliser (Picture: Daniel Harker)

A dose of deja vu seemed on the cards for Chichester City until super sub Sam Ndlovu grabbed a late equaliser for the SCFL premier division leaders against plucky mid-table opponents who were the better team on the day.

Chi were 6-1 winners in the reverse fixture back in September but Peacehaven away has proved a tricky fixture for Miles Rutherford and Graeme Gee’s side who have lost 1-0 at the Sports Park the past two seasons.

City were without forwards Scott Jones and Gicu Iordache.

Steve Hutchings, the Moneyfields dual signing who featured last year in the FA Vase history-making win that sent Chichester through to the last sixteen of the competition and the Sussex RUR Cup final, came into the starting XI up top with Ant Ender back in goal in an otherwise unchanged side from the one that beat East Preston last time out.

Hutchings had the game’s first chance heading wide in the fourth minute.

Then Ben Pashley picked out Hutchings with a super pass but the No.9’s touch on to Clack was just a bit too heavy and Alieu Secka gathered comfortably enough.

The hosts forged a couple of opportunities in the next five minutes. Callum Hart curled an effort the wrong side of the post following a slick move down the left before Marcus Allen got on the end of Peacehaven playmaker Cameron Wiltshire’s free-kick after Rory Biggs had been booked for a foul on Tyler Scrafton.

City huffed and puffed.

Biggs was instrumental in a counter-attack which set up Josh Clack for a fierce attempt that was turned out for a corner. Secka flapped at this but the loose ball was hooked away.

Another Biggs run resulted in another corner as the visitors pressed on the half hour mark.

Clack, with three goals in the last two games, tried his luck with a shot on the turn but Secka got a glove to it to tip the ball round for a third corner in as many minutes.

At the other end Chi scrambled clear a Wiltshire set-piece before Ender did well to deny Hart before the break.

Peacehaven took the lead four minutes into the second half when Curt Ford headed in Wiltshire’s precision cross at the back stick.

Chichester had work to do as the home side, spurred on by a large crowd, sensed another scalp and cranked things up.

Hutchings then gave referee Ciaran Fidler something to think about after a strong tackle on Wiltshire – brandishing a yellow card on this occasion.

Next Hutchings went close with an effort after Secka spilled Haitham’s cross before Clack almost caught the Peacehaven keeper out with a lob on 65 minutes.

Hutchings and Clack combined nicely moments later but Secka managed to get his body behind the No.7’s low drive.

Lorenzo Dolcetti and Ndlovu were introduced for Dave Herbert and Biggs and with ten minutes to go Matt Axell fired a Dolcetti corner narrowly past the left hand post.

Then in the 85th minute Ndlovu hauled City back into the match with a smart finish after Hutchings fed the ball into his path.

There was still time for more drama when Chichester were reduced to ten men following a foul by Pashley on Hart who was through on goal. Lira lifted his set-piece from the edge of the box just over the bar.

And then Lucas Tyrell could have won it for the hosts in time added on with practically the last kick of the game but he dragged his effort wide.

It wasn’t pretty from Chi, however once again they found a way to pick up points with a late goal.

Next up for City is tough away match at Crawley Down Gatwick on Saturday 16th February (Kick Off 3pm) before the Peter Bentley semi-final clash with Saltdean at Steyning’s ground on Tuesday 19th February (Kick Off 7.30pm)

Chichester - Ender, Peake, R. Hutchings, Axell, Cody, Pashley, Clack, Biggs, S. Hutchings, Herbert, Hiatham. Subs: Lewis, Dunn, Dolcetti, Ndlovu.

Updated 00:17 - 30 Aug 2019 by Ian Worden