Excellent recent results stemming from a settled squad have convinced Chisptead's management they can aim to better the club's best Ryman League finish of 15th two years ago.

After three league wins, the High Road outfit were only denied a fourth on Tuesday night by a late Croydon Athletic equaliser and an even later offside flag in a 2-2 draw.

Ray Freeman had the ball in the net, supplied by Scott Simpson after a flick on from man of the match Sean Rivers.

Chipstead were already celebrating by the time the assistant referee raised his flag, demonstrating a new instruction to offside where officials are told to be late and certain rather than quick and wrong.

Many were convinced Freeman was onside. Assistant manager Mick Read said: "We were disappointed in the end not to win. We felt the goal was a good goal and not offside.

"Our recent form is very pleasing," added Read, whose side face Merstham again on Saturday having beaten them 3-0 last weekend. "Even from Saturday we have shown an improvement in our game. Our aim is to finish higher than Chipstead have done before at this level."

Praising the blossoming striker partnership of Rivers and Simpson for holding the ball up, Read also hailed centre-backs James Russell and Louis Hollingsworth.

Chips named an unchanged side. Michael Donovan and Russell Bedford must wait for others to have a lapse in form to get a look in.

Danny Waldren gave promotion-chasing Croydon Athletic a 29th-minute lead with a thumping 18-yard shot that hit James Wastell on its way in after slick team interplay culminating in a short pass from Chris Piper.

But Wastell was a bystander for most of the second half as Chipstead, fourth from bottom in the division, did most of the running in the second half.

The first real opening came on 62 minutes when Rivers' header, from a Jason Thompson corner, was parried at the near post by Ross Flitney.

A Simpson cross was cut out by Nathan Green, a first-half substitute for back injury victim Ben Lewis, soon after.

Then on 74 minutes Rivers earned and scored a penalty. Jumping to challenge for the ball, he was needlessly checked by keeper Ross Flitney who received a yellow card.

Rivers, released a year ago from Croydon Athletic, duly thumped in his 14th goal in 12 games from the spot before being booked himself for delaying the restart of play by sharing a high five with a member of the 114-strong crowd behind the goal.

As Chipstead tried to build on their momentum, they scored a bizarre second, with Flitney again partly at fault in front of Dover Athletic manager Andy Hessenthaler who has put in a seven-day approach for him.

Right-back Nicky White's free-kick from the half-way line evaded everyone, with Flitney and his defence failing to react. It bounced in the six-yard box, hit the post and rebounded for Simpson to score the easiest goal he ever will - his fourth in as many games.

In the 89th minute, Rory Hill hit a stunning, curling equaliser having run halfway across the 18-yard line, before Chipstead were denied when Freeman was deemed offside.

Chipstead: Wastell, White, Thompson, Hollingsworth, Russell, Morrison, Matthews, Smith, Rivers, Simpson, Freeman. Unused subs: Grizzle, Donovan, Bedford, Dodley, Lynch.