Hants/Surrey Regional League Oxted II 2 Reigate Priory 2

REIGATE let a two-goal lead slip at local rivals Oxted on Saturday.

After consecutive league defeats for the first time in two seasons, Reigate drew confidence from a 3-0 Surrey Cup win over Oxted in pre-season.

The early signs were that this was going to be a close encounter dominated by strong midfield players.

Reigate took the game to their opponents. An interception from a defensive clearance by James Chesterton allowed Steve Cobb to win a short corner inside five minutes.

Chesterton stepped up to drag flick the ball accurately into the bottom left for his seventh goal of the season.

The lead was soon doubled with the next Reigate corner as a rebound from another low flick dropped to Chad Hunter, who neatly finished from close range.

The Reigate defence then worked hard to break down a number of waves of Oxted attacks, with Billy Green and skipper Matthew Bennett making a number of well-timed interceptions.

Reigate were perhaps unlucky to have young midfielder Jon Smith sin-binned just before half-time for breaking down play and Oxted pulled one back after some uncharacteristically poor communication in Reigate's defence.

Oxted made a bright start to the second half but were unable to find a clear route into the Reigate 'D' due to excellent closing down from the tireless Simon Owen and Mark Childs, making a real impact in his first game at left back.

Danny Byfield and Dave Short had shots saved and also came close twice from their ever threatening short corners.

Oxted had a midfielder sin-binned, showing frustration when decisions did not go their way.

While down to 10, Oxted were awarded a short corner when Chad Hunter was adjudged to have played man not ball as the last defender.

Reigate felt hard done by and Oxted levelled from the incident.

Oxted hit the post from open play in a frantic final five minutes. Chesterton, one-on-one with the keeper, fired agonisingly wide.

Reigate: Williams, Green, Hunter, Bennett, Childs, Porter, Owen, Byfield, Puddephat, Cobb, Chesterton, Short, Smith.