Chichester, playing the final on Merstham's own Ryman League ground, knew they had to start well and silence the large and vociferous home crowd and made the perfect start as Chantelle Clark fired City in front after just five minutes following a surging run and then Abbey Shrubb doubled the advantage on fifteen minutes, converting a pass from Paris Hutton. Chichester played some wonderful football during the first thirty minutes and could have easily added to the score as Shrubb and Clark went close and Imogen Horne rattled the cross bar. Merstham came more into the game and Sam Wiseman made two smart saves before Merstham reduced the deficit just before the break.

The introduction of Sam Parker after the interval invigorated the City attack and it was Parker who restored the two goal lead, firing into the corner following an excellent move down the left. The game continued at a very fast pace in humid, energy sapping conditions. Laura Pike came close to putting Chichester out of sight, hitting the cross bar with an excellent strike from distance. Merstham though began to dominate and City had to use all five substitutes to keep the advantage as the game moved into the last ten minutes. Naomi Parfoot made several fine saves as Chichester, for the first time struggled to contain the movement of the Merstham attack. During this period of play the overworked Vicky Bernard, Rosie Maher and skipper Sian Spicer were outstanding at the back for City. Merstham pulled a goal back from twenty five yards and then completed the come back to take the game into extra time.

Little was seen of City as an attacking force during the first period of extra time and the second period continued in a similar fashion as the City girls looked very tired. It came as no surprise when Merstham took the lead for the first time in the match in the middle of the second period. As Chichester tried to get back into the game they were reduced to ten players. The sending off seemed to galvanise the Chichester team and this together with the several substitutions Merstham made to slow the game down handed the initiative back to City. Sian Spicer and Steph Madden drove the team forward and following good work from Laura Sherwood and Abbie Crook, Laura Pike equalised.

In the penalty shoot out, clinical kicks from Parker, Crook, Pike and Spicer put pressure on the fourth Merstham penalty taker and Naomi Parfoot did the rest, diving to her left to make the all important save. In a fitting end to this epic match, the inspirational Steph Madden, who has missed most of the season through injury, converted her penalty to seal the victory and enable Sian Spicer to lift the cup for Chichester.

Chichester emerged from a demanding double header at the Beveree Stadium with four points but yet more injury worries ahead of their forthcoming cup final.

City started brightly and despite having to replace the injured Paris Hutton after just three minutes created several good opportunities which unfortunately for the visitors were not converted. As is often the case Hampton, having soaked up a lot of early pressure, took the lead from their first real attack when the ball was swept home following an excellent cross from the left.

Chichester continued to take the game to Hampton and it came as no surprise when Chantelle Clark raced through to fire the equaliser. City then took the lead just before half time when an excellent short corner routine involving Abbie Crook and Abbey Shrubb ended with Laura Pike heading in Shrubb's cross. After the break, Shrubb and Clark had opportunities to increase City's lead but shot over when well placed. Chichester's excellent defence managed to keep the Hampton attack quiet to secure victory.

Hampton dominated the first period of the second game but couldn't find the killer pass to unlock the visitors defence. City had the better chances on the break though, Shrubb hitting the crossbar twice and then heading against the foot of the post following Clark's surging run and cross. Both teams tired appreciably during the final thirty minute period. City probably finished the stronger but couldn't find the winning goal. Shrubb shot wide after going around the goalkeeper and right at the death the excellent Hampton keeper pulled of a tremendous save to deny Clark.

Chichester suffered only their second defeat of the season and their first since late September at the hands of league leaders St. Albans. With the home side closing in on the league title, City faced a difficult challenge at London Colney FC and failed to settle from the long journey as a highly motivated St. Albans stormed into a two goal lead after only ten minutes.

The home side continued to dominate, but City had opportunities to get back into the game as Laura Pike, Abbie Crook, Paris Hutton and Abbey Shrubb combined well on the counter attack. The closest Chichester came to scoring was a Shrubb header that just cleared the crossbar from a Pike cross.

St. Albans scored again on the stroke of half time to effectively seal the game. Chichester's second half display was much improved and the game was a much more even contest but the only goal of the half went to the home side with a shot from distance that just beat Sam Wiseman who excelled in goal in the second half as a replacement for the injured Naomi Parfoot.

Chichester produced a performance of great character and commitment to defeat a very talented Merstham side.

Determined to avenge the early season defeat by City, the Surrey Champions immediately took control of the game and forced the home side to defend. However, with their first attack of the game Chichester took the lead on ten minutes, when the hard working Laura Sherwood fired home from outside the box following some good approach play.

Merstham continued to dominate territorially and equalised with a well struck shot over Naomi Parfoot in the City goal. A combination of excellent defending and goalkeeping kept the visitors at bay and little was seen of the usually prolific Chichester attack.

Merstham continued to press forward during the second half and Chichester had to dig deep to keep in the game. However, as the half reached it's midpoint City's midfield gradually began to gain the upper hand as the visitors understandably tired and following one surging run by Laura Pike, Samantha Parker drilled a shot into the corner of the net to give City the lead. Merstham forced several corners and had a couple of free kicks in dangerous positions as the game drew to a close but City's defence held firm to secure the victory.

Chichester produced a battling performance in difficult conditions and returned from West London with a well deserved point to remain amongst the front runners for honours in the Surrey Premier Division.

Aided by the strong wind Brentford stormed forward from the kick off and pinned City in their own half for the majority of the first period. Chichester's excellent defence stood firm and a combination of timely tackles, interceptions and a couple of smart saves from keeper Ruth Acott enabled the visitors to reach half time without conceeding. In fact City should really have been ahead at the break as Abbey Shrubb and Sam Parker both shot narrowly wide and then Parker hit the post following good work from Shrubb from rare City counter attacks.

Chichester managed to undo all the good work of the previous half when, following a period of sustained pressure, they allowed Brentford to score from distance from a counter attack. City though immediately hit back as a surging run and cross from Shrubb was converted at the far post by Parker. Another long shot from the home side restored Brentford's lead. Shrubb and Laura Pike struck the same upright before Shrubb ran on to a flick from Sam Wiseman to equalise. Chichester had several opportunities to win the game in the final stages but Shrubb shot wide and Wiseman fired over as City finished the stronger.

Without a league fixture Chichester accepted Reading's invitation for a friendly and despite slipping to a rare defeat found the experience a useful workout in glorious conditions at the Palmer Park Stadium.

City were not at their best in the first half as the hosts, currently leading their own league presented a tough challenge for the visitors. Ruth Acott made a series of saves before Reading scored and then doubled the advantage from a well taken goal. However, Chichester quickly responded and scored the goal of the game as Paris Hutton's lay off enabled Chantelle Clark to outpace the Reading defence and slot home.

The visitors looked a much better side in the second period enjoying greater possession, but the only goal of the second half was scored by the home side when a fierce shot was well saved by Acott but the loose ball was turned in at the far post. City came close on several occasions as they finished the game the stronger. Clark hit the cross bar from a free kick and had a corner cleared off the line, Laura Pike hit the post following a surging run and Abbey Shrubb fired over after a fine move out of defence.

Chichester and QPR produced a very entertaining game despite the blustery conditions at Church Road. At one stage the home side were two nil up but the excellent Rangers team levelled twice, the second equaliser coming with just five minutes remaining.

The visitors started the game strongly and worked several good opportunities as City struggled to get into the game. The movement of the strikers was a feature of Rangers play but somehow Chichester were able to keep the scores level. Eventually City got into the game and went close on a couple of occasions before a breathtaking move from the back involving Amber Maher, Abbie Crook and Paris Hutton ended with Abbey Shrubb putting City in front. It was now the home side who established some superiority and Shrubb doubled the lead following good work from Sam Parker.

QPR dragged themselves back into the game and ended the half well and scored twice in quick succession. The second an excellent header from a well worked corner routine.

The second half was again quite even, with both defences on top. Three changes to the City side seemed to freshen up their play and a slick counter attack ended with Chantelle Clark blasting Chichester in front again. The play became stretched as both sides tired and there were chances at either end. As the game moved into the closing stages Shrubb, following a smart turn was unlucky to see the shot strike the upright before Rangers grabbed a deserved point following an excellent counter attack down the right.

This victory for City was not as comfortable as the score line suggests as the visitors dominated for a long spell during the second half.

Following the previous weeks tough game against St. Albans, Chichester started the game well and looked like scoring with every attack. Samantha Parker, Imogen Horne and Abbey Shrubb enjoyed plenty of space as the home side attacked at will. Shrubb put the home side in front with the first of her five goals. Little was seen of the dangerous Brentford attack that caused City so many problems earlier in the season as Sian Spicer, Vicky Bernard and Rosie Maher dominated at the back. Chichester were four in front at the break as Chantelle Clark added to a Shrubb hat trick.

From the re-start Brentford looked a completely different team, determined to get back into the game, they began to control the midfield. City struggled to get out of their half for a twenty minute spell. Two magnificent saves from Ruth Acott enabled the home side to retain the four goal cushion and completely against the run of play and with their first attack of the half Shrubb broke through to kill off the visitors. Further strikes from Shrubb and Amber Maher were very harsh on Brentford.

Chichester had to settle for a point in the first of their Premier Division fixtures against a St. Albans side who were the only team to beat City during the first phase of matches that saw the team qualify comfortably in the top six.

The visitors used the strong wind to their advantage in the early stages forcing the visitors to defend desperately at times to keep the scores level. St. Albans won several corners as they continued to dominate territorily and eventually took the lead as a shot from the corner of the penalty area found a way past Naomi Parfoot's desparing dive. Chichester's excellent defence stood firm as the visitors threatened to run riot but a surging run from the back from Amber Maher found Sam Parker in space who in turn picked out Abbey Shrubb's run and the City striker levelled the scores with a clinical finish.

St. Albans were still on top at the start of the second half and regained the lead from a corner. The goal seemed to finally kick start the home side into action and eventually City gained some control of the midfield and began to force St. Albans to defend. Chichester worked some good opportunities and sereral efforts went narrowly wide. Laura Pike hit an upright before Abbey Shrubb chased down a loose ball to evade the goalkeeper to net her second. City had chances to win the game towards the end but a draw was probably a fair result.

Chichester booked a place in the Surrey League Cup Final with victory over a stubborn Claygate side at Church Road. Despite looking a little rusty following a seven week lay off, all fifteen players made a significant contribution as City deservedly won the tie to face either Merstham or Queens Park Rangers in the final.

City attacked incessantly from the kick off but the visitors defended well to keep the scores level. Chichester's passing and movement began to create chances and Claygate tired as the first half drew to a close and Abbey Shrubb fired the home side in front following a good move involving fellow strikers Sam Parker and Paris Hutton.

City doubled the lead at the start of the second half from a cool finish from Parker, but, determined defending and excellent goalkeeping kept the visitors in the game until Laura Pike effectively sealed the tie with the third goal fifteen minutes from time. Chichester managed to keep possession of the ball well as the game moved into the final stages and scored twice more with a brace from Chantelle Clark either side of a wonderful and deserved consolation goal from Claygate.

Despite early stubborn resistence by the hard working Crawley side Chichester eventually took command to secure a comfortable three points.

City's play was surprisingly disjointed in the early stages and it took over twenty minutes for the home side to break the deadlock. Abbey Shrubb going around the keeper to score. Laura Pike then scored a brace to put City three up at the break, the second a glorious volley from the edge of the box.

In the second half Chichester, driven forward by their excellent defence began to play the enteraining football that has been a feature of their games recently. Abbie Crook scored twice and a rapid fire hat trick from Chantelle Clark completed the scoring as Crawley inevitably tired in the closing stages.

There were only six minutes remaining of extra time, with the dreaded penalty shoot out looming, when Sam Parker turned in Abbey Shrubb's right wing cross to send Chichester through to the Semi Finals of the League Cup.

Hampton and Richmond were by far the better side in the early stages and Ruth Acott was very busy in the City goal. The home side, who are currently second in the league table, failed to convert some good opportunities before taking the lead on ten minutes.

Falling behind seemed to be the spur Chichester needed and they soon began to get into their stride and create chances. Parker and Shrubb both going close before Shrubb fired the equaliser. The visitors continued to dominate but found the Hampton keeper in inspirational form on many occasions but with half time approaching a wonderful turn and shot by Shrubb gave City the lead.

Despite a good spell at the beginning of the second half from the home side, City continued to create chances but the Hampton keeper amazingly denied Chichester the important third goal and, as is often the case Hampton equalised in the eighty fifth minute from distance, having not really troubled the excellent City defence in the second half.

Chichester managed to find yet another level in extra time and play some wonderful football. The heavy rain quickened the excellent playing surface at the Beveree Stadium and with the floodlights now on City attacked the home goal incessantly but without being able to find a way past the keeper until another good attack left the home defence stretched leaving an unmarked Parker to win the game for City.

Chichester continued their recent run of good form with a comprehensive victory at the Hemel Hempstead Athletics Stadium.

City took a while to get going and the play was very scrappy in the early stages. Despite Abbey Shrubb's early goal Chichester were frustrated by the home sides high defensive line and it wasn't until Hemel won their first corner on thirty minutes that the visitors doubled the lead from the resultant counter attack. Hemel Hempstead then enjoyed a spell of pressure on the City goal and were unfortunate not to score themselves when a well struck shot hit the crossbar.

Chichester improved significantly at the start of the second half using a typically solid defence, in which debutant Vicky Bernard excelled, as the platform for sustained attacking play.

The resilient home defence held out though until midway through the half, when following a foul, the quick thinking Sam Parker set Abbie Crook free on the right to deliver a first time cross into the path of Shrubb who side footed a volley home for her hat trick. Shrubb went on to score three more and there was also a deserved goal from Paris Hutton as the home side tired in the closing stages.

Chichester defeated the runaway league leaders Merstham in a wonderful game in front of a large crowd at Church Road and in doing so ended the Surrey league and cup double winners two year unbeaten record.

City started their first home game in a month well and managed to keep possession for long periods and create some excellent chances. Chichester, with every player seemingly on top form continued to dominate. Abbey Shrubb, twice denied by Merstham's England U19 goalkeeper then fired the home side in front after running on to a ball over the top of the defence.

Chichester doubled the lead after a flowing move down the left flank involving Chantelle Clark, Paris Hutton and Sam Parker that ended with Shrubb sweeping the ball in from close range. More opportunities to score came and went for City as the visitors came more into the game as the half drew to a close. A near post save from Naomi Parfoot and a free kick that drifted wide were the closest Merstham came to scoring in the first period.

As with all good sides Merstham went up a couple of gears following their half time team talk and had reduced the deficit within six minutes of the re-start. It was now Merstham's turn to dominate and the visitors pinned City back but the home defence stood firm and provided the platform for the strikers to hit Merstham on the break.

Several times the Merstam goalkeeper denied Chichester with some superb saves before an excellent run by Paris Hutton was ended by a foul on the edge of the box leaving Shrubb to fire the resultant free kick into the top corner and give City a two goal cushion going into the final twenty minutes. Parfoot then made two good saves as the visitors desperately tried to maintain their unbeaten record. As City tired, the visitors won several corners in quick succession and from one they pulled a goal back but Chichester held firm through the final ten minutes to secure a memorable victory.

Two late goals from Brentford failed to stop Chichester from securing another three points from this eleven goal thriller.

Brentford, an athletic and very industrious side started the better as Chichester took a while to get going following the long journey. Once into their stride the visitors looked like scoring each time they entered the Brentford half. Once again Paris Hutton, Samantha Parker and Abbey Shrubb were a real threat. Brentford were also dangerous going forward and took the lead with a well taken goal.

City struck back immediately as two Shrubb goals gave the visitors the lead at the break. The introduction of another striker had the desired effect for Brentford as two goals stunned Chichester at the start of the second half forcing a defensive reshuffle. Brentford began to dominate territorily. However, excellent goal keeping denied the visitors several times on the counter attack.

Just when it appeared that City were heading for defeat an excellent individual goal from Laura Pike initiated a breathtaking spell of football from City to win the game. With several players in offside positions Pike collected the ball in midfield advanced through a mass of players and calmly side footed the equaliser. Shrubb soon gave Chichester the lead and then scored twice more. With the game seemingly in the bag City took their foot off the gas and allowed the dangerous Brentford side two goals at the death.

Chichester's current injury problems didn't stop them from booking a League Cup quarter final tie with Hampton and Richmond following a battling display at Pease Pottage. City's reshuffled defence and midfield worked tirelessly to provide strikers Paris Hutton, Sam Parker and Abbey Shrubb with the service they needed to run the home defence ragged.

Chichester were on top from the kick off and following a couple of near misses Shrubb put City in front with the first of her five goals. Shrubb soon doubled the advantage and Parker made it three nil with just fifteen minutes gone. Crawley came back into the game with a little spell of posession before Shrubb headed home Imogen Horne's cross following a flowing move down the left . For a while the visitors took their foot off the gas and allowed Crawley back into the game to score twice. A push in the box was converted and a right wing cross was turned in at the far post. The two Crawley goals came either side of a superb chip from Shrubb.

Despite a deficit of three at the break, the home side started the second half well and took the game to a tired looking Chichester team. However, the well organised defence and hard working midfield restricted Crawley to long range shots and soon the visitors began to dominate once more. Hutton scored a deserved goal from outside the box and then Shrubb completed the scoring as the visitors comfortable maintained possesion to kill off a gallant Crawley team.

Chichester returned to winning ways against a determined and athletic Mole Valley side but finished a bizarre second half with only eight fit players and a very tired physio.

The home side started well and breezed into a three goal lead within ten minutes. Chantelle Clark started the scoring with two strikes from distance and Abbey Shrubb made it three. Mole Valley managed to stifle the rampant City attack for a while before Sam Parker made it four with an excellent left footed strike and then Shrubb completed her first Surrey league hat trick with trademark finishes to make it six nil at half time.

With several players unable to continue through injury City's play lacked the fluency of the early stages and Mole Valley began to build some attacks themselves without really threatening the home goal until yet more injuries caused the home side to loose shape in the last ten minutes and allow Mole Valley two consolation goals.

Chichester conceded a goal in the eighty fifth minute to send them to their first league defeat in over eighteen months against a very good St. Albans side at London Colney F.C.

The home side, keen to impress a large home crowd started well and pinned City deep in their own half at the start of the game. However, the visitors took the lead the first time they enterd the St. Alban's half. Abbie Crook won the ball in her own penalty box, the play was switched to Chantelle Clark who picked out Sam Parker who outpaced the defence to slot home. Parker soon had a chance to double the lead but was thwarted by a last ditch tackle.

St. Albans continued to take the game to City and equalised from a corner on fourteen minutes and took the lead when a defensive clearance rebounded past Keeper Ruth Acott from close range two minutes later. Chichester, despite going behind then had their best spell of the game and created five excellent chances. Unfortunately failure to convert any of them eventually proved decisive. Clark twice flashed shots narrowly over, Laura Pike volleyed against the crossbar, Laura Sherwood missed with a header and then Paris Hutton volleyed over as the half drew to a close.

A determined City equalised at the start of the second period. A corner was only partially cleared to Crook who sent a shot screaming into the top corner from twenty five yards.

The goal only seemed to inspire the home side though, who proceeded to dominate territorily. The excellent Chichester defence prevented the home side from turning their superiority into chances. Just when it appeared that the visitors would hold on for the point their efforts deserved, an injury to Steph Madden forced City to finish the game with ten players and for once a St. Albans striker found some space in the box to fire the winner.

Chichester made a winning start to their Surrey County Girls League campaign against a hard working Claygate side in very hot conditions at Church Road on Sunday.

City worked some good opportunities in the early stages, but a combination of near misses and good goalkeeping kept the scores level. It seemed just a matter of time before the home side would score, but it was the visitors who took a shock lead midway through the half when a long kick from the keeper fell invitingly for the excellent Royals centre forward to advance and calmly slot home.

Sam Parker, Imogen Horne, Sam Wiseman and Laura Pike were all denied an equaliser before Chantelle Clark scored just before the break to finally settle Chichester nerves.

Chichester went up a gear in the second half and scored twice in the first fifteen minutes to seal victory. Abbie Crook's free kick from distance gave City the lead and then Clark scored again, this time dribbling into the box and scoring from close range. 

City's managed to maintain possession of the ball better with the two goal lead to see out the remainder of the game as the visitors understandably tired in the heat. This Sunday Chichester visit Queens Park Rangers in what should be a real challenge for the City girls.