A late equaliser from Tafadzwa Kanjanda rescued a valuable point for Chichester City in a 1-1 draw with Eastbourne United. Both teams had plenty of chances in this entertaining SCFL Premier Division match.
Miles Rutherford’s squad has now moved to within a point of league-leaders Peacehaven, despite the latter still having two games in hand.
City are still in the hunt for that top spot and their next league match sees them face third-place, and level on points, Haywards Heath at the weekend.
The chances came pretty quick for both sides with United keeper, Paul Hawkins, denying Dave Herbert and Scott Jones before the Eastbourne defenders cleared another shot off the line.
The deadlock was broken by Max Howell who put the visitors in front when he fired a shot past City keeper, Ant Ender, from just outside the box.
The turning point for the match came when Rutherford introduced Kanjanda, who immediately impacted the game with plenty of energy.
His equalising goal came in the 78th minute when a great pass from Ellis Martin was knocked down by Jones into the path of Kanjanda who smashed the ball into the bottom corner.
More chances came in the final 10 minutes. Eastbourne’s Howell hit the post, Kanjanda forced Hawkins into a class save at the other end and Chi’s Ender was called upon one more time to make a smart save.
Chichester face Ringmer in the RUR Charity Cup on Tuesday night before being back in league action on Saturday.
Chichester – Ender, Watts, Martin, French, Lee, Pashley, Hutchings, Williams, Jones, Herbert, Dolcetti. Subs (Smith, Way, Clack, Kanjanda, Hathern)
