Chichester won a scrappy match against Ebbsfleet 2-0 despite having many absentees - and it was pleasing that the need to call up reserve-team players didn’t seriously weaken the team.
Manager Matt Wright said: “We work hard to develop players througout all of our teams so on occassions like this we have the quality of player who can step up and produce top-level football when we ask them to.”
Chichester had started slowly in their previous two matches and had needed to fight back from behind, but this week they stamped their authority on the game from the whistle.
Widdowson and Madden found space well and that allowed the ball to be moved from the back-line to the attacking players.
Ambler tested the Ebbsfleet defence with penatrating runs.
For all their first-half dominance, Chichester failed to capitalise and rarely threatened their opponents’ goal.
The second half brought the introduction of Selby and Ogden and the impact was instant as Ogden slotted home after just 30 seconds with her first touch.
Chichester continued to work well, with Challen denied on several occasions by an outstanding Ebbsfleet keeper.
In the closing stages, the game opened up and Ebbsfleet started to close in on an equaliser.
The brilliant Hughes-Jones and McGlashan denied Ebbsfleet and when Wride found herself in space yet again in the middle of the park, a neat pass ended with Challen’s shot being saved - but she followed up to secure the 2-0 victory.
The result lifted Chi to second place in the league. They host Enfield on Sunday at Oaklands Park (2pm).