Chipstead struggled to combat their opponents & the foggy conditions at the High Road, as they lost 4-1 to Knaphill in their latest match in the Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League Premier Division South on Saturday afternoon

After a level start, it was the visitors who took the lead 1-0 on 12 minutes, as their no. 7 hit a sweet volley past Klevis Muca in the home goal

Chips nearly mustered an instant reply, as Emmanuel Robe advanced inside-right, but his fierce shot was pushed away by the keeper

Muca had to be on his toes to prevent a second goal, while Elijah Hopwood hit a great strike, which was parried by the keeper for a corner - player-manager Aaron Lamont took it short to Hopwood, & hit the return goalwards, but it was headed behind again

Evan Kelly had to make a vital block at the block, before Cameron Lewis-Brown had a shot charged down just before halftime, yet Chipstead still trailed 1-0 at the break

Five minutes after the restart, it was 2-0, as another Knaphill effort found the net, after a corner wasn't cleared

Michael Dixon came on as sub after a long injury layoff, along with Andre Stewart, & Dixon soon put a shot wide, but Knaphill brought on their subs too, & one scored their 3rd goal just past the hour mark

As Chips sought a way back into the game, Lamont’s deep free-kick just eluded Melford Simpson, after Archie Alexander had been fouled - then, after Lewis-Brown was tripped on the edge of the box, another Lamont free-kick was headed towards goal, but the keeper pushed it round the post

The visitors killed the game off with a 4th goal from the same sub on 78 minutes, although Chips kept pressing, & Dixon was thwarted again by the keeper

Simpson did manage a consolation goal deep into the 9 minutes of added time, as sub Ben Jordan’s corner was headed towards the goal, & bundled home by the burly striker from a few feet out

The defeat leaves Chips still 11th in the league table ahead of next week’s game at Corinthian-Casuals