Chipstead were again unable to bring an end to their barren run, as they lost 2-0 at home to a Fleet Town side, firmly in the play-off zone, in their latest match in the Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League Premier Division South on Saturday afternoon

However, for 70 minutes, Chips managed to keep level, creating chances which, on another day, might have forced a completely different result

The home side was buoyed by the return of player/manager Peter Wedgeworth to their starting lineup as captain, & went close early on, as a long clearance down field by Klevis Muca sent Andrew Mensah bearing down on the Fleet goal, but the ball bounced kindly for their keeper - meanwhile chances at the other end were cleared by Enrique Tiamuna, Tijani Eshilokun & Cameron Lewis-Brown

Elijah Hopwood had a shot deflected for a corner, before Kamran Campbell had to come on as sub for the injured Evan Kelly, the youngster filling in at left-back, with Wedgeworth moving into the centre

Muca had to save a Fleet corner with his feet, but Chipstead kept pushing forward - Lewis-Brown got to the byline on the right, but Reanu Grossett put his shot over, before Hopwood cut in from the right, but fired a left-foot shot just wide, & it remained scoreless at the break

After the restart, a short corner from Wedgeworth led to Grossett's shot being charged down - Mensah saw his looping header go just the wrong side of a post, & a fine run by Campbell set Grossett free, but his path was blocked

Fleet's pressure told with 20 minutes left, as their no. 9 shot home to give them a 1-0 lead

Seven minutes later, he tapped in at close range to make it 2-0, & the chance of any points had eluded the Chips again

They went close, as Lewis-Brown darted forward, Simpson had a shot parried by the keeper, but sub Michael Dixon's looping header just went over the goal, summing up their current fortunes - the defeat sees them remain 17th in the league table ahead of next Saturday's game at home to Guildford City