Chesham United

Chesham started the new season as they finished the old, with a draw against Bromsgrove.  This was a dull game as two teams, who are expected to be among the front-runners this season, cancelled each other out.  Chesham had plenty of possession particularly in the second half, but did not test the home keeper until a stoppage time break that provided the only notable incident in the game.

Only two of Chesham’s squad were making their debuts for the club.  Chesham played up the slope in the first half and had a couple of early attacks, but thereafter Bromsgrove shaded possession up to the interval.  However they had little to show for it apart from a couple of headers from Josh McKenzie that went tamely wide, then as half-time approached Dexter Ravenhill found some space but shot well wide.  Chesham’s only effort on goal came when Michael Bardle’s quick throw found Dave Fotheringham whose long-range shot was always curling away from the goal.

Just after the hour mark Chesham lost Ollie Adedeji to injury, then Bromsgrove had their best chance when a throw from the home left was headed on to Cameron Jones whose header from eight yards clipped the top of the bar.  Chesham were now on top but the home team occasionally looked dangerous on breakaways, and midway through the half Jemiah Richards crossed from the right but sub Danny Campbell missed his kick when well placed.  Chesham came closest when home keeper Karl Lewis missed Danny Talbot’s corner and Dave Fotheringham’s downward header bounced up and over the bar.   Campbell fired well over while at the other end Sam Ledger headed over from another Talbot corner.  However the game seemed to be heading for a draw until the second minute of stoppage time, when Leon Archer broke clear and slipped the ball past the advancing keeper 25 yards out only for Lewis to flatten him in his follow-through.  Somehow the referee let Lewis off with only a yellow card and Danny Talbot hit the resulting free kick well over.  There was still time for home midfielder Paul Lloyd to pick up a yellow card for a nasty foul on Dave Fotheringham that was untypical of the game.