Chesham United

Chesham cruised to a comfortable victory against a young Barton side who look destined to be among the division’s strugglers.  Two goals midway through the first half put Chesham in control, and although Barton briefly threatened in the run-up to half-time, the second half was a stroll enlivened by a fine goal by Darrell Cox.

There was just one change to the starting line-up, Sam Ledger replacing Ollie Adedeji who was still feeling the after-effects of the injury sustained at Bromsgrove.  Chesham took control of the game from the start and soon put the Barton goal under pressure.  Danny Talbot crossed low from the right to Michael Bardle who miskicked on the edge of the area, Talbot then shot wide after Cox and Bardle had helped on John Kyriacou’s free kick, and Cox set up Burnell whose shot on the turn forced keeper Simon Chang to turn the ball behind.  However from the resulting corner Danny Talbot crossed to the far post where Danny Burnell outjumped his marker to head in.

Barton then threatened for the first time when Ricky Case crossed from the right to Ray Antcliff at the far post whose cross-shot was cleared by Sam Ledger, but in the 24th minute a long clearance by Richard Hayward was not dealt with by the Barton defence and Danny Talbot stole in to lob Chang from the edge of the area to make it 2-0.  Sam Ledger then headed wide from Talbot’s corner and Burnell crossed from the left to Darrell Cox who was being manhandled by Ash Daniels and was unable to get in a shot before Chang dropped on the ball.  Chesham then relaxed and a defensive mix-up let in Joel Mason but Hayward blocked the shot with his legs, then as half-time approached an uncharacteristic slip by Mark Lambert let in Mason for a shot from the edge of the area which Hayward parried.

Early in the second half Barton striker Richard Pringle headed down to Ross Hanley whose shot went well wide, but it was soon clear that Barton were not going to get back into the game.  Midway through the half Dave Hicks blocked a clearance and the ball fell to Darrell Cox who controlled with his back to goal, turned and fired into the roof of the net from 25 yards to put the result beyond doubt.  The game then petered out with a number of substitutions, including a Chesham debut for Steve Wales.  Chesham could have added a fourth late on when Dave Hicks sent Chris Bangura free but Chang came out of his goal to block.