Chesham United

Chesham repeated the failings of last season at home, as they handed Leighton a comfortable win.  Chesham allowed Leighton a soft opening goal after just 70 seconds, did the same in the opening minutes of the second half and never looked like pulling back the deficit.

There was just one change to the side, Steve Wales making his first start in place of Dave Fotheringham who was missing for family reasons.  Ben Porter, who played for Chesham in pre-season, was in the Leighton side.  Chesham went on the attack in the opening minute, John Kyriacou crossing from the by-line on the right to Michael Bardle whose header was cleared, but Leighton played the ball forward and Dennis Fenemore ran unchallenged through the middle to shoot past the advancing Richard Hayward from the edge of the area. 

Chesham looked stunned at the reverse and it was not until the quarter-hour that they managed a response, Darrell Cox finding Steve Wales in space on the right but keeper Kevin Higby came out to save at the second attempt.  The best chance of the half came on 25 minutes, when Danny Talbot’s corner found Steve Wales unmarked at the far post but he headed over the bar.  Leighton came back and Dennis Fenemore’s 25-yard free kick was tipped over by Hayward, then as half-time approached a 25-yard shot from Danny Burnell was deflected behind for a corner.

In the opening minutes of the second half Chesham fell a further goal behind, as Ben Gallant’s pass sent Fenemore clear on the left and he lifted the ball over the advancing Hayward into the net.  Burnell was just off target with another long-range effort before Chesham made a double substitution on the hour.  However the main threat still came from set pieces and Darrell Cox headed a Talbot corner over the bar, then on 78 minutes another corner was headed back across goal by Sam Ledger but Nick Leach could only head over.  In the next minute Leon Archer broke through on the right but Higby spread himself to block.  Leighton had been content to sit on their lead but broke away as Chesham pushed forward, and Ben Gallant shot wildly over from Tyrone Taylor’s pull-back, then Taylor dispossessed Sam Ledger only to lift the ball over Hayward but also over the bar.  Chesham finally pulled a goal back in the last minute of normal time, when Leighton failed to clear Lewis Laws’ through ball and Leon Archer rounded Higby to score, but there was to be no dramatic comeback as the visitors held on.