Chesham United Football Club

Chesham:

 

1.    Richard Hayward

 

2.    Andy Keepence

 

3.    Sam Ledger

 

4.    Jordan Bostock

 

5.    Mark Lambert

 

6.    Danny Talbot

 

7.    Dave Fotheringham

 

8.    Kevin Cotton

 

9.    Danny Burnell

 

10.    Phil Turner

 

11.    Simon Ellis

 

Subs:

 

12.    John Lawford

        (for Turner 79 mins)

14.    Dom Marsala

 

15.    Steve Cawley

        (for Ellis 90 mins)

16.    Michael Sharman

 

17.    Danny Brown

 

 

Chesham finished their league programme with their fourth consecutive win and fourth consecutive clean sheet, but it was not enough to gain a play-off spot.  Although the decisive goal in this game was a gift, Chesham were well in control throughout and finished comfortable winners.

 

Chesham made three changes to the starting line-up with Kevin Cotton, Simon Ellis and Phil Turner replacing Steve Cawley, Dom Marsala and John Lawford.  Chesham took control of the game from the start against a Dunstable side who ended a run of ten games without a win against Aylesbury in midweek.  After five minutes a lay-off by Phil Turner set up Danny Talbot for a shot from just outside the area that had home keeper Paul Taylor beaten but flew just wide.  In the tenth minute Chesham took the lead when Talbot took a free kick from the right touchline towards Andy Keepence at the near post, but home defender Jack Nelly beat him to the ball only to find the net with a header that could have been described as textbook but for the fact that it was at the wrong end.  Chesham continued to dominate and cross from Kevin Cotton was cleared as far as Phil Turner whose shot was blocked close to the line, then Mark Lambert played a one-two with Danny Burnell and fired in a shot that was acrobatically held by Taylor.  In the next minute Dunstable threatened for the only time in the half when a corner was cleared as far as Matt Baldry who shot just wide although Chesham had plenty of cover on the line.

 

The remainder of the half continued in the same vein, with the game too one-sided to be truly exciting.  With news at half-time that Sutton Coldfield were winning comfortably and Rushall drawing, there was a muted feel to the rest of the afternoon.  Early in the second half Chesham forced a succession of corners, from one of which Andy Keepence at the far post sent in an angled shot that Taylor touched over.  Midway through the half Dunstable came close when a long crossfield ball from left-back Leigh Harrington came through to Ross Hanley on the right but Richard Hayward got down well to save.  As the game went on the feeling increased that all the team's efforts were to be in vain, but Chesham still went forward and a good build-up involving Burnell and Cotton sent Dave Fotheringham clear but Taylor made a fine save to touch away the resulting shot.  Danny Burnell was just off-target with an attempted chip and sent in another shot that Taylor touched over, then right on the final whistle a rare Dunstable attack saw Russell Preston shoot from 30 yards but Hayward made another good save to touch the ball behind.