Chesham United Football Club

Chesham:

 

1.    Richard Hayward

 

2.    Danny Brown

 

3.    Sam Ledger

 

4.    Jordan Bostock

 

5.    Andy Keepence

 

6.    Danny Talbot

      (booked 81 mins)

7.    Dave Fotheringham

 

8.    Adam Parker

 

9.    Sammy Winston

      (goals 59, 65 mins)

10.    Danny Burnell

        (booked 60 mins)

11.    Mark Lambert

        (goal 63 mins)

Subs:

 

12.    Phil Turner

 

14.    Michael Sharman

 

15.    Dom Marsala

        (for Brown 45 mins)

16.    Kevin Cotton

 

17.    Steve Cawley

 

 

These two teams served up another thrilling encounter at the Meadow, featuring a dramatic second half comeback by Chesham.  The game was notable for a burst of scoring by both sides, Aylesbury bagging three goals in ten minutes in the first half and Chesham three in six after the break.

 

Chesham made two changes from the team that won at Willenhall, Danny Burnell starting in place of John Lawford who was recovering from illness, and Danny Brown returning after three months out in place of Dom Marsala, Chesham reverting to four at the back.  Chesham came close to scoring in the opening minute when Danny Burnell set up Sammy Winston who clipped the ball over keeper Lee Clark but the ball hit the bar and bounced out.  In the next minute Aylesbury's Kevin Mealor blocked a clearance and shot across the face of the goal, then at the other end Jordan Bostock's throw was flicked on by Adam Parker and Danny Burnell's near post shot was blocked by a last-ditch tackle.  On the quarter-hour Aylesbury's Nathan Graham found Andy Shed in space but his shot was blocked by Danny Brown.

 

The game then went into a quiet phase but Aylesbury took the lead with a breakaway on 26 minutes.  Shed got to the by-line on the right and rolled the ball past Richard Hayward towards the empty net, Danny Brown cleared but only as far as Craig Henney whose shot was cleared by Andy Keepence.  However the linesman gave a goal although some supporters I spoke to after the game reckoned that not all of the ball had crossed the line.  Boosted by the goal Aylesbury took control of the game and scored again when another quick break set up Henney who shot was partly blocked by the advancing Hayward but rolled on into the corner of the net.  Chesham were struggling to cope with Aylesbury's pacy forwards and another quick break set up Nathan Graham on the left who lobbed the ball over Hayward and into the net to make it 3-0 after 36 minutes.

 

Chesham were forced to go for broke in the second half and bought on Dom Marsala in place of Danny Brown.  Chesham began to come into the game more and Adam Parker had a shot saved by Clark, Danny Burnell tapped in the rebound but was flagged offside.  However on 59 minutes Parker set up Mark Lambert whose shot was saved by Clark but Sammy Winston tapped in the rebound to reduce the arrears.  Four minutes later Aylesbury's defence was caught out by a long clearance from Hayward and Mark Lambert stole in unmarked to head in to make it 3-2.  Burnell then fired across goal from Parker's lay-off but Chesham completed the comeback on 65 minutes.  Danny Talbot floated in a free kick from the right, Parker challenged for the ball which bounced loose for Winston to head in from close range.

 

Aylesbury were reeling at this stage and made a double substitution to get back in the game.  Fifteen minutes from time Hayward made a great save, turning the ball over the bar when sub Glen Hawkins met Mealor's cross at the near post.  Five minutes later Danny Burnell broke clear and slipped the ball past the advancing keeper but Ross Taylor got back to scoop the ball off the line.  The game continued to ebb and flow and both sides could have stolen it at the end, Aylesbury having a goal disallowed for offside while at the other end Danny Burnell was clear on the left edge of the area only for Jason Costello to block him off but the referee waved play on.