Chesham United Football Club

Chesham:

1. Richard Hayward

2. Andy Keepence

3. Sam Ledger

4. Mark Lambert

5. Jordan Bostock

6. Danny Talbot

7. Dave Fotheringham

8. Adam Parker
(booked 90 mins)
9. Danny Burnell
(booked 26 mins, goal 31 mins)
10. Sammy Winston

11. Kevin Cotton

12. Steve Cawley

14. Simon Ellis
(for Winston 43 mins)
15. Michael Sharman

16. John Lawford

17. Phil Turner
(for Talbot 87 mins)

Chesham won their second difficult away fixture in the space of four days, and now share with Evesham the best away record in the division. Rushall were one of the division's form teams with four wins in their previous five games, but they never looked like winning this game as Chesham shut them out and won the match with a quality goal on the half-hour.

Chesham's starting line-up was unchanged for the third game running, the only change from Saturday being Michael Sharman coming in for Kieran Allen-Curry on the bench. Chesham had an early opportunity when Danny Burnell won a challenge with home keeper Tony Breeden and shot goalwards from the edge of the box but Lee Barrow got back to clear. Rushall had most of the possession in the early stages but Chesham's defence looked solid and kept them to a couple of hopeful shots from distance. Midway through the half a free kick from Danny Talbot was deflected behind, but the game had been a stalemate until Chesham took the lead in the 31st minute. There seemed little danger to the home goal when Danny Talbot collected a stray pass just inside the Rushall half, but a brilliant 30-yard pass split the home defence and set up Danny Burnell who slipped the ball past the advancing keeper from just inside the area.

Five minutes from half-time a quick throw by Burnell to Sammy Winston ended with a snap shot wide, then Winston was forced to go off after failing to shake off an earlier injury. Adam Parker went up front and Simon Ellis made his debut as a sub and gave a confident performance. The second half continued in the same pattern with Rushall unable to find any penetration while Chesham played a patient game and looked for breakaways. On the hour a neat move down the right saw Kevin Cotton cross, Danny Burnell back-headed it and Adam Parker hooked goalwards but Breeden stretched to turn the ball away. Midway through the half Burnell played a neat one-two with Simon Ellis to break clear but Breeden came out to block. Rushall then made a double substitution but to no effect, and three minutes from time brought on the veteran defender Chris Brindley up front. It was a desperate measure and it nearly brought its reward when Brindley shot from distance and the ball flew narrowly high and wide, but a draw would have been more than the home side deserved.