Match Reports & Fixtures
Chesham:
1. Richard Hayward
2. Michael Sharman
3. Andy Keepence
4. Mark Lambert
5. Kevin Cotton
6. Danny Talbot
7. Steve Cawley
8. Dave Fotheringham
9. John Lawford
10. Sammy Winston
11. Eugene Ofori
(goal 39 mins)
Subs:
12. Phil Turner
14. Ed Chemlal
(for Lawford 71 mins)
15. Matt Skinner
16. Kieran Allen-Curry
(for Keepence 38 mins)
17. James Beasant
Chesham made it five wins in eight away league games this season with this win over struggling Rothwell. As in the earlier win at Woodford, this was a solid if unspectacular performance in which a single goal proved enough.
Chesham made another four changes to the team, with Richard Hayward and Andy Keepence fit again to replace James Beasant and Kieran Allen-Curry, Steve Cawley coming in for Matt Skinner in a reversion to three men at the back, and with Dom Marsala down with flu John Lawford came in to play in a central role behind the front two. There is a considerable slope at Rothwell and a fairly strong wind and Chesham had them both in their favour in the first half, and in the sixth minute Sammy Winston latched on to a quick throw by Richard Hayward and crossed just in front of Eugene Ofori. Chesham then hit the woodwork twice in a minute, firstly when Winston crossed low and Andy Keepence struck the bar from ten yards with the goal gaping, then Danny Talbot's right-wing corner came through to John Lawford at the far post who stuck out a foot and knocked the ball onto the bar from close range.
Chesham were still in control but struggled for cohesion on a poor pitch which made a passing game almost impossible. Midway through the half Kevin Cotton crossed to Eugene Ofori whose header flew just over, then on the half-hour a mistake by home defender Andreas Kattus let in Sammy Winston who crossed into the six-yard box but Ofori was just beaten to the ball by a defender. Shortly afterwards Rothwell threatened for the first time when Jon Stead crossed from the left to Fazel Koriya whose header produced a reaction save from Richard Hayward. Chesham then lost Andy Keepence who turned an ankle, but almost immediately scored the goal that proved the winner. Kevin Cotton played the ball forward to Eugene Ofori on the edge of the area, Ofori originally lost the ball behind him as he tussled with a defender, then stuck out a foot to send the ball looping over the head of keeper Tom Smith and into the net for his second goal for the club, both goals coincidentally coming in the 39th minute.
Although playing up the slope in the second half Chesham still looked the more likely team to score. Kevin Cotton was only just off target with a 30-yard effort, then Danny Talbot had a 35-yard free kick touched over by Smith. From the resulting corner Eugene Ofori headed back across goal from the far post and Sammy Winston stole in but headed against the post from a couple of yards out. Midway through the half Winston ran clear onto Michael Sharman's pass and fell under Kattus's challenge inside the area but the referee waved away appeals for a penalty. Rothwell began to come into things more as the game went on, but never built up any consistent pressure on the Chesham goal. Fifteen minutes from time Fazel Koriya crossed just over the head of the unmarked Scott Cross, then a long-range effort from Michael Boyle-Chong flew narrowly over. Shortly before the end of normal time Sammy Winston cut in from the left and his close-range shot was beaten away by Smith, but Chesham nearly fell victim to another late goal when a hopeful ball into the box from Michael Tolton was headed against the bar by Koriya. That was the home team's last fling and the game ended with Winston cutting in from the left, riding a challenge inside the area when he could have gone down, then shooting just over the bar.
Simon Newbury
