Weston Super Mare 2-4 Chesham United

This was one of the best Chesham awaydays for many years, as a large and noisy contingent of Chesham fans roared their team on to a memorable win over their opponents from two levels higher.

 

There were two changes to the starting line-up, Danny Talbot returning in place of Steve Obeng who was in Dubai for a surprise birthday present, and Darrell Cox returning from suspension in place of Sammy Winston who has signed for Potters Bar Town.  There was little indication of what was to come in the opening five minutes, as Bobby Smith was forced to turn away a shot from Marvin Brown and to block a header from the resulting corner.  However Chesham took the lead after seven minutes in their first attack when Adam Parker crossed from the right, home keeper Ryan Northmore flapped at it under Darrell Cox's challenge and knocked it down to Danny Burnell who shot into the roof of the net.

 

Five minutes later Burnell seized on some hesitation in the home defence but could only flick the ball over the bar, but the second goal came on the quarter-hour when a shot from Dom Marsala was cleared as far as Danny Talbot whose low shot arrowed into the bottom corner of the net from 25 yards.  Three minutes later is was 3-0 as Talbot's free kick from the right touchline was met by a superb header into the top corner of the net giving the keeper no chance.  Unfortunately for Weston it was their own striker Ashan Holgate who netted, having seemingly forgotten which way his team were playing.  The home supporters were stunned into silence as the Chesham faithful celebrated, and the home team looked shell-shocked as they attempted to find a way back into the game.  On the half-hour Brown shot wide after Holgate had forced a hasty clearance, but apart from that Weston rarely threatened.  However five minutes from half-time Michael Green crossed from the right and Mark McKeever, who along with Dave Fotheringham played in the previous meeting between the teams five years ago, stole in at the far post to head home.  The home fans found their voices but only for three minutes, when Dom Marsala broke down the left and the full-back shepherded him towards to goal-line, only for Marsala to turn and cross left-footed to Darrell Cox who restored the three-goal margin with a near-post header, which was the cue for a conga to start on the terrace behind the home goal.

 

Three minutes into the second half Weston pulled another goal back, when Chesham's defenders all left it to each other to clear and McKeever stole in unchallenged to shoot into the corner.  In the next minute John Kyriacou found Danny Burnell whose shot was blocked by Northmore, but after that Chesham opted for containment.  Midway through the half Weston threatened with Brown having another shot deflected away for a corner, but apart from that relied on hopeful balls forward and hardly ever looked like pulling one goal back, let alone two.  Deep in stoppage time Chesham could have added a fifth when Danny Burnell sent Dave Fotheringham clear to shoot over the top as Northmore came out.