Poole Town vs Chesham United

Recap

Chesham secured their first-ever win at Poole with a fine second-half display. After a dull opening half-hour the course of the game was changed by Declan Rose’s red card, but this is not the full reason for Chesham’s domination of the game after that point. There were six changes in all from the starting eleven from last Tuesday’s FA Cup win over Braintree – Connor Roberts, Steve Brown, Scott Shulton, Ogo Obi, Zak Joseph and Ricardo German came in, replacing Avan Jones, Lewis Rolfe, Kieran Murphy, Bruno Andrade, Jordan Edwards and Lucas Sinclair.

There was hardly anything to report in the opening half-hour, which the home side shaded but without creating any chances of note. However on the half-hour mark Eoin Casey was hacked down by a wild challenge from Declan Rose, which was certainly worthy of a yellow card at least but the referee produced a red after discussions with his assistant. Chesham had been coming into the game but took control against the ten men. A Harry Rush corner went low into the box to Zak Joseph whose shot was blocked, then another corner routine saw Callum Adebiyi’s shot blocked and Zak Joseph shot over from the loose ball. Chesham looked to have a clear penalty when Zak Joseph was brought down in the area but nothing was given. However in stoppage time Chesham took the lead when Zak Joseph’s shot hit the post and Ricardo German netted from the rebound. In the sixth minute of stoppage time Poole had their first effort of note when Harvey-Joe Bertrand’s long shot flew just wide.

Chesham made a positive start to the second half and Zak Joseph hooked a shot just wide from a pass by Jack Connors. However Poole snatched a shock equaliser on 56 minutes, when Steve Brown attempted to clear a cross from Harry Hutchinson but completely missed the ball and Tony Lee netted from close range. Chesham responded by making a tactical switch, taking off Callum Adebiyi and dropping Lesley Duru back which allowed Ogo Obi free rein to attack down the left wing. Within two minutes Chesham retook the lead when Lesley Duru overlapped and set up Ricardo German, whose shot was blocked but Zak Joseph drove in the loose ball. Chesham were now in total control and Zak Joseph shot just wide after an Ogo Obi shot was blocked. On 75 minutes Ogo Obi ran down the left and set up Ricardo German to make it 3-1, then little more than a minute later Obi went on a solo run and scored the fourth with an angled drive which beat keeper Max Evans at his near post. With the game effectively over Chesham eased off, although there was a further chance when Lucas Sinclair set up Jordan Edwards who miscued his shot. Poole rallied and on 87 minutes Zaki Oualah was called into action to turn a Tony Lee header round the post, then from the resulting corner Harvey Wright scored a consolation with a far-post header. Two minutes later Poole nearly had another when a Tony Lee shot was blocked, and the ball appeared to be rolling into the net but Zaki Oualah managed to grab it just in time. However in the first minute of stoppage time Chesham grabbed a fifth, when Harry Rush sent Ricardo German clear to complete his hat-trick with a low drive.