Chesham United vs Hayes & Yeading United

Recap

Chesham took another step closer to the title with this narrow win.  Hayes & Yeading are fighting for survival at the other end of the table and are currently without a manager, and they battled hard but Chesham eventually broke through and held on. There were five changes to the starting eleven after last week’s draw at Basingstoke – Steve Brown, Callum Adebiyi, James Harding, Ogo Obi and Zak Joseph came in and Eoin Casey, Ryan Upward, Bradley Clayton, Ricardo German and Jordan Edwards all dropped to the bench.

Neither side made any early headway until the quarter-hour mark, when Hayes had their best chance of the game.  Sanmi Odelusi sent Ayo Faniyan clear to round Zaki Oualah and shoot into the side netting from an acute angle.  Chesham failed to muster a serious effort on goal until the 38^th minute, when Zak Joseph had a shooting chance but Tarik Moore-Azille slid in to block.  Shortly afterwards Ogo Obi crossed from the by-line on the left and James Harding headed wide of the far post.

Early in the second half Chesham began to increase the tempo, and Alex Lafleur and Ogo Obi combined to set up Lewis Rolfe for a shot that few high and wide.  Shortly afterwards Zak Joseph crossed from the right and Steve Brown headed wide of the far post.  Just before the hour mark Ogo Obi played a one-two with Zak Joseph and ran through to fire in a shot that bounced away off the legs of keeper Dillon Addai.  Addai then tipped over a shot from Zak Joseph that seemed destined for the top corner, but the visitors came back with Ayo Faniyan firing in a long-range effort that was deflected over.  Midway through the half Chesham made a double substitution and broke the deadlock two minutes later.  Following a move down the right Roddy Collins crossed and James Harding scored is first goal for the club with a header just inside the far post.  Two minutes later Steve Brown headed over from a Jack Connors free kick and was injured in the process, Jordan Edwards coming on and Roddy Collins dropping back.  Hayes had plenty of pressure late on and forced a number of corners which Chesham’s defence dealt with, although Tommy Wood had one looping header that landed on the roof of the net.