Recap
Chesham rounded off their championship season with a third consecutive defeat but still finished nine points clear at the top. This was a crazy game that could have finished with many more than six goals, but still provided great entertainment for a large crowd. Chesham made five changes to the starting eleven – Avan Jones, Alex Lafleur, Ryan Upward, Ogo Obi and James Harding came in for Lewis Rolfe, Steve Brown, Jack Connors, Bradley Clayton and Ricardo German. Kieran Murphy made his 200th start for the club. Central defender James Taylor, who signed at the start of the season but has not featured due to injury, made his debut as a substitute in the second half.
Chesham made a bright start against a Gosport team who were looking for a win to improve their position in the play-offs. Early on Ogo Obi set up Avan Jones whose shot was easily saved by keeper Toby Steward, then Alex Lafleur’s low cross just eluded Jordan Edwards at the near post. In the ninth minute Jordan Edwards seized on a loose pass inside the Gosport half and fired a shot into the roof of the net to give Chesham the lead. However Chesham were looking shaky in defence and Zaki Oualah was forced to dive to turn away a shot from Kristian Campbell. Shortly afterwards Gosport won a corner which they took short, and Harry Kavanagh crossed to the far post where Danny Hollands forced the ball over the line to equalise. Chesham came back and T’Sharne Gallimore ran to the edge of the home area and shot just wide. However two minutes later Rafael Ramos crossed from the by-line and Dan Wooden stole in unmarked to give Gosport the lead. Chances continued to come and go at both ends, and Jordan Edwards sent Ogo Obi clear but his shot hit the advancing keeper and bounced just over the bar. The resulting corner was taken short and Alex Lafleur crossed to the far post where Eoin Casey rose to head home to level the scores once more. It was Chesham’s 100th goal of the season in all competitions. However there was to be one more twist before half-time, when Harvey Rew won the ball in the Chesham half and set up Rafael Ramos who fired into the top corner of the net to make it 3-2.
Chesham brought on Ricardo German for the second half and he could have had a goal within two minutes, but chipped over the bar from the edge of the area. At the other end Rafael Ramos broke clear but shot straight at Zaki Oualah, then in the next minute Oualah saved from Harry Kavanagh and the ball was eventually scrambled clear. Still the chances came with Ricardo German breaking clear only to shoot straight at Steward, then at the other end Oualah saved from Danny Hollands and the ball was cleared to safety. Chesham had further chances with James Harding flicking the ball just past the far post from a low cross by Avan Jones, then Ricardo German flashed a shot just past the far post from out on the left. Midway through the half a precise through ball from Bradley Clayton sent Ricardo German clear, but he shot over the bar with only Steward to beat. On 82 minutes Chesham had a great chance with three players clear against one defender and the goalkeeper, but the strikers took too long and the defence got back to save the day for the home side. Shortly afterwards Chesham were reduced to ten men when Avan Jones limped off after they had used all their substitutes, and Gosport took full advantage. Zaki Oualah dived to his right to save from Alex Barsa, then Bradley Tarbuck cut in and shot just past the far post. Harvey Rew’s shot smashed against the Chesham bar, then Kristian Campbell broke forward but Oualah saved at the expense of a corner. In stoppage time Tarbuck again shot over, but the home side eventually scored a fourth when Barsa’s long shot flew into the net giving Oualah no chance.
Match Report
