Recap
Chesham played their first home match in the competition proper of the FA Cup for 29 years, which drew a capacity crowd but most will have gone home disappointed after Maidstone proved too strong. Chesham gave as good as they got in the opening half, but trailed at the interval after conceding an early goal and hitting the woodwork twice. In the second half the visitors took control of the game and another goal on 73 minutes effectively ended the game as a contest.
After resting a number of players in the FA Trophy tie at Cray Wanderers, Chesham made six changes with Connor Roberts, Lewis Rolfe, Kieran Murphy, Callum Adebiyi, Harry Rush and Ricardo German coming in and Avan Jones, Lesley Duru, Steve Brown, Scott Shulton, Zak Joseph and Lucas Sinclair on the bench. Chesham also had a reserve goalkeeper in Finn Rushton who signed on dual registration from Potters Bar Town.
Maidstone came into the game on an unbeaten run of ten games and had an early effort on goal, but Sol Wanjau-Smith’s shot was comfortably saved by Zaki Oualah diving to his left. In the next minute Chesham had their first effort when Bruno Andrade’s free kick was flicked on and Callum Adebiyi headed over. Four minutes later Chesham came close when Harry Rush’s corner was headed back across goal by Callum Adebiyi and Ricardo German’s header came back off the post. Maidstone took the lead five minutes later, when Liam Sole’s run down the right ended with a cross to the far post which Devonte Aransibia stroked into the net past Zaki Oualah’s right hand. Chesham came back with a long-range effort from Ricardo German which flew just wide with the aid of a slight deflection. However Sole was proving to be a threat down the visitors’ right, and another cross came to Aransibia but his header went back across goal and pat the post. The game went into a quiet phase until just before the half-hour, when Bruno Andrade swung in a free kick to Callum Adebiyi who could only stab the ball against the outside of the post and behind. Sole again crossed into the Chesham area but Eoin Casey got back to clear, then at the other end Callum Adebiyi headed over from Lewis Rolfe’s cross. Chesham were still showing some neat touches, and a great through ball from Bruno Andrade found Jordan Edwards whose shot produced a fine save from Covolan. Shortly before half-time Maidstone’s Razzaq de-Graft tried a long-range effort which Zaki Oualah tipped round the post.
Early in the second half the visitors came close when Sam Bone’s low cross just eluded Sol Wanjau-Smith at the far post. Chesham were struggling to stretch the Maidstone defence and the visitors sealed victory with a second goal on 73 minutes. Devonte Aransibia crossed low from the visitors’ left and Levi Amantchi converted at the near post. Maidstone were now in control of the game but only came close once more, with a long-range effort from sub Perri Iandolo that was just over the bar. Chesham had one more effort of note shortly before the end, when a Rhys Murrell-Williamson free kick forced a fine diving save from Covolan, but otherwise Maidstone comfortably saw out time to seal their place in the second round.
Match Report
