Recap
Farnborough came into this match without a win in eight games while Chesham were unbeaten in seven, and both runs came to end in an open game. Chesham dominated the early stages but failed to make their possession count, and Farnborough’s opening goal in first-half stoppage time changed the course of the game. In the second half Chesham wilted before a number of substitutions brought about a revival which nearly earned a point but not quite. There was only one change to the team, with Karl Oliyide in concussion protocols so Bradley Clayton started and Jack Connors returned on the bench after missing nine matches through injury.
Chesham started well and in the twelfth minute Samson Esan set up Mitchell Weiss who shot past the advancing keeper Jack Turner but just past the far post. Three minutes later Matt Lench’s free kick was headed on and Callum Adebiyi’s shot was parried by Turner. Mitchell Weiss then sent Samson Esan clear to lob over Turner but the ball flew high and wide. Midway through the half the home side began to threaten for the first time, but their efforts were usually blocked by the Chesham defence and Dillon Addai was rarely called into action. Just before half-time Addai was required to tip a low drive round the post for a corner. Chesham came back with Lewis Rolfe winning the ball on the edge of the home area but his shot was deflected behind. There were to be eight minutes of stoppage time at the end of the half and the home side took the lead in the fifth of them, Jonathon Stuttle cutting in from the left and firing past Addai inside the far post.
Early in the second half a free kick from Bradley Clayton from wide on the right was tipped away by Turner. However Farnborough doubled their lead with a soft goal on 57 minutes. Olly Pendlebury took a free kick from wide on the home left and spotted a gap at the near post, so shot straight into the net as Dillon Addai tried in vain to get across. Chesham were looking ragged but the introduction of Zak Joseph and Joe Grant injected more life into the attack. Midway through the half Samson Esan shot from distance but the ball flew just wide, but on 69 minutes Chesham halved the deficit. Zak Joseph cut in from the left and the ball ran loose in the home area before Joe Grant drove it into the net. Grant then shot wide as Chesham pushed forward, then Farnborough broke away through Struttle but Dillon Addai was able to watch his shot sail harmlessly over the bar. In a frantic finish a Jack Connors free kick was headed towards goal by Jack Cawley but Turner tipped the ball over. Chesham had a great chance from the resulting corner when the ball dropped to Joe Grant in the area but his first-time effort flew high and wide. In stoppage time Chesham threw everyone forward and Joe Haigh broke away but was brought down as he was about to shoot. However Dillon Addai dived to his right to beat away Aaron Kuhl’s penalty.
Match Report
