Recap
A relatively uneventful game came to a dramatic conclusion, as Jack Cawley’s stoppage-time header saw Chesham through to the FA Cup first round proper for the second year running. Chesham gave as good as they got for most of the afternoon against their opponents from the division above, but the game seemed destined for a stalemate until Cawley’s late intervention. Cawley and Connor Stevens returned after being rested for Tuesday night’s win over Bishops Cleeve, replacing Steve Brown and Eoin Casey in the only two changes to the starting eleven. Samson Esan returned on the bench after missing three matches through injury. Yeovil came into the game in mid-table in the division above, after winning the National League South title last season.
After a quiet opening the first incident of note came in the 21st minute, when Yeovil’s Brett McGavin took a corner which came off a defender onto the far post before being cleared. Four minutes later Ben Goode came to the edge of his area to collect a through ball, but lost possession to Ciaran McGuckin who was denied by a fine saving challenge from Jack Cawley. Chesham had played some neat football but without creating any chances, but on 37 minutes a fine build-up between Jack Connors and Joe Grant ended with Grant’s left-foot shot forcing a fine flying save from Ollie Wright in the Yeovil goal. Chesham ended the half on top with Lewis Rolfe firing in a shot that was blocked at the expense of a corner, which was taken short and Joe Grant crossed but Jack Cawley could only glance a header wide.
Early in the second half Josh Sims took advantage of some hesitancy in the Chesham defence but his shot was beaten away by Ben Goode. Brett McGavin then shot from distance but his effort just cleared the bar. Chesham came back and just before the hour mark Lewis Rolfe broke clear but was denied by a saving tackle as he was about to take on the goalkeeper. However the last half-hour was notable only for its lack of incident and a replay was seeming like a certainty until in the second minute of stoppage time Chesham forced a corner. Bradley Clayton took it and Jack Cawley rose at the far post to head into the net. There was still time for one moment of drama at the other end, when Yeovil won a free kick 30 yards out but Brett McGavin shot straight at Ben Goode.