Chesham United FC

Chesham United Man of the Match: Bradley Clayton

Chesham were dumped out of the FA Trophy at the first time of asking by a Basildon side struggling in the Isthmian League Division One North. Nobody could have foreseen this scoreline at half-time as Chesham were comfortably in control against a team that had barely mustered a shot on goal. However all that changed after the interval as Chesham’s defence fell apart to concede five times. Jonathan North was missing as Wealdstone did not want him to be cup-tied, but Ben Goode was able to return after five weeks out with a shoulder injury. The only other change saw Romario Hart swap places with Dernell Wynter.

Early on Eoin Casey’s header from a Zak Joseph free kick was well saved by home keeper Clarke Bogard as Chesham took control of the game from the start.  On 15 minutes Karl Oliyide’s left-foot drive seemed destined for the top corner but Bogard stretched to tip the ball away.  However two minutes later Zak Joseph set up Eoin Casey who shot low into the corner of the net from just inside the area to give Chesham the lead.  Chesham continued to have the upper hand but it was not until the 34^th minute that they threatened again, when Bogard dived to his left to keep out Karl Oliyide’s shot.  Towards half-time Zak Joseph mishit a shot wide after a move involving Eoin Casey and Romario Hart, then Joseph shot again but Bogard parried.  The home team then had their first effort on goal, a speculative effort from Adam Vyse from fully 45 yards that cleared the bar as Ben Goode back-pedalled.  There was still time for Bogard to make another good save after Eoin Casey had set up Romario Hart.

Early in the second half Bogard saved from Romario Hart after Mark Kirby had headed on an Adam Martin throw, then Hart headed straight at the keeper from Zak Joseph’s free kick.  However the game changed when Kyle Watson was booked for a foul on Ayo Odukoya, the resulting free kick was cleared and played back in by Conor Mead and Odukoya rose unmarked to glance a header past Ben Goode.  Four minutes later Mead broke down the right and squared to Ernest Okoh who had all the time he needed to shoot past the stranded Goode to make it 2-1.  Chesham came back with Sam Jenkins crossing to Eoin Casey who hooked over the bar, but Basildon made it three goals in nine minutes when Adam Vyse ran through to shoot past Goode from the edge of the area.  Chesham made a double substitution and began to show greater urgency, but were still vulnerable on the break and Ernest Okoh twice shot off target when well positioned.  However on 69 minutes Romario Hart had a shot blocked and squared the rebound across goal for Bradley Clayton to halve the deficit from close range.  Hart had the ball in the net two minutes later but was lying almost on the goal-line so was flagged offside.  Chesham were back in control of the game, and Eoin Casey’s shot was parried by Bogard to Bradley Clayton whose follow-up was deflected over.  Adam Martin then shot just over, and Bradley Clayton’s mazy run ended with a shot that was again well saved by Bogard.  On 84 minutes Dernell Wynter seized on Bradley Clayton’s through ball and rounded the keeper to tap in and make it 3-3.  However Chesham were only level for two minutes although there was an element of good fortune about the decisive goal.  Reece Hewitt played the ball forward and Adam Vyse tried to flick it on to Ayo Odukoya.  Had Vyse touched the ball Odukoya would have been yards offside, but he missed it and Odukoya was able to run on unchallenged to beat Goode.  Chesham attempted another comeback and Dave Pearce tried his luck with a 30-yard free kick but Bogard was able to punch the ball away.  As Chesham pushed forward Basildon broke away again, and Odukoya set up Harry Norman who was left all alone to stroke the ball past Ben Goode and seal the win.