Chesham United FC

Chesham United Man of the Match: Bradley Clayton

Chesham livened up a miserable afternoon with a fine performance to stay clear at the top of the table. Struggling Dorchester twice threatened to get back in the game, but not for long as Chesham were always looking likely to add to their goal tally. With Sam Jenkins away new signing Chris Doyle went straight into the starting line-up, and the only other change saw Adam Martin return in place of the suspended Billy Adcock.

The match was played in almost incessant rain and Chesham were the first to show, when Jeanmal Prosper shot well wide after a Dave Pearce cross was headed out.  In the fifteenth minute Chesham were awarded a free kick on the left side of the visitors’ penalty area, and Dave Pearce’s kick caught out keeper Shane Murphy who could only palm the ball into the net at the near post.  Two minutes later Pearce took another free kick but this time his shot just cleared the bar.  However on 24 minutes Chris Doyle scored a debut goal, firing through a crowd of players after Jeanmal Prosper had a shot blocked.  The visitors came back and Tom Bath pulled the ball back from the by-line but Tom Blair misjudged his header and the ball flew harmlessly wide.  However on 32 minutes Chesham’s defence failed to deal with a corner and the ball was headed back across goal for Klaidi Lolos to head in.  Chesham went back on the attack and the referee turned down what looked like an obvious penalty, when Zak Joseph was shoved over by Tom Blair in the area.

Chesham dominated the opening stages of the second half.  Shane Murphy punched away Bradley Clayton’s shot, then another Clayton shot forced the keeper to dive and tip the ball behind.  However on 52 minutes Clayton scored Chesham’s third with a low drive after Adam Martin’s cross was headed out.  Two minutes later Eoin Casey had the ball in the net after Zak Joseph’s cross was tipped away by Murphy, but the effort was disallowed.  Dorchester got back into the game on 57 minutes when Michael Peck broke forward and attempted to set up Tom Bath, but as the ball ran loose it hit Kieran Murphy and looped over Ben Goode and into the net.  However eight minutes later Chesham made it 4-2, when Adam Martin’s throw was cleared and Bradley Clayton followed up to score after Dave Pearce’s shot was saved.  Chesham were playing some fine football and Shane Murphy had to dive to save an angled drive from Zak Joseph.  The goal of the game came on 72 minutes, when neat interpassing down the left eventually set up Adam Martin who drilled a low shot into the corner of the net from 30 yards.  Chesham eased off but still managed a sixth goal, Clayton completing his hat-trick with a close-range header after Mark Kirby nodded on Adam Martin’s throw.  Late in the game the visitors managed a consolation when Michael Peck headed in a near-post corner, but it was far too late to affect the result.