Chesham United FC

Chesham United Man of the Match: Bradley Clayton

Chesham failed to build on last Saturday’s win at Farnborough, but still produced some good football and the final scoreline flattered the visitors.  Chesham effectively lost the game in the opening half-hour, although they were starting to get back into the game when they conceded a breakaway third just after the hour mark. Chesham’s starting line-up was unchanged, with Ben Walster and Darren Locke returning on the bench in place of Jon-Jo Bates (suspended) and Devonte Totesaut.

The pattern of the opening half was set early on as Salisbury had the wind in their favour, and they used it to hit the ball long and chase after it and Chesham could do little in reply.  The visitors had already forced a succession of corners when they took the lead in the fifteenth minute.  Lewis Benson’s free kick from 25 yards went under the Chesham wall, and Alex Tokarczyk could only parry the ball into the path of Daniel Fitchett who scored from close range.  Ten minutes later Benson took another free kick from a similar position but this time struck the side netting.  Fitchett then hit the bar with a header from a Benson cross, then Alex Tokarczyk produced a good low save to turn a shot from Thomas Whelan round the post.  On 33 minutes Benson launched another free kick into the Chesham area and Fitchett headed the ball across the goal and inside the near post to make it 2-0.  Chesham had hardly threatened but in the next minute Jefferson Louis squared from the right, and Bradley Clayton and Tom Hitchcock both had efforts blocked at the expense of a corner.  Dave Pearce took the kick and Jefferson Louis headed in at the near post to halve the deficit.  Chesham then enjoyed their best spell of the game and keeper Jake Hallett dived to his left to turn away a shot from Sam Barker, then a fine run by Bradley Clayton ended with a chip over the advancing keeper but the ball came back off the bar and was cleared.

In the second half the wind died down slightly but Chesham still had an advantage.  Shortly before the hour mark Hallett dived to turn away a low shot from Jefferson Louis, then Tom Hitchcock broke free on the left but Hallett rushed from his goal to block.  However with Chesham pushing forward they were caught on the break on 64 minutes.  Luke Hopper broke away and fired in a shot that Alex Tokarczyk parried, but the defence hesitated and Hopper got to the loose ball first to make it 3-1.  Chesham continued to push forward but without the same urgency as before.  Fifteen minutes from time sub Ryan Blake fired the ball across goal, then Dave Pearce’s 30-yard free kick flew over the bar.  On 83 minutes Bradley Clayton’s through ball sent Ryan Blake clear, only to be flattened by the advancing keeper just outside the penalty area.  It was a clear red card and defender Kane O’Keefe took over in goal, but Bradley Clayton’s free kick flew straight at him.  In fact it was the ten men who scored again late on, Thomas Whelan netting from close range after Lewis Benson’s shot had been parried by Tokarczyk.  In stoppage time Clayton sent sub Max Holland clear but O’Keefe came out to block.