Chesham United FC

Chesham United Man of the Match: Dave Pearce

Chesham’s new management era got off to an encouraging start with a determined performance against fifth-placed Tiverton.  Chesham dominated the first half and were good value for their interval lead, but the visitors improved after the break and fought back to take a point. New signing Ben Goode made his debut in goal in place of Alex Tokarczyk, Ryan Blake came in for Tom Hitchcock and Adam Martin replaced the injured Bradley Clayton.  With Jon-Jo Bates suspended and Darren Locke away, Chesham only fielded four substitutes.

After a quiet start Chesham had the first effort on goal in the thirteenth minute, Ryan Blake firing in a shot that keeper Liam Armstrong fumbled at the expense of a corner.  Dave Pearce’s kick came to Lewis Rolfe beyond the far post who side-footed the ball back in but over the bar.  Midway through the half Adam Martin worked his way into the area but Armstrong spread himself to block, and the ball came to Dave Pearce whose shot was blocked.  Two minutes later Matt Bevans’ 30-yard free kick beat Armstrong but Tom Gardner got back to head the ball round the post from close to the line.  On 35 minutes Jefferson Louis fired in a shot that Armstrong tipped round the post, and from the resulting corner Jefferson Louis found the net with a near-post header to give Chesham the lead.  Tiverton had hardly threatened but four minutes after the goal Josh Key broke forward, and the ball was cleared as far as Levi Landricombe who shot hurriedly high and wide from just inside the area.  The half ended with Ryan Blake firing in another long-range effort that was deflected away for another corner.

Tiverton made a double substitution at half-time and began to put some pressure on for the first time.  However it took a soft penalty decision to give them their equaliser on the hour, when Lewis Rolfe was penalised for a slight shove on Joel Randall as they contested a Josh Key cross.  Levi Landricombe converted the penalty.  Midway through the half Ben Goode dropped a cross from Harrison Davis, and the ball came to Tom Bath but Kieran Murphy got back to clear off the line.  On 71 minutes a Chesham corner was cleared and crossed back in to Tom Hitchcock whose shot on the turn was blocked in front of goal.  Chesham’s defence continued to look solid and the game became a stalemate late on with little prospect of a goal at either end.  Tiverton had one more chance when Nick Hurst’s cross came to Callum Hall who shot hurriedly over, then Chesham won a late corner which Oran Swales took and found Lewis Rolfe who could only glance a header wide of the far post.