Chesham United FC

Chesham made eleven changes from Saturday’s league game so maybe this result was not that surprising. At half-time Chesham were two goals down, reduced to ten men and grateful to their goalkeeper for keeping the scoreline down. Chesham made a partial revival in the second half and had the possibility of taking the tie to penalties until the home side scored their third. Chesham’s team included three players who had signed the day before the game, plus 16-year-old academy player Josh Smith who came on as a late substitute. Bayley Brown and sub Billy Adcock returned after missing 10 and 17 matches respectively with injury.

The home side are currently second in the Spartan South Midlands League and dominated the opening half. In the fourth minute 18-year-old goalkeeper Caolan Doyle-Creamer flew to his left to tip away a shot from Jim Burnside that seemed destined for the top corner. The keeper made another smart save shortly afterwards from a shot on the turn by Burnside, then Adam Hulks headed over from Matt Hall’s corner. On 24 minutes defender Bendie Idikayi was sent off for tripping Jake Stronge who was about to break clear 25 yards out. Ben Shepherd hit the resulting free kick onto the bar from where it bounced down into the net to give the home team the lead. Shortly afterwards Chesham threatened for the first time with Danny Taylor hitting a 30-yard free kick just over, then Karl Oliyide pulled the ball back from the by-line on the left but Dernell Wynter could not direct his header on goal. However the home team came back and Caolan Doyle-Creamer made another diving save to keep out Jake Stronge’s shot. Michael Lyon then set up Burnside who miscontrolled the ball in front of goal, then Burnside broke clear but Doyle-Creamer stuck out a foot to knock the ball away. However the resulting corner was headed back across goal and turned in from close range by Michael Lyon to make it 2-0.

In the second half Chesham began to get into the game, and on 53 minutes Karl Oliyide broke through the home defence and slotted past the advancing keeper to halve the deficit. However the home side came close to a third goal but Doyle-Creamer saved again, firstly from Sam Olawale and then Ben Shepherd. Midway through the half Matt Hall crossed back in after a corner, and Christian Smail’s far-post header came back off the bar. On 79 minutes the home team sealed the win when Jermaine Ivy’s shot from the edge of the area slipped under Doyle-Creamer’s body and into the net. Ivy could have had another late on but put a free header over the bar from Adam Pryke’s cross. In stoppage time Michael Murray, who had been on the bench 24 times without ever coming on, made a three-minute cameo appearance up front.