Bedworth United 2-1 Chesham United

[Simon N]

Chesham:

1. Richard Hayward
2. John Kyriacou
3. Sam Ledger
4. Nick Leach
5. Steve Obeng
6. Mark Lambert
7. Dave Fotheringham (booked 75 mins)
8. Steve Wales
9. Leon Archer (goal 45 mins)
10. Chris Bangura
11. Dom Marsala

Subs:
12. Danny Burnell (for Marsala 79 mins)
13. Bobby Smith
14. Adam Parker (for Bangura 83 mins)
15. Simon Ellis (for Obeng 68 mins)
16. Alex Duffy

Chesham went down to their third defeat in eight days as struggling Bedworth came from a goal down to win. At half-time nobody could have foreseen this result, as Chesham dominated the game from the start and were good value for the lead given by Leon Archer’s goal. Even after the home team equalised Chesham ran the game, and the most disappointing aspect of the afternoon was that Bedworth scored twice despite having only three efforts on goal in the whole match.

There were four changes to the starting line-up – Nick Leach played his first game in twelve weeks in place of Ollie Adedeji who was unavailable, Steve Obeng returned in place of Alex Duffy, and Leon Archer and Chris Bangura replaced Danny Burnell and Adam Parker. The pattern of the game was set early on with Chesham in control, Bedworth having only one shot on goal which was straight at Richard Hayward. In the thirteenth minute Leon Archer’s shot on the turn was parried by home keeper David Bevan, another shot on the turn by Chris Bangura forced Bevan to save at his near post, then another shot by Archer flew just over the bar. However the home team’s defence then became tighter and Chesham still dominated possession but were unable to break through. Three minutes from half-time Bedworth actually got into the Chesham area but the ball was cleared, and at the other end Dom Marsala challenged for Chris Bangura’s cross and the ball dropped to Dave Fotheringham whose shot came off a defender and flew just over. In the last minute of the half Dom Marsala dispossessed Sam Shilton and sent Leon Archer away down the left, and Archer turned on the left edge of the area and scored with a fine curling shot that dipped just under the bar and inside the far post.

At this stage Chesham seemed to have the game in the bag but for the fifth time this season conceded a goal in the 47th minute, Sam Shilton crossing for the unmarked Gilbert Cummins to head in at the far post. Chesham once again went on the attack and on the hour mark a Chris Bangura shot came back off Marcel Simpson and Bangura’s second effort was deflected away for a corner. With Chesham struggling to break through despite their dominance it seemed as if a draw was the most likely result, but in the 77th minute John Kyriacou was penalised near the by-line, Jamie Lenton put the free kick low into the area and Cummins was able to side-foot the ball in from six yards. Chesham brought on Danny Burnell and Adam Parker and continued to pour forward. Two minutes from the end of normal time Chesham’s last chance came when Sam Ledger headed across the area and Leon Archer’s close-range effort bounced away off Bevan to Nick Leach who hit the rebound over the bar.