Chesham United 3-0 Rothwell Town

[Simon N]

Chesham:

1. Richard Hayward
2. John Kyriacou
3. Sam Ledger
4. Nick Leach
5. Danny Talbot
6. Mark Lambert
7. Dave Fotheringham
8. Steve Wales (goal 70 mins)
9. Leon Archer (goals 53, 74 mins)
10. Chris Bangura
11. Danny Gudgeon

Subs:
12. Adam Parker (for Bangura 75 mins)
14. Phil Turner
15. Kevin Cotton (for Wales 81 mins)
16. Ollie Adedeji
17. Steve Obeng (for Gudgeon 79 mins)


Three second-half goals gave Chesham a much-needed win against a Rothwell side who have dropped down the table. Once Chesham found a way through the visitors’ well-organised defence and forced them out of their shell, gaps opened up and Chesham took full advantage.

There were three changes to the starting line-up, John Kyriacou returning from suspension in place of Conner Baker who played for the reserves, Chris Bangura coming in for Adam Parker and Danny Gudgeon for Kevin Cotton. Rothwell, who were playing their first game since Boxing Day, played with three central defenders and only one man up front and invited Chesham to break them down. In the sixth minute a speculative effort from Danny Gudgeon nearly caught out keeper Lee Crockett who tipped the ball onto the top of the bar and over, then Crockett had to rush out on two occasions to clear from Leon Archer. In a rare Rothwell attack Richard Hayward was forced to parry a shot from Jon Stevenson, while at the other end Crockett produced another fine save from Danny Talbot’s 25-yard free kick. Dave Fotheringham shot straight at Crockett after good work from Steve Wales, then Chesham were denied a blatant penalty when Chris Bangura was pushed in the back as he rose to head Sam Ledger’s cross at the far post. Wales then had a goal disallowed for offside and Crockett produced another smart save from Dave Fotheringham’s shot. As half-time approached Richard Hayward was forced to tip over a long-range free kick from Brett Darby.

Eight minutes into the second half Chesham finally broke through when an inch-perfect pass from Steve Wales split the Rothwell defence and Leon Archer lifted the ball over the advancing Crockett and into the net. Rothwell immediately brought on sub Kyle Locklin and three minutes later Locklin missed their best chance, hooking over from a good position from Darby’s pass. Chesham were starting to look more dangerous and Chris Bangura crossed from the left just ahead of Steve Wales, and Sam Ledger had a free header from Danny Talbot’s left-wing cross but headed over the bar. Rothwell came close again when a corner was not cleared and Robbie Maddox’s effort was deflected away, but in the seventieth minute Steve Wales found some space on the left of the area, turned and beat Crockett from a narrow angle to make it 2-0. Four minutes later another Wales through ball sent Leon Archer clear to round Crockett and tap in Chesham’s third. As both sides played out time Hayward parried a shot on the turn from Stevenson, but Chesham came closer to adding to their tally, Adam Parker forcing another good save from Crockett with a header from a cross by fellow sub Kevin Cotton, then Cotton hit a spectacular long-range effort that flew just wide.