Arlesey Town FC
Saturday 31st December 2011 Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division
Ref- Mr S. Woodison Bookings: - Chesham: - none Arlesey: - Stefan Bailey Arlesey M.O.M- not awarded
Arlesey Town
Mark Osborn, Dave Deeney (Abbey 75), Cameron Mawer, Ryan Frater, Derek Brown ©, Stefan Bailey, Aston Goss (Cook 61), Lee Allinson, Chris Dillon, Dean Sinclair, Chris Marsh,
Subs:-, Fabio Bufano, Liam McGovern, Josh Cook, Zema Abbey, Nick Bussey.
Chesham Utd
Shane Gore, John Kyriacou, Danny Gudgeon, Mark Lambert, Robert Bartley, Danny Talbot © (Thomas 45), Dave Fotheringham, Steve Wales, James Potton (Wilson 76), Simon Thomas, Chris Watters (Wadkins 70).
Subs:-, Anthony Watson, Bruce Wilson, Milton Elenge, Brad Wadkins, Scott Thomas.
With 3 players suspended for this game and others still battered and bruised after the derby match against Hitchin, Arlesey introduced Josh Cook to the squad and put Stefan Bailey into the midfield for this difficult game at one of the seasons promotion chasers.
On another unseasonably mild day and on a good pitch Chesham started strongly. Steve Wales broke through in the first minute putting in a low shot that was well stopped by Mark Osborn. Wales again put in a good cross on the next attack that was cleared out to James Potton who volleyed well wide of the goal. Chesham continued to pile on the early pressure as a cross in from the left was met by Wales who fed it onto Simon Thomas who headed wide; and with Thomas breaking into the box before he was stopped by a good tackle by Ryan Frater.
Arlesey managed to break out as Chris Marsh made a good run forward before he was stopped by a good tackle by Mark Lambert, and Marsh also got in a good cross that Robert Bartley cut out with a balloon header that Shane Gore took under his cross bar.
Arlesey were now looking like getting forward better now, Aston Goss broke into the area trying to control a bouncing ball that Gore did very well to claim off his feet leaving Goss to protest that he had been fouled but the ref waived him away. Marsh also did well as he picked up a loose ball in the centre and let go a great shot from at least 30 yards that skimmed just past the post and the diving Gore.
Thomas fed Wales into the box and he put in a good low cross that that Dave Deeney did well to divert for a corner that was cleared. Wales again put in a good cross that found ex Arlesey player Chris Watters whose shot brought a good save out of Osborn. Arlesey responded with Chris Dillon being fed into the box, he pulled the ball back to Dean Sinclair whose shot was blocked out for a corner. From this Bartley headed out for another corner on the other side. This came over and Derek Brown got in a good header that came back off the bar and dropped to Sinclair whose header went just over the bar.
Chesham pushed back, a cross in from the left from Watters found Dave Fotheringham who volleyed just wide of the goal and just after the half hour mark a cross in from the left was met by John Kyriacou who put the ball back in to Watters who shot and as the ball looped over Osborn who looked to have pushed it over the bar, the tall Simon Thomas jumped with Osborn on the line to get a touch over him and force the ball over the line to give the home side the vital break through.
Chesham stepped up the pressure after this Fotheringham put in a low ball that was well cut out by Cam Mawer for a corner, Potton headed on from Thomas but this time the ref adjudged that he fouled Osborn in the jump. Wales got in a good long shot that Osborn pushed around the post for a corner. From this Brown got in a good header to clear.
The increased pressure paid off as Wales picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area and broke through the central defenders before putting the ball over the advancing Osborn and into the net to double the home side's advantage. As the half drew to a conclusion Danny Talbot clashed with Dean Sinclair near the half way line and went down in a heap although the ref did not deem this a foul. Talbot had to leave the field with a blood injury to his head for treatment while Sinclair also had to change his shirt. After a few minutes and with the game sliding into added on time Talbot was replaced by Scott Thomas.
With the last attack of the half Deeney put in a cross that Brown got a head to but it was well taken by Gore to keep Chesham's 2-0 half time lead. Chesham started the 2nd half in the same manner as the first, applying pressure on Arlesey. A cross in found Potton who turned well and shot but found it blocked and a free kick in by Scott Thomas went to Simon Thomas who won a corner that Danny Gudgeon headed over. James Potton also looked to have been put in before his shot was blocked and it ballooned over the bar.
Danny Gudgeon was given a good talking to by the ref but nothing more as he heavily fouled Chris Marsh. After the free kick was cleared Marsh made another good attack down the right and his cross in was only cleared as far as Goss but his shot was scuffed and lacked any power and it was easily cleared. A cross in for Chesham was blocked by Mawer for a corner which was over hit going straight out by the far post and in a quick retaliatory strike Marsh again broke down the right delivering in a cross that Stefan Bailey overran in the centre when in a very good position.
Arlesey made a change and introduced Josh Cook for his debut replacing Aston Goss. Almost immediately Stefan Bailey fouled a Chesham player on the far side of the pitch and became the first name in the ref's book. Chris Watters slipped through the Arlesey back line and with just the advancing Osborn to beat flashed his shot over the bar. This proved his last effort as he was then replaced by Brad Wadkins.
Josh cook put in a good cross from the left which was cleared out towards the corner where Arlesey won a free kick. which Gore did well to punch clear. Arlesey replaced Dave Deeney with player manager Zema Abbey in an effort to push forward more and Chesham replaced James Potton with Bruce Wilson. Wadkins got in a cross that went behind both attack and defence and it was cleared before Chris Dillon managed a break out; he got his shot away but Gore got a hand to it and although it got past him and was creeping goalward the ball lacked power and it was cleared.
As the time ran down Osborn made a good save from Wadkins, and Lee Allinson got in a long shot that went off a defender and Gore did well to save the ball going out for a corner. Chesham started to use up the remaining time effectively when they could but Simon Thomas got in a shot on target that was blocked.
A ball over the top from Dillon found Abbey in the area but before he could shoot he was quickly blocked with a good tackle. Chesham retained control in the final seconds to keep the scoreline the same and gain another 3 points.
The lack of goals for Arlesey is now becoming a real concern but the fact that this basically same group of players scored over 100 goals last season must indicate that this is just a bad run of form that they must endeavour to turn around in the second half of the season.
The next game away to Cambridge City comes up quickly on the bank holiday Monday but with the 3 suspended players back in the squad they must hope for better times ahead.
Chris Sterry
