Glenn Lawrence Media

Arlesey Town 1 Chesham United 3
Zamaretto Southern League Div I Midland - Saturday 10th April 2010 By Glenn Lawrence

Play-Off contenders Chesham United made it four straight wins in the Southern League as they recorded a 3-1 win in Bedfordshire over Arlesey Town. The home-side could not capitalise on a string of early corners as Chesham United took control of the first half. Only a string of fine saves from former Chesham United shot-stopper Martin Patching in the home goal denied Chesham United a first half break-through as Patching superbly turned a-side at full stretch a well struck 22-yard free-kick from Chesham United skipper Danny Talbot, which was curled around the defensive wall. Six minutes later Talbot forced Patching into another elastic save as his stinging 30 yards free-kick was again turn around the post. With Chesham continuing press Talbot next free-kick found Sam Ledger, who could only head wide of the target. Ten minutes before the break the hosts had a goal-ruled out after Zema Abbey latched onto a through ball breaking clear for Arlesey, as Sprawling Richard Hayward went to ground to block Abbey's shot the rebound fell back to Abbey with the ball ricocheting off him and into the back net. The referee instantly blowing his whistle for handball and booking Abbey in the process, but with the protest continuing the referee also booked Adam Watkins and with opinions still being voiced loudly Arlesey Town sub Derek Brown in the dugout was shown a straight red card for dissent and dismissed from the Subs' bench. As half-time loomed Cox found Dom Marsala in space on the left. However, his chip from the edge of the penalty area sailed over the home crossbar after an eventful first 45 minutes had somehow ended goal-less.

Once again, as in the first half Arlesey started on top after the break on 48 minutes Mason and Watkins combined well only for Mason to fired the ball wide from fifteen yards out. Chesham United took the lead just before the hour mark following good work by John Frendo and Darrell Cox on the edge of the penalty area, Cox worked his way clear on the right, before squaring the ball past the advancing Patching to John Frendo, who rolled the ball home into the net from six yards out on 58 minutes. Five minutes later Kevin Cotton weaved his way into the penalty area inking past Lee Wilson, who's our stretched foot and nicked Cotton’s heel. On many Saturday afternoons Wilson would have gotten away with this offence. However, it was a clear foul albeit a minor one and Danny Talbot blasted home the resulting penalty on 63 minutes to give the Generals a two goal cushion. On 71Minutes Arlesey Town hit back when a long clearance by Patching bounced on the edge of the Chesham United penalty area, Joel Mason out-jumping two defenders to get to his head to the ball first and head over the stranded Hayward and into the net from 18 yards out. However within a minute Chesham United were awarded a free kick on the right and from the edge of the penalty area, and Danny Talbot’s well struck free-kick glanced off the head of a Arseley Town defender and sailed over Patching’s head into the far corner of the net to restore Chesham’s two-goal advantage. Chesham United were reduced to ten men on 82 minutes when Darrell Cox was sent off following an elbow on Stuart Sinclair after he went to contest a throw-in and was shown an instant red carded, his third Red Card of the season which now means that he will be suspened for the play-offs should Chesham United qualify. As Arlesey Town looked to make their numerical advantage play with the extra man Marc Leach headed over following a corner. In stoppage time Steve Wales broke through the middle of the Arlesey rear-guard but could only shoot straight at Patching in the home goal while Danny Burnell making his first appearance for Chesham United in over four months saw his shot from distance also saved by the impressive Patching in the Arlesey Town goal.

In the end a good battling team performance from play-off hopefuls Chesham United they were frustrated by Patching in the first half but took control in the second a mix-up in the visitors defence gave Arlesey Town hope but full credit to Chesham who hit straight back to restore their two goal lead, 152 supporters watched an enjoyable and entertaining encounter with a good contingent of travelling Support coming from Chesham a superb game for Generals Skipper Danny Talbot which delivered some pin point free-kicks not the best Chesham performance of the season but a well ground out result to keep them in the play-off picture, Arlesey failing to really test Haywood in the Generals goal to any real extent a mid table finish beckons for them.

Arlesey Town 1.Patching 2.Sinclair 3.Wilson (Sub 12.Prictor 76 Mins) 4.Leach (M) © 5.Gregson 6.Reynolds 7.Hanley (Sub 14. Frater 69 Mins), 8.Watkins 9.Abbey 10.Mason 11.O’Sullivan. Unused Subs 15.Marsh 16.Brown (D) (Dismissed from Dugout 35 Mins) 17.Browne (I)

Chesham United Team 1.Hayward 2.Cotton 3.Ledger 4.Leach (N) 5.Talbot © 6.Laws 7.Marsala (Sub 14.Fotheringham 51 mins) 8.Wales 9 Frendo (Sub 12. Burnell) 10.Cox 11.Obeng .Unused Subs:15.Bangura 16.Kyriacou 17.Turner.

Bookings (3): - Watkins & Wilson (Arlesey Town), Frendo (Chesham United) Sent Off - Brown (Arlesey Town) and Cox (Chesham United)

Picture - Chesham United's Kevin Cotton Photo Glenn Lawrence