Tuesday 13th September 2022

Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South  

Chesham United 4 Beaconsfield Town 2 

At The Meadow Crowd 307

 

Ram of the Match - Aaron Minhas 

Two second-half goals from Aaron Minhas meant that Chesham United could never quite kill off The Rams at a traditionally rainswept Meadow on Tuesday evening but three goals in 20 first-half minutes for The Generals proved too big a mountain for Beaconsfield to climb.

The visitors began the evening on the front foot, enjoying good early possession and pressing Chesham back without carving out much by way of early openings. For the most part the teams cancelled each other out in the opening quarter. It was 21 minutes before either side mustered a shot on target and even then it was a routine claim for Sam Beasant in the Chesham goal, comfortably fielding a Nathan Minhas effort from the edge of the area. The striker had a a better earlier opportunity after a strong run and cross from Kyel Reid but dwelt on the ball allowing defenders to crowd him out. At the other end Ravan Constable was untroubled beyond being bundled over while collecting a high ball.

The first half exploded in Beaconsfield’s faces after 24 minutes. Referee Thomas Kelly granted the home side a very soft free kick on the left. You see them given often enough, it was only really bizarre based on the previous 24 minutes during which he barely gave anything and seemed to have been trialing a UFC approach where almost anything went in terms of physical challenges. 

17 minutes later the game was effectively over as a contest. The freekick drifted to the far post where Jeanmal Prosper ghosted goalside of Olly Sprague at the far post and guided a right foot shoulder high volley past Constable.

Sprague’s evening went from bad to worse on 32 minutes after a hurried Constable clearance was returned with interest resulting in Bradley Clayton breaking down the right before zipping in a low cross which the left back sliding in under strong pressure from Ricardo German turned into his own net. 

At the other end Elliott Buchanan had a golden opportunity to half the defecit. Reid’s cross found him unmarked at the far post 8 yards out but the debutants downward header Was so deliberate and downward that it bounced over Beasant’s crossbar. 

Beaconsfield continued to press but their next attack broke down as Prosper slid in with no thought for the ball to block Louis Walsh’s forward progress and from the resulting throw Chesham advanced up the right and after another low ball across the six yard box was pinballed around off defenders, keeper and the post before Bradley Clayton put The Rams out of their misery and made it 3-0 at the break. 

Olly Spragues miserable evening ended on 50 minutes when he clashed with Clayton and was unable to continue. Callum Webb took over at left back and Meakin gave a debut to Jacob Munting in relief of Louis Walsh who struggled to make much impact on the evening. 

Munting was immediately involved and had a hand in the move which lead to the first Beaconsfield goal, which saw Sean Frazer win a tough challenge on the right before pulling the ball back to the edge of the box where Aaron Minhas flashed his effort past Beasant. 

Chesham’s confidence took a big knock and suddenly The Rams were in the ascendancy and soon had the opportunity to reduce the deficit further. Nathan Minhas burst into the area from the right but his low shot was deflected away by Beasants outstretched leg. 

Beaconsfield continued to press but Chesham restored their three goal cushion when a towering Beasant clearance was allowed to bounce by the Beaconsfield defence who became tangled up, allowing Karl Oliyide to burst through and batter a close range effort past Constable. 

To their credit Beaconsfield rallied and Aaron Minhas reduced the defecit again in the closing minutes with another good finish after excellent work from Munting.

They created other opportunities but lacked the ruthless edge of their hosts who were worth their win purely on the basis that they defended better as a team and took their chances. Beaconsfield looked uncharacteristically shaky at the back and missed opportunities at key times came back to haunt them.  

On the plus side Rams won the second half and the three debutants Munting, Granville, and Buchanan acquitted themselves well. 

Gary Meakin now has probably the strongest squad he has ever had in either spell in charge at Holloways Park.

The trick will be working out the best way to blend that impressive squad into a consistently strong starting eleven. 

With F.A. Cup action this weekend The Rams will have an opportunity to rest up before the visit to Swindon Supermarine on Saturday week, 24th of September.  

Beaconsfield Town

Ravan Constable, Sean Fraser, Oliver Sprague [Sub Callum Webb 51] Liam McDevitt, Mark Nisbet [Sub Sam Granville 61] Sam Togwell, Louis Walsh [Sub Jacob  Munting 54], Aaron Minhas ©, Nathan Minhas, Elliott Buchanan, Kyel Reid

Subs not used: Scott Donnelly, Luke Neville

Chesham United 

Sam Beasant,  Jeanmal Prosper,  Jack Connors, Matthew Ridley, Eoin Casey, Frankie Sutherland (Sub T’Shane Gallimore, 60), Bradley Clayton, Jake Peck, Ricardo German (Sub: Francis Jno-Baptiste, 71), Karl Oliyide (Sub: Jordan Edwards, 76), Shaquille Hippolyte Patrick.

Subs: Zak Joseph, Jaden Thompson-Brissett  

Ref: Thomas Kelly

Asst: Mark Bright - Neo Neophytou