Saturday 5th January 2019
Rams Man of the Match - Dan Brown
Following their lacklustre midweek reverse at Met Police, Beaconsfield Town knew they were in for a tough afternoon at Chesham United. The first meeting between the teams, in October, saw The Rams run away with a 7-0 home win and precipitated the end of the previous regime at The Meadow. Since then new management duo James Duncan and Michael Murray have steadied the ship to the point where the Generals have lost only 2 of their last 10 outings.
The Rams welcomed back Dan Brown from an extended lay off and he was quickly in the thick of things combining well with Jordan Ajanlekoko and driving his team forward.
The opening exchanges were bitty with both teams struggling to come to terms with a somewhat bobbly surface but it was the Rams who carved out the first opening: One of few moments of quality in the first half. Jon-Jo Bates was fouled on the left, from the resulting free kick Mayo Balogun and Charlie Losasso combined to advance up the left and alter the angle for Mayo's cross which was met at the far post on the volley by Jordan ‘AJ’ Ajanlekoko. His guided strike from 10 yards was steered rather than blasted past Goode but AJ was unlucky to see his effort rebound off the upright and away to safety.
Beaconsfield were enjoying some joy on the flanks particularly the left where Mayo Balogun and Charlie Losasso combined well drawing Bradley Clayton into a rash challenge on Balogun which earned him the first yellow card of Mr. Farrells afternoon.
From the resulting free kick Losasso advanced and struck one of his trade mark efforts from distance but failed to trouble Ben Goode in the Chesham goal.
At the other end Jefferson Louis was proving to be a handful for Reece Yorke and Luke Neville, he provided an effective outlet all afternoon with some good touches, doing the simple things well and linking play. He was at the heart of all the home sides attacks but the chances they did create were for the most part routine for The Rams defence and Ravan Constable in the visitors goal.
The best chance of the half fell to Brendan Matthew. Cutting in on the angle from the left edge of the penalty area his cross shot evaded the sliding Steve Brown but the goal bound effort flicked off the ankle of the retreating Luke Warner-Eley and away for a corner which came to nothing.
Chesham enjoyed their own spell of pressure with a flurry of free kicks resulting in a booking for Louis Stead and presentable chances for Louis with a guided header and Bradley Clayton with a shot both of which were comfortably saved by Constable
At the other end an Omar Vassell cross from the right caused chaos in the home defence but AJ’s goal-bound stab lacked the power to beat a combination of Brown and Goode who slid in to deflect it away.
Half time 0-0
The second half started quietly. With one eye on recent injuries and a trip to Taunton upcoming Gary Meakin freshened the attacking options replacing Brendan Matthew with Marvin Morgan and the substitutes stature immediately created new problems for the home defence. The introduction of Bajram Pashaj for Jon-Jo Bates almost had the desired effect within two minutes. Pashaj beat right back James Hammond rather too easily and drove to the byline before standing up a cross to the far post where Louis Stead was unmarked with the goal at his mercy. He set himself to place his header back across goal but got it all wrong and failed to hit the target.
As Beaconsfield pressed, the home side continued to look lively on the break with Clayton, Ryan Blake and Ronny Mfinda linking well with the excellent Louis but the attacks were for the most part well marshalled by Reece Yorke and Luke Neville and on the occasions when these two were evaded Constable was on hand to tidy up and produce a couple of routine saves. Although Beaconsfield hearts may have been in mouths as the big keeper appeared to be making one of his occasional inexplicable excursions out of goal as Blake and Clayton combined down the left but the marooned keeper redeemed himself with a plunging take at Blakes feet.
Both sides continued to press with Louis Stead, Charlie Losasso and Mayo Balogun all having shots from distance without unduly troubling Goode while at the other end sub Dave Pearce flashed a cross shot across goal but it evaded everyone and the chance passed.
Rams faithful thought Bajram Pshaj may be about to steal all three points as the winger cut in from the left with one of his trade mark mazy dribbles, working into a shooting position just inside the box but delayed his shot a beat and when he did let fly his effort was blocked by Kieran Murphy who flung himself in the way.
After the mid week performance at The Met Police The Rams would have probably taken a point if you had offered it beforehand and although they did create the better chances on balance the draw was probably a fair result.
Chesham United
1. Ben Goode 2. James Hammond 3. Luke Warner-Eley 4. Adam Martin 5. Kieran Murphy 6. Steve Brown © 7. Ronny Mfinda 8. Bradley Clayton (Sub 12 Dave Pearce 86) 9. Jefferson Louis 10. Eoin Casey (Sub 16 Jerri Maja 85) 11. Ryan Blake (Sub 14 Luke Heneghan 78)
Subs Not Used: 15. Billy Adcock 17. Michael Murray
Manager: James Duncan and Michael Murray |
Beaconsfield Town
1. Ravan Constable 2. Omar Vassell 3. Mayowa Balogun 4. Reece Yorke 5. Luke Neville © 6. Daniel Brown 7. Louis Stead 8. Jordan AJ Ajanlekokko (Sub 14 Callum Webb 84) 9. Brendan Matthew (Sub 17 Marvin Morgan 51) 10. Jon-Jo Bates (Sub 16 Bajram Pashaj 62) 11. Charlie Losasso
Subs Not Used: 12: Joe Adoo-Peters 15: Wes Daly
Manager: Gary Meakin
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Ref: Mr Conor Farrell Assistants: Mr Stewart Beekman - Mr Thomas Wyatt Att:370 |