CHESHUNT 1 CHATHAM TOWN 0
Ryman League Division 1 North
Saturday 23rd August 2008

Once again it was Yohance Lewis who scored the goal as we fought to overcome Chatham Town this afternoon in a scrappy game at The Lane.

Both teams struggled to find their rhythm in a game of few real chances and The Ambers looked sluggish from the start. The visitors started brightly however and could have gone ahead as early as the seventh minute when Darren Williams’ mis-timed clearance let in Dave Botterill, whose shot brought a good save from Jake Whincup. This near miss sparked a bit of life into the home side and Mark Gradosielski’s powerful run took him into the area but his low shot across the keeper was pulled slightly and found its’ way past the far post. Cheshunt started to get a hold of the ball after that and had more of the possession but were not creating chances and the game never really got going. The visitors fizzed a ball across the six yard line on the half hour but there was no one there to convert and a few minutes later Whincup’s hesitation in clearing the ball let in Ashley Proberts  but the Chatham forward blazed his shot high over the bar. An uninspiring first half came to a close with neither team in control and few real chances at either end.

The second half followed much the same pattern and it was looking like it was going to take a moment of magic from someone to wake the teams up. Fortunately for the home support that moment came on the hour as Boniek Forbes delivered a beautifully weighted cross that was buried by an unmarked Lewis on the volley from close range. Cheshunt looked to push on and make the game safe with a second goal but Chatham were causing problems to the home defence and the Cheshunt support had good reason to worry.

Recent signing,  striker Duane Jackman, came on to replace Boniek Forbes with ten minutes to go and his pace against a tiring Chatham defence put the momentum back with Cheshunt.

With time nearly up Jackman wriggled free of his marker and found himself clear with the goal at his mercy but was adjudged to have somehow fouled the retreating defender when most in the ground thought otherwise. That was the last of the action and the game ended in a second home win of the week and a second clean sheet.

Three more points on the board are of course very welcome and it is surely encouraging to see the team win when not at their best. A trip to Potters Bar Town lies ahead on Bank Holiday Monday before the excitement of the FA Cup when Southend Manor are the visitors to The Lane on Saturday.

Cheshunt: Whincup, Schillaci, Parry, Butler, Williams, Harrison, Taylor-Forbes, Gradosielski, Forbes (Jackman 78), Lewis, Abraham

Not used: Ricketts, Toms, Churchouse

Attendance: 126