Hillingdon Borough 19th August 2008

On a wet and blustery night at The Lane a tremendous strike from Yohance Lewis sealed the win for us half way through the second half.

After the disappointment of Saturday’s defeat at Aveley, manager Gordon Boateng made a number of changes to his side. Back from suspension came Glen Parry at left back, Gary Schillaci replaced the injured Nick Thorogood on the right side of the back four, Mark Gradosielski started in the midfield and Yohance Lewis made his home debut on the wing. Ashley Taylor-Forbes was also missing with Tobi Oshitola taking his place and the home side started the game brightly with Darren Williams, Mark Gradosielski and Mervin Abraham all going close within the first ten minutes. Hillingdon started to settle after the lively Ambers start and Sam Warrell tested Jake Whincup in the home goal from distance, forcing a good save low down to his right from the home keeper. Cheshunt maintained the tempo though despite the visitors taking pot shots from distance and kept creating chances to score until finally on 32 minutes the breakthrough came. A ball down the left flank seemed like a lost cause but Lewis’ blistering pace got him to the ball just before the line. A terrific left footed cross followed low into the area where David Kendall got there just ahead on Oshitola to divert the ball past his own keeper. That was no more than Cheshunt deserved as the pressure continued to grow on the visitors’ defence. Lewis again caused problems on the wing in a carbon copy of the first goal, this time his cross just avoided the diving Mervin Abraham and Dean Dolce’s follow up shot was deflected away for a corner. Further chances came and went with Oshitola guilty of wasting the best opportunity when put through one on one with the keeper by Lewis’ clever pass but there was no further score before the break.

The second half carried on in much the same vein. Lewis was a constant threat to the Boro defence and his pacy run and cross nearly forced another own goal from the unfortunate Kendall but this time the ball ricocheted wide. As the game went on though it was clear that Cheshunt needed another goal as Boro’s belief grew that they could get something from the game. Jacque Flowerday’s snap shot on the turn surprised everybody and looked goal bound until Whincup’s reflexes produced a fine one handed save that deflected the ball onto the bar and over for a corner. A couple of minutes after that though Lewis made the game safe in fine style. Having swapped wings with substitute Danny Bleach, he ran at the Boro left flank, taking on defenders before cutting inside to unleash an unstoppable shot high into the top corner from just outside the area – a goal worthy of winning any game.

Boro refused to roll over and kept pushing forward looking for a way back into the game. Kendall could have made amends for his first half og but his header flew wide and Andy Glynne’s vicious drive grazed the top of Whincup’s crossbar but in end it was a clean sheet a three well deserved points for the Ambers and we now turn our attention to the visit of Chatham Town on Saturday.

Cheshunt: Whincup, Schillaci, Parry, Butler, Williams, Gradosielski, Lewis, Abbott (Harrison 45), Oshitola (Forbes 76), Dolce (Bleach 54), Abraham (cpt),

Not used: Ricketts, Toms

Attendance: 131