ILFORD 0 CHESHUNT 1
Ryman League Division 1 North
Saturday 25th October 2008
Harry England reports...........
A late Reece Prestedge header was enough to seal three points for The Ambers as they struggled to a narrow victory over fourth-bottom side Ilford.
The first chance fell to Ilford, as Tony Russell crossed to Ian Cooper, who hit his volley from the edge of the area straight at Chris Goodchild, who nevertheless made a good reaction save.
It looked like Cheshunt had taken the lead after ten minutes, as a low Lee Roberts cross took a deflection and trailed just past the post. Shayne Mangodza appeared to header onto the post from the corner, although it may have been a block by Craig Leader for Ilford.
Many half-chances were created, although neither goalkeeper was troubled throughout the first-half, although Dan Bradford hit wide, and Kai Ramshaw hit a volley just wide of his own goal.
Shortly before the break also, Reece Prestedge was booked, for no apparent reason, much to manager Gordon Boateng's displeasure.
The second-half looked to continue much the same way as the first, with Bradford having the only real chance until about the hour mark. Ilford substitute Victor Omogbehin had his shot parried, before the giant Calvin Petri had his effort cleared by Glen Parry.
Cheshunt should have had a penalty thirteen minutes from time, as John Hyatt handballed in his own penalty area, but somehow the officials failed to spot the breaking of rules. Glen Parry was also booked for not rettreating for a free lick.
Aaron Scott who was playing at right-back for Cheshunt against his former club was seriously injured in the eighty-first minute, as a mid-air lunge on him left him on the floor receiving lengthy treatment. Reece Prestedge thought he'd scored for Cheshunt five minutes from the end, only to be denied, correctly, by the linesman's flag.
The Ambers piled on the pressure in the dying moments, desperate for all the points, and when a free-kick was given in the 'D' for handball, the pressure got to Ramshaw, who hit it over with a minute of normal time remaining.
Prestedge finally managed to get himself on the scoresheet though a minute into stoppage time, as Ashley Taylor-Forbes sprinted to collect a long ball. He whipped the ball into the box, and Prestedge headered into the bottom corner to secure all the points for The Ambers.
Ilford: Budd, Leader, Trice (Spinks 55'), Cooper, Hyatt, Russell, Berg, Chalk, Duru, Petri, Hughes (Omogbehin 57')
Unused: Richardson, Pennant, Hawtin
Cheshunt: Goodchild, Scott (Dobson 83'), Parry, Mangodza, Williams, Harrison, Taylor-Forbes, Prestedge, Bradford (Taylor 65'), Ramshaw, Roberts (Abraham 69')
Unused: Lewis, Francis
