MALDON TOWN 0 CHESHUNT 1
FA Trophy Preliminary Round
Saturday
4th October 2008
Harry England reports........
This F.A. Trophy tie threatened a no-score draw until Yohance Lewis hit the net five minutes from the end, securing the Ambers a home tie against East Thurrock (who beat Thamesmead 2-1) in a fortnight.
Maldon, under the guidance of former Tottenham defender Stuart Nethercott, had won their two games with him in charge, 2-0 and 4-0 against Chatham Town and Waltham Forest respectively, whilst the Ambers were low on confidence having lost their previous two games against Waltham Abbey and Redbridge.
Cheshunt came under pressure early on, with Maldon's Dan Ayden hitting wide, and Ross Parmenter's effort skimming the bar. Sean Crockford also had an opportunity on six minutes, before a sloppy Samson Oki pass gifted James Robinson a chance, which was equalled by Chris Goodchild.
Cheshunt's first chance was from Yohance Lewis, but he disappointingly headed wide from the corner. The home side also had a fierce ball from Cheshunt debutant Lee Roberts to contend with, and the slightest of touches from Taylor-Forbes would have put the ball in the net.
The best chance of the half fell to Maldon's Sean Crockford though, as an inch-perfect cross came to him. However, much to the amusement of the travelling fans, he miss kicked the ball, and watched it spin wildly out for a goal kick. Tobi Oshitola had a similar situation five minutes later, as he hammered his volley over from a corner.
In a real end-to-end game, either side could have broken the deadlock, but it wasn't to be. Ayden was one-on-one with Goodchild, but put his shot over. Aiden Collins was booked for the home side, and a Jason Mitchell handball went unnoticed by the referee. He will claim it was ball to hand, but many others will say it was a deliberate forearm smash!
Cheshunt's half-time Oranges must have been laced with Steroids as they came out a different side! Wave after wave of attack was pushed upon the home side, but the Ambers just couldn't find a break in the defence. Yohance Lewis had the best chance to note as he beat the offside trap, but hit his shot timidly wide.
It doesn't go unnoticed however that Maldon had their share of attacks with good link-up play between Crockford and Robinson resulting in a corner after the final shot was deflected off Shane Mangodza. On the hour mark, Robinson saw his effort hit the upright, before the ball was put out for a corner.
Jason Mitchell picked himself up an unnecessary booking after he walked away from the referee before the game highlight occurred. Nick Thorogood materialised, ghosting towards Ross Parmenter who had taken the ball around Goodchild. Somehow he got to the ball to clear it, an even better goal-line save than that of George Chanda for Waltham Abbey recently.
Dean Roles got himself booked for a clumsy tackle on Yohance Lewis, before Kai Ramshaw clattered the bar with a long-range effort, his second in as many games!
The deciding goal though came from Yohance Lewis in the eighty-sixth minute. He charged down the left flank before he rifled the ball low and hard into the far corner to secure the prize money and a home tie against East Thurrock on the 18th.
Maldon Town: McCartney, Mitchell, Roles, Johnson, Sampson (c), A Collins, Hubble, Parmenter, Crockford, Robinson, Ayden
Subs: Hull, Mackay, Arain, Mead, J Collins
Cheshunt: Goodchild, Oki (Thorogood 31'), Parry (c), Mangodza, Robson, Harrison, Taylor-Forbes, Ramshaw, Oshitola (Bradford 66'), Lewis, Roberts (Abraham 83')
Unused: Williams, Prestedge
Attendance: 64
