CHESHUNT 4 WALTHAM ABBEY 0
Ryman League Division 1 North
Saturday 17th January 2009

Harry England reports.....

An absolutely brilliant game took place at Theobalds Lane between two local sides; Cheshunt and Waltham Abbey. The season's earlier encounter at Capershotts saw 'The Abbotts' come away with a 2-0 win, and with 11 points separating 4th place Abbey and 9th place Cheshunt, it was definitely not going to be easy for the Ambers. Ex-Cheshunt goalkeeper Richard Hayward also started for Abbey.

A frenetic early pace was set as Reece Prestedge hammered a shot at Jordon Bostock's head, forcing the Abbey defender to come off after just five minutes with a swollen eye. Two minutes later, a Nick Thorogood throw was knocked on to Lee Roberts by Bradley Harrison, who rolled the ball to Michael Pelley, away to his right. Right-back Pelley caught the ball sweetly, and saw his twenty-five yard shot roll into the bottom corner, a brilliant hit.

Not going down without a fight, Abbey had their chances, the best coming on eighteen minutes, but Ritchie Johns' strong foot denied the shot. Then, on the counter attack, Ola Akinnawo ran through the opposing defence, only for his initial shot to be palmed away by Hayward. But he chased the ball, and slotted it home from a tight angle to double Cheshunt's lead.
A minute later and it looked like the Ambers had scored again, as Mervin Abraham rounded the 'keeper and finished, but the linesman had spotted an offside, and disallowed the attempt.

On twenty-two minutes, Michael Pelley was elbowed in the back of the head, and after several minutes of treatment, was replaced by Gary Schillachi. Reece Prestedge got himself booked after half an hour, as he tussled with Dave Blower.

Cheshunt were dominating the game, and Mervin Abraham swung a brilliant deep cross towards Akinnawo at the far post, but the winger couldn't get his head on it and the ball went out for a goal-kick. Waltham Abbey had a few miserable efforts to note, as they struggled to find any momentum against a strong Cheshunt side, Marc Sontag having the best chance with a shot across the face of goal.

Troubled flared on the touchline just before half-time, after Akinnawo was injured in a tackle with Abbey skipper Lee White and the referee didn't stop play. People from the dugouts of both sides got involved in the action, before being broken up. The referee, amid the commotion, appeared to book Bradley Harrison, although it could have been anyone!

Cheshunt's rock; Chris Goodchild; was injured by Sontag in first-half injury time, as he was caught full in the face by the trailing foot. The impact knocked him out, and he was stretchered off before being carted off to hospital in an ambulance. Ashley Harris was the man to replace him, and after nine minutes of stoppage time, the first half was over.

Those hoping for a repeat performance in the second period could be somewhat annoyed, although after the first-half bloodbath, it would be difficult to match it. It was Abbey who came out battling, as a mix-up between Johns and Harris almost allowed them in for a goal.

Lee Roberts was booked needlessly for kicking the ball away eleven minutes into the half before Harris had to make a recovery save to tip over George Chanda's dangerous cross/shot effort.

The Ambers then added a third to their tally on seventy minutes, as Lee Roberts sprinted down the left, crossing to newly introduced Ashley Taylor-Forbes who poked the ball home for his second goal in as many appearances.

Mervin Abraham then scored a goal worthy of goal of the season, as he turned on the halfway line, turned, and volleyed the ball goalbound. The shot looped beautifully, as it was caught so sweetly by the striker, and nestled into the bottom of the net, an absolutely genius goal.

The action wasn't over though, and eight minutes before time, Glen Parry and Aaron Gayle sparked up off the ball. The Abbey dugout claimed Parry had bitten Gayle, but after some pushing and shoving, both players were given straight red cards by the referee.

An incident packed game ended in a comfortable win for the Ambers who will be delighted by their current form, taking another three points off a play-off chasing team.

Cheshunt; Goodchild (Harris 42), Pelley (Schillaci), Parry (cpt), Thorogood, Johns, Harrison, Akinnawo, Prestedge, Akers (Taylor-Forbes 68), Roberts, Abraham.
Not used: Ramshaw, Tresadern

Waltham Abbey: Hayward, Blower, Webb, Bostock (Sharman), White (cpt), Ayres (Power), Chanda, J. Elmes, Holland, H. Elmes (Gayle), M. Sontag.
Noy used: Sheehan, Tilbrook

Attendance: 189