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Leamington Town 1 Chesham United 0

Saturday, 8 September 2007

On a day when the national football, cricket and rugby sides all recorded vital victories, the Leamington Town faithful had even more reason to celebrate as Jason Cadden’s team won a hard-fought match against a tough Chesham United side.

Having lost both of their league fixtures so far this season, Chesham came aiming to get off to a good start, but were on the back foot after just over a minute of play. A trademark long throw-in from centre-back Adam Knight caught out the away side’s defence who allowed the ball to bounce and reach the far post where forward Avun Jephcott rose above his marker to head the ball past ‘keeper Andy Hall.

Adam Knight (copyright Leamington FC)

Leamington looked the side most likely to score again as Generals failed to gather themselves after Jephcott’s early goal. Josh Blake and Ben Mackey both had opportunities when they were clear through on goal and could have doubled Brakes’ lead. However, Chesham eventually gathered themselves and had an impressive ten minute spell mid-way through the half when they looked threatening. Midfielder Danny Talbot’s curling free kick clipped the top of the bar before going over and ‘keeper Richard Morris was diving to his top right-hand corner only moments later as Kevin Cotton curled a shot that Morris only just managed to tip over.

The first half ended with Leamington coming back into the ascendancy. The impressive Jephcott hit a volley into the ‘keeper’s arms and also managed to maraud his way through the heart of Chesham’s defence before chipping Andy Hall, only to see his effort hit the side netting.

The away side came out in the second half with a point to prove, but despite the influential Knight, who had been a great aerial presence in the first half, having to be substituted at half-time due to injury, Chesham could not capitalise and Brakes’ defence were equal to any challenge. Meanwhile, right-back Marcus Jackson was a constant threat throughout the second half as his forays into the opposition’s half had the defence back-pedalling on several occasions.

The closest Chesham came to equalising was courtesy of a Danny Burnell volley on the hour mark that seemed destined for the back of the net, but was headed off the line by man of the match Jephcott.

Leamington managed to hold on to their lead for the last half an hour sending the New Windmill crowd home satisfied with another three points.