Sat, 27 Oct 2007 @ The Meadow, Amy Lane, Chesham. vs Chesham United (1-0). British Gas Business Football League Midland Division. By D Hucker. Chesham came into the match on the back of some impressive results, including a Carlsberg FA Trophy win over Bedford Town the previous week. They were quickly into their stride and, in the very first minute, had a golden opportunity to take the lead, but Carl Bruce sent his shot across the face of the goal with only Brakes keeper, Richard Morris, to beat. Then, in the fifth, Morris was called upon to make a near-post save from Dave Fotheringham as the visitors struggled to find their rhythm.
Adam Parker also had a good chance on 10 minutes, but put his header from Danny Talbot's free-kick over the bar. Talbot, who was watched by his father, former Arsenal star Brian, had an impressive match just as he had done when the two sides met at the New Windmill in September.
The greasy surface caused a number of players to lose their footing and Fotheringham took advantage of Marcus Jackson's slip on 21 minutes to send in a shot which went just wide of the post. Brakes best chance came in the 27th when Russell Dunkley met Jackson's inswinging corner, but Richard Hayward got down well to save.
Brakes attacked with more purpose at the start of the second half and Dunkley just failed to finish off a good move involving Josh Blake and Ben Mackey. A speculative long-range shot by Man of the Match, Adam Cooper, went well wide and, at the other end, John Lawford sent a shot over the bar with only Morris standing in the way of a goal.
It was Blake who broke the deadlock, latching on to Mackey's pass to slide the ball past Hayward on 52 minutes. Blake almost had a second seven minutes later when picking up James Husband's cross from the right, but the Brakes striker sent his shot just wide.
With 13 minutes remaining, Morris denied Bruce with a finger-tip save and then was well-positioned to gather comfortably from Danny Burnell. Chesham substitute, Dom Marsala, ran with some purpose down the right, but Brakes held out to secure all three points which, over the 90 minutes, they just about deserved.
Jamie Towers, on a month's loan from Nuneaton Borough, sat out the match on the bench as manager, Jason Cadden, kept faith with the squad that has now won seven league matches in a row and conceded only one goal in the process.
Coach, Morton Titterton, described the win as a "workmanlike performance." He added "it was an enjoyable away win against a side that played good football. This is a difficult place to come to and we had to dig in. We are very happy with the result."
Chesham United Richard Hayward, Mark Lambert, Sam Ledger [Capt.], Keiran Allen-Curry (Dom Marsala 71), Danny Brown, Danny Talbot(Matt Skinner 87), Carl Bruce, Dave Fotheringham, Danny Burnell, John Lawford, Adam Parker.
Subs Not Used: Tommy Higgins, Michael Sharman, Steve Cawley
Brakes Richard Morris, Marcus Jackson, Arron Parkinson [Capt.], Adam Cooper, Ryan Parisi, Stuart Herlihy, Liam Reynolds, Ben Mackey (Richard Adams 84), Josh Blake, Russell Dunkley (Martin Thompson 74), James Husband
Subs Not Used: Craig Dutton, Jamie Towers, Morton Titterton