Chesham United 2-1 Sholing

Scorers :  Ricardo German 16, 47 (pen) / Dan Mason 66

Date: Tuesday 21 November 2023, 7:45pm – Southern League Premier South

Venue: The Meadow   Attendance: 370

Chesham United : Zaki Oualah, Avan Jones (Callum Adebiyi 61), Lesley Duru, Lewis Rolfe, Kieran Murphy, Steve Brown ©, Harry Rush, Ryan Upward, Ricardo German (Kaine Kennedy-Sinclair 81), Ogochukwu Obi (Zak Joseph 70), Bruno Carvalho Andrade.  Unused Subs : Eoin Casey, Jordan Edwards

Bookings : Ryan Upward, Zak Joseph

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Jake Flannigan, Brad Targett, George Milner-Smith (Lloyd Isgrove 86), Owen Roundell, Byron Mason ©, Charlie Davis (Jake Cope 90), Karlos Gregory, Dan Mason, Charlie Wagstaffe (Mathias Tepe 74), Keane Anderson.  Unused subs : Jake Adams, Lynford Sackey

Bookings : Jake Flannigan, Charlie Wagstaffe

Man of the Match : Jake Flannigan

Match Stats (home side first) : Possession : 34% / 66% - Shots on Target : 2 / 4 - Shots off Target : 0 / 8 - Final Third Entries : 24 / 25

Boatmen can count ourselves unfortunate to leave 3rd place Chesham empty handed after a spirited and skillful performance that deserved more.

Team News : George Milner-Smith made his debut and there was a new face on the bench as 19 year old AFC Wimbledon wing-back Mathias Tepe joined us on loan. Brad Targett returned after suspension, but we were missing Dan Miller, Marv & Jake Hesketh.

We made our first ever visit to The Meadow at Chesham, finding an old large ground, full of character that had seen a crowd of 3,000 recently in a FA Cup tie.  The home side missed out on promotion to the National League last season via the playoffs, those two facts, again, demonstrating what we are up against this season.

Sholing made a bright start on a chilly evening, keeping possession and posing the greater threat up front. A couple of shots were not strong enough to trouble the Chesham keeper as we dominated the first 15 mins, but then found ourselves behind a minute later.  Byron didn't get the weight on his header back to Gos, allowing Ricardo German to nip in and slot home. A present the League's leading scorer wasn't going to miss.

We continued to play our football and went close twice in a minute. Brad Targett's low diagonal ball into the box looked to be heading to D-Dan for a tap-in, but a Chesham defender got in to clear and did well not to score into his own net.  From the corner, the ball broke to Jake Flannigan outside the box and he hit a superb curling shot that beat the keeper but cannoned back off the post. The rebound bounced towards Dan Mason, but he couldn't connect with a scissor kick effort.

Karlos Gregory tested the keeper from distance and then a Charlie Davis freekick found Brad Targett at the far post, but his stooping header went wide.

Right on half time, another good chance and almost a copy of the goal we conceded, when a Chesham weak back header saw Brad Targett get in, but his first time lifted effort went over the keeper and the crossbar.  HT 1-0

It was a bit of a gut-punch to concede a dubious penalty straight from the restart.  Gosney almost saved Ricardo German's spot kick, guessing the right way and getting something on the ball, but not enough to stop it finding the net.

The lad's heads could have dropped, but to their credit, they continued to stick to the plan, working hard and playing some good stuff.   Brad Targett fired wide on the run before we pulled a goal back on 66 minutes.

Keane Anderson's excellent pass from the right channel was beautifully controlled by DAN MASON who in one movement, cushioned the ball to smash an unstoppable volley past the keeper from 18 yards. A quite brilliant goal.

Boatmen went hunting for the equaliser. Targett cut in from the right, but as it opened up, his shot lacked the pace to worry the keeper.  Then substitute Mathias Tepe made a lively introduction, weaving into the box, but Chesham closed us down. Karlos Gregory had a good opening, but a cooler head was needed as he lashed the ball high and wide.  Chesham were very relieved at the final whistle to get the win and Sholing can take great heart from giving one of the league's best sides a real scare.  FT 2-1

Dos : "A superb reaction from Saturday. Any other day and it would have been 3 points after dominating so much of the game, but it wasn't to be. However, I was very pleased with the performance and energy levels from the lads and it was enjoyable to see us play like that against such a good side as Chesham"

"No exaggeration, Dan Mason's goal was one of the best I have ever seen!  Premier League quality.  I was also impressed with George Milner-Smith's debut, along with Charlie Wagstaffe's return after a few games on the bench.  Keane & Karlos continue to exceed my expectations for players their age and I'm looking forward to our home game on Saturday versus Poole Town."

Next Game : Sholing v Poole Town - Saturday 25 Nov 3pm - Southern Premier

Photos courtesy of EspieJaz, swipe to view