PAULTON ROVERS 1 CHESHAM UNITED 1

Rovers winning run was ended by a confident Chesham United side who had by far the better of a somewhat scrappy first half.
The visitors began well with their first effort on target after 6 minutes as Toby Little set up Dave Pearse but home keeper, Kyle Phillips, made a comfortable save. Rovers’ first chance came a further 6 minutes after that as Jon Davies went away down the left before whipping in a cross that eluded everyone in the box. The visitors pace was giving the home defence some problems, particularly on the break and it was Phillip’s legs that came to the rescue on 15 minutes, blocking a shot from Ryan Blake. Then from the resulting corner Blake set up his skipper, Simon Thomas, who swung a leg but completely miss hit the shot. At the other end Sam Teale was denied with a Chesham defender making a great block to stop his diving header. Blake then created another chance for the visitors, this time finding Luke Allen unmarked on the right hand corner of the penalty area but he fired his shot well wide.

However Allen was on the score sheet on 27 minutes as Rovers’ debutant. Brad Abraham, was harshly penalised for a challenge on the edge of the box and Rovers’ Phillips somehow allowed his free kick to slip through his arms and trickle into the net.
The lead was almost doubled 4 minutes later but Phillips managed to turn Blake’s effort into the side netting and again 2 minutes from the interval as Pearse’s corner from the right saw defender, George Fenton, send a header just wide of the far post.
United began the second half much as they ended the first as again Blake was denied by a good save from Phillips. However Rovers showed a mark improvement after the break and a minute later Page lifted the ball over the United defence sending Scott Wilson clear but his shot across goal looked to be going wide but Liam Monelle came in beyond the back post only for his shot from the narrowest of angles to be deflected for a corner. The visitors still looked dangerous on the break and another great run from Blake ended as Teale made a great block. At the other end Wilson shot straight at Shane Gore in the United goal.

Rovers hopes seemed to be over when on 65 minutes, Abraham again incurred the referee’s displeasure and received a straight card for a challenge in midfield. However that seemed to inspire the hosts and minutes later Wilson did well to win the ball in midfield and release Monelle down the right channel but there was no one on hand to turn in his excellent cross.
Rovers continued to press and got their reward on 76 minutes as United full back, Robbie Cundy, failed to clear his lines and Jon Davies cut inside from the right and fired in a left foot shot that Gore could only parry leaving substitute, Clayton Green, an easy tap in.

Just 3 minutes later and Davies repeated his run but this time sent in a shot from 20 yards that thumped against the corner of the bar and upright. With 10 minutes left the hosts had a great chance to steal all three points as this time United’s other full back, Ashley Smith, could only clear as far as Davies who opted to shoot rather than pass to the unmarked Wilson and his effort went wide.

Rovers looked the more likely to break the deadlock in the closing stages but on the balance of play a draw was probably a fair result.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Shayne Anson, Sam Teale (Jordan Walker70 mins), Pat Keary, Scott Brice (C), Bradley Abraham, Scott Wilson, Ashley Williams, Liam Monelle (Clayton Green 70 mins), Jon Davies, Mitchell Page. Subs not used: Stuart Tovey, Josh Jeffries, Jordy Nkunga.

Referee: Michael Webb
Assistants: Ndoda Diamini / Andrew Evans

Attendance: 189

Man of the Match: Ryan Blake (United)