Deserved cup scalp for United

Jan 28 2010 By Greg Burns at Cherrywood Road

Red Insure League Cup Third Round

Farnborough 1-3 Chesham United

CHESHAM United produced a classy display to beat Farnborough 3-1 in the league cup on Wednesday night.

A second brace in a row from Leon Archer and a Steve Wales strike earned them a place in the fourth round after bossing the game against the Premier Division leaders.

United boss Andy Leese rewarded the team who played well and beat Rothwell Town on Saturday with an unchanged line-up given the chance to show what they could do against a strong Boro outfit.

And his side had the first best chance of the game on just two minutes when a Danny Talbot free kick was just missed by the out-stretching Sam Ledger and Danny Gudgeon at the back post.

It was clear from the outset that Boro had pace to burn in their side but were frustrated by a resolute United with Bobby Hopkinson barely threatening with a long range drive.

Richard Hayward was called into action when he time a challenge on Keze Ibe perfectly in the box as the striker raced clear.

The home side were sure they should have had a penalty on 12 minutes but Ledger timed a tackle on Ibe to perfection and the officials were right to wave away the protests.

The Boro bench's mood did not improve much two minutes later when Chris Bangura pressed a clearance which fell for topscorer Leon Archer to round the goalkeeper and slot in for 1-0.

United stunned the home side again on 22 minutes when Danny Gudgeon put in a perfect through ball for Archer who kept his composure to smash home for 2-0.

There was only one side in this game at the moment and, although Boro looked dangerous at time, United were winning the physical battle and had the Premier Division leaders on the ropes.

The only shot at goal Boro could muster came from a Simon Wormull free-kick which was caught by Hayward before the United stopper tipped a Hopkinson shot wide.

With half-time approaching, Boro were nearly handed a way back into the game when a poor Mark Lambert clearance fell to Craig Dobson who dragged his shot well wide.

They got the perfect chance to claw and undeserved goal back before the break when Nick Leach brought down Ibe for a penalty. Ibe needed two chances to score it after seeing his first effor saved but slotted in the rebound to make the score 1-2 at half-time.

United surely thought their hosts would come out of the blocks fast in the second period but they went closest to scoring the next goal when Talbot fired a free-kick over the bar.

A one goal cushion felt precarious for Leese's side against a side which could clearly rise up a few gears.

Archer was in prime position to make it more comforable when he raced clear but a poor touch took the ball away from him when one-on-one with Stuart Robinson.

Boro were than reduced to ten men on 57 minutes when Sacha Opinel was shown a second yellow for using abusive language to the linesman.
United made them pay when Wales was found by Bangura with the midfielder superby lobbing Robinson for 3-1 on 64 minutes.

Boro boss Steve King threw on former Chalfont St Peter and Beaconsfield SYCOB striker Bradley Bubb, Jamie Stevens and Orlando Smith to try and get back into the game.

Captain Steve Robinson had a header cleared off the line by John Kyriacou and Hopkinson fired another free-kick over the bar as United held firm to set up a fourth round clash away at VT FC.

UNITED: Hayward 7, Kyriacou 8, Ledger 8, Leach 8, Talbot (cpt) 8, Lambert 8, Fotheringham 8, Wales 8, ARCHER 9 (Cotton 87 6), Bangura 7 (Parker 7 74), Gudgeon 8 (Obeng 7 78).

Subs (not used): Adedeji, Baker.

Booked: None

Att: 202