Chesham United promoted after play-off final triumph

May 1 2010 By Tim Edwards

Chesham United 4-0 Slough Town

Chesham United ended a four year absence from the Southern Premier Division today (Saturday) after overpowering Slough Town in the Zamaretto League Midlands Division play-off final.

First half goals from Dom Marsala and John Frendo put the hosts in control at the break at the Meadow. However, Slough were a much tougher proposition in the second half, forcing the initiative and keeping United's defence busy for long spells.

Andy Leese's men weathered the storm and ended the game as a contest when Dave Fotheringham fired into an empty net after 68 minutes.

United substitute Kevin Cotton sealed their fourth and most significant victory over Slough this season with the fourth eight minutes later after beating the offside trap.

The tempo for a cracking first half was set when Marsala fired the Generals ahead after just two minutes. Steve Wales turned his marker on the left and whipped the ball across the face of goal. Nobody picked up Marsala at the back post and he kept his cool for his first goal since mid-February and just his fifth of the campaign.

Elliot Buchanan and Wales exchanged hopeful drives from distance before Slough stopper Jamie Jackson acrobatically turned over another Wales rocket from 18 yards. After a second corner was cleared Fotheringham diverted a header wide of the target from Wales's driven cross.

Chesham then butchered a three-on-two break before Chris Seeby volleyed over the bar as the visitors looked to stamp a bit of authority on proceedings.

United stopper Richard Hayward was largely untroubled until he produced a magnificent reflex save to deny Town's Mo Sharif from six yards. After surviving that scare United raced up-field and doubled their advantage in the 34^th minute.

The ball was pumped down the left channel to Frendo who, in acres of space, lobbed Jackson, who got his fingertips on it after committing early. The ball span towards the net and Frendo beat Seeby to the follow-up.

After the break it was Slough who flew out of the traps but Hayward was equal to Sean Sonner's stinging drive despite one of his own defenders obscuring his view.

Sharif and Adam Martin fired wildly over as the visitors maintained pressure before Cotton replaced the limping Marsala.

Slough continued to press but lacked ideas and inventiveness going forward. Chesham, however, did not and in the irrepressible Wales have some talent on their hands.

Picking the ball up 30 yards from goal on the left Wales flew past his marker, reached the byline and cut the ball beyond Jackson across the face of goal, where Fotheringham ghosted in to drive his shot straight down the middle of the net.

Cotton then put the seal on a comprehensive triumph, taking man-of-the-match Wales' slide-rule pass in his stride before squeezing the ball past Jackson into the bottom corner.

Wales, deserving of a goal, came close to notching United's fifth in injury time but his curled effort just evaded the far post.

Chesham United: Hayward, Kyriacou, Ledger, Leach, Talbot (cpt), Lambert, Fotheringham, Wales, Frendo (Burnell, 78), Marsala (Cotton, 55), Obeng (Gudgeon, 84). Att: 1,115.