Away defeat leaves Generals sweating on play-off spot

Apr 16 2012

Barwell 2-0 Chesham United

CHESHAM United missed the chance to squeeze their grip on a play-off place after a surprisingly poor show in Leicestershire.

The Generals headed to Barwell unbeaten in their last four away games but shipped soft goals and failed to force home goalkeeper Liam Castle into making a meaningful save on Saturday.

It means they dropped to fifth in the Premier Division table and offered hope to Stourbridge who, after winning themselves, are now just two points behind United with two games to play.

A win at home to Frome next week could be enough for Andy Leese's side who will need to play better than they did at the weekend if they want to book their spot in the end-of-season lottery.

A tight and cagey opening saw James Potton seeing a shot deflected wide before Generals goalkeeper Shane Gore saved a long-range effort from Canaries midfielder Kevin Charley.

But it was the home side who opened the scoring on 19 minutes when Jamie Towers was left totally unmarked at the back post to head Tom Weale's teasing cross past Gore.

The visitors continued to frustrate with Steve Wales and skipper Danny Talbot both seeing efforts fly off target as they went in behind at the break.

A similar pattern surfaced after the interval when Potton cut inside and sent a shot wide on 57 minutes before falling further behind in bizarre fashion a minute later when a Jai Stanley corner was picked up by the wind and flew into the back of the net.

Chesham continued to be toothless in attack and it was Barwell who could have increased their lead late on but Nigel Julien fired into the side netting when well-placed.

GENERALS: Gore, Kyriacou, Lambert, Bartley, Gudgeon, Talbot (Wilson 72), Potton, Wales (Watters 66), Wadkins (Archer 72), Simon Thomas, Scott Thomas.

Subs (not used): Fotheringham, Watson.

Booked: None.

Att: 139.