Chesham seal play-off spot despite Leamington loss

Apr 28 2012 By Matt Lewis at the Windmill Ground

Chris Watters

Leamington 3 Chesham United 2

CHESHAM United secured a place in the Evo-Stik Premier Division play-offs despite slipping to defeat at Leamington.

The Generals suffered a narrow 3-2 loss at the Windmill Ground but Stourbridge and Cambridge City were both held to draws to see United seal a top-five finish.

Danny Gudgeon took everyone by surprise as he went agonisingly close with an ambitious 30-yard drive within the first five minutes.

Shane Gore then spilled a routine cross to give Lee Steele Leamington’s first sight of goal but the Chesham goalkeeper recovered well.

The Brakes took the lead on 17 minutes as Chesham failed to clear their lines from a free-kick and Alex Taylor found David Kolodynski unmarked in the area and the forward applied the finish.

Chesham hauled themselves level two minutes later when a Rob Bartley cross broke to Chris Watters (pictured) at the back post and the winger shot low past Nathan Vaughan into the net.

The sides went in all square at the break but just the hosts retook the lead five minutes after the restart when James Husband skinned Gudgeon and set up Kolodynski for his second.

Andy Leese’s boys went in search of an equaliser and were hit on the counter just moments later as Kolodynski beat the offside trap and turned provider for Steele who tapped home.

Simon Thomas climbed highest to head home seven minutes from time to give the visitors hope of snatching a share of the spoils.

But Thomas and substitute Josh Cooper both missed late chances for the Generals but they will not be too disappointed as their top-five finish was already secured.

AFC Totton’s home game with Bedford Town fell victim the bad weather and will instead be played on Tuesday night, with the play-off semi-finals expected to take place on Thursday.