Leese angry as Chesham's unbeaten home record ends

Dec 5 2011 By Greg Burns at The Meadow

Chesham United 1-2 Chippenham Town

CHESHAM United’s formidable home record ended on Saturday with defeat to Chippenham Town.

The Generals lost at The Meadow for the first time since August 2010 after a Lewis Powell brace sealed victory for the visitors.

A win for Andy Leese’s side would have saw them rise to the top of the table with Leamington, Oxford City and Brackley all dropping points.

But two defensive lapses and a failure to break down a stubborn and physical Chippenham cost them as they remain in the play-off spots.

The opening goal was surrounded with controversy as Chesham skipper Danny Talbot was dispossessed in the middle of the park by former Wycombe Wanderers defender Andy Sandell.

Leese and the home bench called for a foul with the referee looking set to blow before waving play on and Sandell went on to cross for Powell to tap in from close range on 14 minutes.

Chesham responded well and hit back eight minutes later when Simon Thomas held up the ball on the edge of the box and fed James Potton.

The midfielder set himself and rifled a superb low shot into the bottom corner and past stretching Chippenham goalkeeper Will Puddy.

But the visitors always looked likely to punish a lapse home defensive performance but hit the woodwork moments later when Steve Casey’s deflected shot came back off the post.

Town went ahead on 55 minutes when hesitated from Chesham goalkeeper Shane Gore and defender Danny Gudgeon allowed Jack Pitcher to send the ball to the back post and for another easy Powell tap-in.

Chances were limited for the Generals, as the visitors retreated to hold onto their lead, but Steve Wales had a great chance with 15 minutes to play.

The midfielder raced down on goal but saw his tame shot saved by Puddy with striker Leon Archer looking in a better position for a cross.

“Two errors have cost us,” said a frustrated Leese. “But, for the first goal, I thought it was a foul and the referee had the whistle to his mouth. They have done a job on us and we were disappointed with the second goal also.

“They put two in front of their back four and they did a good job. We tried to force things and move them around but, credit to them, they stood firm.”

GENERALS: Gore, Gudgeon (Kyriacou 69), Lambert, Bartley, Wilson, Talbot (Wadkins 76), Fotheringham, Potton (Watters 65), Wales, Archer, Simon Thomas.

Subs (not used): Scott Thomas, Rolfe.

Booked: Gudgeon (65 mins), Watters (89 mins).
Att: 369.