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Match report home to Marlow16^th Sept. 

Chesham United 1 Marlow Youth 6

Goalscorers: Ben Ford 1

Match Mark **

This was most certainly not the start to a new campaign that Chesham United wanted, a home defeat this early on could leave them playing catch up for the remainder of the season. Especially in a league that is now so competitive due to the relegation of last years bottom three, and strengthened by the likes of Marlow, Chesham Rangers and Bourne End.

Chesham were out played for the majority of this match, at times dazzled by some scintillating moves that inspired Marlow to a thoroughly deserved win. But that isn't to say that Chesham made life easy for them, goalless for the first 15 minutes the game ebbed and flowed with little to separate the two sides and on 20 minutes Ben ford netted for Chesham only for it to be ruled out through offside. It was a pivotal moment in the match as Marlow took full advantage of their good fortune to race to a two-goal lead by half time.

Second half and Chesham were being run ragged by Marlows passing moves, keeping possession for long periods Chesham were tiring as they chased and harried to little effect and when they did win the ball were unable to create going forward, only testing the goalkeeper on a handful of occasions. Marlow on the other hand were buoyant and playing with great confidence, following on from last season's success, and added four more goals before the finish.

Chesham scored a consolation goal through Ben ford in the dying moments following some good work by Andrew Brannigan down the right flank, but it was too little too late and Chesham had been beaten by a side who I predict will be very much involved in the race for honors at the end of the season. Chesham will have to improve greatly on today's performance if they themselves have any title aspirations.

Match report away to Bourne End 23rd Sept. 

Bourne End 2 Chesham United 3

Goalscorers: Justin Wise 1, Ben Ford 1, Alex Thomas 1

Match Mark ***

Chesham United continued their nervous start to the new season, but came away from this very tight affair with their first points. Early exchanges suggested that Chesham would dominate this clash with newly promoted Bourne End as they showed little sign of worrying Chesham United's stars. But they failed to impose their greater ability on this match, leading to a very tense game all the way to the final whistle.

Bourne End showed a great competitive spirit to deny Chesham space in which to play their passing game, instead the opening minutes were littered with free kicks. The Chesham defence looked decidedly edgy against Bourne End's front two, who several times tested James to his absolute best before he was cruelly beaten by a deflected shot that found the back of the net. Chesham responded well attacking predominantly down the right flank through Andrew Branigan, who is enjoying great form at this early stage of the season, supplying superb crosses to the lively Justin and Ben up front. Alex Thomas and Chris Day began to show signs of a better understanding in mid field as the half progressed, leading to a superbly measured pass by Chris for Justin to run on to and power home a lovely low driven shot just before half time.

Changes at the break saw Rory Curren continue the good work by Andrew Branigan while the two footed Stephen Walter came on to great effect at left back to reassure the defence. Chesham went in front on 40 minutes when Ben Ford confidently finished from 18 yards after latching on to a defence splitting pass from Justin. And when Alex Thomas extended their lead further with a thunederous half volley, Chesham looked comfortable enough to cruise to victory.

But not for the first time chesham struggled to maintain their dominance and when Justin missed an absolute sitter inside 5 yards pulses raced along with nervous looks at the watch. Blood pressure went off the scale with 10 minutes to go when a Bourne End striker was quickest to react to a hopeful long ball from mid-field and guide a shot past the despairing dive of James Weatherall in goal to make it 2 - 3. Moments later Chris Day was unlucky not to cap a fine performance with a goal, striking the post with a fantastic shot from 20 yards. Some frantic defending in the dying seconds preceded an absolutely wondrous match winning save by James, diving low to his left to deny Bourne End a point and ensure Chesham United's first win of the season.

Match report home to Hughenden Valley 30th Sept. 

Chesham United 6 Hughenden Valley 0

Goalscorers: Justin Wise 2, Ben Ford 3, Alex Morris 1

Match Mark *****

Chesham United surpassed all expectation today with a spirited and gritty performance against an excellent side in Hughenden Valley, but even they had no answer to Chesham's superb swift attacking football. Two wonderful goals by Justin Wise and a well deserved hat-trick for Ben Ford were marvelously overshadowed by a brilliant goal keeping debut by Rory the cat Curren. Standing in for the absent James Weatherall, Rory turned in a faultless performance, showing great confidence in his ball handling and superb awareness to any danger that threatened his area. Helped by better defending than we have seen in previous matches this season, but still leaving room for improvement, Chesham's flat back four limited Hughenden to only a few speculative attempts at goal.

Chesham led 3 - 0 at half time after scoring three fabulous goals. Justin's opener was a solo effort, carving through a bewildered defence in a way that only he can, before firing a fierce shot into the top corner. Ben doubled their lead 5 minutes later with a rare left footed strike and not to be outdone Justin followed in the same fashion moments later.

Chesham started the second half poorly and came under increasing pressure down right wing as they struggled to cope with Hughenden's exceptionally talented left winger, who promised much but failed to deliver on numerous occasions. The pressure was eased when Chesham were awarded a penalty after Chris Day who had worked tirelessly in mid-field along with Alex Thomas was brought down by a clumsy challenge in the box. Up stepped Ben Ford to nonchalantly place the kick in the corner of the net, to keep his 100% record of having never missed a penalty. His hat trick was completed ten minutes before the end, unleashing a powerful shot that squirmed under the goalkeeper and trickled over the line.

Very late in game Alex Morris made it 6 with a simple tap from close range, hopefully a goal that will give him much needed confidence to help him too display his awesome talent down the left flank, the likes of which we haven't seen yet this season.

Match report home to Loudwater FC 14^th Oct.  

Chesham United 3 Loudwater 2

Goalscorers: Rory Curren 2, Rory Cuthbert 1

Match Mark *****

Loudwater were out fought, out foxed and eventually out played by a Chesham side who were outstanding on the day. Sitting proudly at the top of the table before this match Loudwater found themselves two goals behind inside ten minutes with deadly strikes from Rory Curren's right foot. Chesham started with far more purpose than we have seen in a long time, driving forward down both flanks with Andrew and Rory, Loudwater were mere spectators as Chesham pounded their defence.

Rory was the first to benefit from the mounting pressure, opening his account with a low driven shot from the edge of the area that seemed to wrong foot the goalkeeper. He followed that with a really spectacular although somewhat fortuitous effort from the far touch line. An intended cross to the back post ended up as a shot that sailed into the top corner. At this point Chesham appeared to take their foot of the gas a little and Loudwater started to threaten their defence, Miles on numerous occasions came to the rescue of Chesham but could do nothing to stop Loudwater scoring a sensational goal from long range before half-time.

Second half changes revitalized Chesham and they continued to look the most likely winners of this game, but were desperate to extend their lead. Justin and Rory were inspirational down the right while in mid-field Chris and Alex didn't shirk any responsibilities and were central to Chesham's dominance. Unfortunately their fears were realised on 45 minutes when Loudwater equalized after a moment of indecision in the Chesham defence. Seconds after the restart and Chesham deservedly grabbed the winner when half time substitute and debutante Rory Cuthbert timed his run into the penalty area perfectly to guide in a wonderfull deep cross from his namesake Rory Curren.

Match report away to Penn & Tylers Green 21st Oct.  

Penn & Tylers Green 3 Chesham United 5

Goalscorers: Rory Cuthbert 3, Alex Thomas1, Ben Ford 1

Match Mark ****

Chesham United extended their winning run to four matches today in an epic encounter at Penn & Tylers Green. Conditions were far from ideal with persistent rain and a cold driving wind it was to test the resilience of players and spectators alike.

Chesham started brightly attacking well down the right with Andrew Brannigan, who continues to show great form but Penn were always a threat on the break. Displaying plenty of pace up front they exposed Chesham's defence far to easily, but lacked the necessary finish to beat the deputizing Rory Curren in goal. No such worries for a confident Alex Thomas as he struck Chesham's first goal following some great interchange with Justin Wise. But Chesham's lead was to be short lived, some slack marking from a throw-on let Penn in to equalize from close range giving Rory no chance.

But this game was all about the second half, an action packed 30 minutes of play including a cast of eleven formidable characters, on a worsening pitch that only added to the drama. The curtain raiser was a superb move by Penn that led to a wonderful solo effort, to put Chesham behind for the first time in this match. But Chesham looked far from having stage fright and responded with a great goal from hat-trick hero and lead player Rory Cuthbert. Then in a moment of madness Rory Curren lost the plot completely, exited stage left leaving his goal unattended in a failed attempt to win the ball outside his area and Penn scored from a resulting cross. Seconds later and Chesham were back on level terms another goal keeping bloomer this time at the other end, thank goodness, saw Rory tap-in as the keeper fumbled the ball on his goal line.

A draw a this point looked most likely but Chesham obviously hadn't read the script and with Chris Day in the mood to break a leg and Stephen Walter not wanting to be the proverbial understudy they epitomized the desire within the team to go on and win. Their enthusiasm was rewarded 5 minutes from time when Rory completed his hat-trick, nonchalantly side footing home a loose ball in the box. Ben Ford playing only a bit part this week, made sure there was to be no further twists or suspense to the ending of this match by converting a majestic cross by Alex Morris at the back post. After a performance like this there is no reason to fear the all conquering Bedgrove Dynamos in next weeks battle at the top, but this will be a tough act to follow.

Match report home (played away) to Bedgrove Dynamos 28th Oct 

Chesham United 4 Bedgrove Dynamos 6

Goalscorers: Justin Wise 2, Rory Cuthbert 1, Alex Thomas1,

Match Mark ****

Chesham United failed to make the most of a blistering opening to this game, that saw them take a three nothing lead inside 15 minutes. Bedgrove's formidable reputation as a hard bruising side counted for nothing as Chesham turned on the style and destroyed them with their superior football. Justin Wise was rewarded for some outstanding play for Chesham's first two goals and the irrepressible Rory Cuthbert partnering him up front, added a third by forcing the goalkeeper into a needless mistake. But Bedgrove are not the sort of team that will be brushed aside easily and they bullied their way back into this match with power and strength in abundance. Chesham's defence had started well limiting Bedgrove to a few speculative efforts from long range, but in the later stages of the first half Chesham began squandering possession and the pressure on them started to tell as two preventable goals were conceded before the break.

Bedgrove signaled their intent early after the restart with more drive and commitment, suddenly realizing they were facing probably the best team they had played so far this season. But at this stage Chesham were still able to match or even better them tackle for tackle especially in mid-field and it lead to a great through ball for Alex Thomas to run onto and ignoring the linesman flag superbly placed a shot past the advancing keeper. But that was to be Chesham's last serious attack, as Bedgrove began to dominate this match Chesham were forced to defend deeper into their own half and James was by far the busiest of the two goalkeepers. Bedgrove's third came via a well taken corner that Chesham were unable to clear on at least two occasions and they leveled the score shortly after when a low driven cross was turned into his own goal by the unfortunate Jonathan Gray. With ten minutes to go Chesham never looked like holding on for a draw as relentless pressure by an arrogant Bedgrove, saw them add two more goals. Dispirited Chesham fought until the final whistle, at no point did they ever give up trying but the battle had been lost, outgunned by a stronger side Chesham live to fight another day as the war is not over, yet.

Match report away toDownley Albion 4th Nov 

Downley Albion 5 Chesham United 7

Goalscorers: Rory Cuthbert 5, Alex Thomas2,

Match Mark ***

Chesham returned to winning ways with a very hard fought victory at Downley. After winning the toss, Downley elected to kick up the slope, obviously hoping to keep Chesham at bay then attack in the second half. They must have been delighted therefore to find themselves 2-0 up after 10 minutes. Poor defensive marking and lack of challenges led to this scoreline. The second goal kick started Chesham and almost immediately Rory Cuthbert reduced the deficit, with a looping header after Alex Morris had done well down the left hand side. Chesham now started playing good football, with Rory Curren doing very well down the right, and Ben Ford causing havoc up front. A few moments later, Alex Thomas equalised with a delicate chip over the keeper, following good work by Rory Curren, and then Chesham went into overdrive, scoring 3 more goals before the interval. All 3 were scored by Rory Cuthbert, simply by being in the right place at the right time. The goals were created by Ben Ford, Alex Morris and Rory Curren. Four goals by one player in a half is a new Chesham record! 5-2 at half time.

Justin Wise (who was suffering with a heavy cold), and Steven Walter freshened things up in the second half, and Chesham began to dominate. Chesham should have gone 6-2 when Alex Thomas missed a simple volley, and this proved very costly as Downley went straight down the other end and scored, through their influential playmaker, Matthew Saunders. Justin set up Rory Cuthbert for his fifth and Chesham's sixth goal, but Downley would not lie down, and Saunders scored once more for 6-3. Alex Thomas then put the game out of Downley's reach with a well taken goal, but then Chesham relaxed and allowed Downley two more strikes before the final whistle. Rory Cuthbert ended with 5 goals in the match, another record!

Chesham continue to look good going forward, and there was only ever going to be one winner of this match, but we are conceding too many goals. So hopefully we can put on a great performance in the local derby against the Rangers next week.

Neil Thomas

Match report away to Chesham Rangers Youth 11th Nov. 

Chesham Rangers Youth 2 Chesham United Youth 2

Goalscorers: Ben Ford 1, Rory Cuthbert 1

Match Mark***

Today we witnessed a crime of astronomical proportions enforcing the belief that there is surely no justice in this game. The culprits, disguised as Chesham footballers? committed daylight robbery by stealing a late equaliser to secure a point in a match they deserved far less. But Chesham United's inability to convert their chances into goals gifted the Rangers the key they needed to reenact the great escape.

That said, their was very little to split the two teams in the first half, Rangers working hard to spoil United's flowing football and looked threatening down both flanks, but James in goal was rarely troubled thanks mainly to some excellent defending by Stephen Walter and Jamie Walker. It took a penalty kick to break the deadlock, when Rory Cuthbert who was outstanding on the day, was felled as he thrust his way into box. Ben Ford converted in his usual confident fashion blissfully unaware of the impending nightmare to follow.

Second half saw the introduction of Rory Curren up front, who immediately made his presence felt and gave United a more direct attacking approach. But before they had chance to benefit from it Chesham Rangers had equalized with a soft goal following some hesitant defending. United responded well and started to show their class resulting in numerous chances only to be denied by some brilliant goal keeping by Carl Dunbarton for the Rangers. With United winning the mid-field battle and looking more secure in defence the onus was very much on the front players and Rory Cuthbert didn't disappoint, superbly placing a low shot in the corner of the net from 20 yards. Mid way through the half and United were awarded a second penalty, underlining their superior skill and guile. This time Alex Thomas was prevented from finishing a thrusting run with an ugly challenge just inside the area. It turned out to be a crucial point in the game as a two goal lead at this stage would surely have seen United home victorious, but it wasn't to be and instead we witnessed Ben Ford miss his first penalty in competitive football.

Cruelly with only two minutes to play Chesham Rangers leveled the score, United once again failing to deal with a ball into the box, this time from a corner it seemed to go through several players before landing at the feet of a rangers player to smash into the net from close range. Chesham United had precious little time to respond but went very close to snatching a winner when Miles Bevan connected too sweetly with a shot from 25 yards that just skimmed the bar. In fairness to Chesham Rangers it was probably the change in luck that they feel they deserve following some disappointing results this season, their league position does nothing to reflect the quality within the team, but why did it have to be today.

Match report home to Chalfont Saints 18th Nov. 

Chesham United Youth 2 Chalfont Saints 3

Goalscorers: Justin Wise 1, Alex Thomas 1

Match Mark*

Chesham United slumped to their third League defeat of the season despite scoring two of the most sensational goals ever witnessed at home. They provided Chesham with a two goal lead after only fifteen minutes but one they were unable to sustain even until half time. Chalfont Saints, like the Rangers a week before, leveled the scoring all to easily with a gritty determination that was not evident in a Chesham side who's confidence seems to have disappeared along with their goalkeeper. James Weatherall United's star keeper may never play a part in Chesham's future, as he deservedly moves on to bigger and hopefully better things, but some of the players he leaves behind must seriously question whether they have a future in football at all, judging on today's performance.

Alex Thomas is not one of those players in question underlining that fact by scoring Chesham's Second goal, a superb volley from 20 yards that sailed over the keeper's head before rippling the roof of the net, matching Justin Wise's effort moments earlier. Following that Chesham did precious little else apart from fail to control the ball, spurn possession cheaply and invite Chalfont Saints to score three very mediocre goals.

Match report away to Holmer Green Minors 25th Nov. 

Holmer Green Minors 5 Chesham United 1

Goalscorers: Justin Wise 1

Match Mark*

Holmer Green Minors were fully justified in taking all the points in this match, as Chesham United turned in yet another dismal display. Holmer Green are a side not unlike Chesham in that they rely on good passing football to enjoy success and they certainly gave Chesham a lesson in doing so today, with controlled possession and a positive approach in front of goal. It took Chesham 10 minutes just to get the ball out of their own half, and then only 10 seconds for it to return as Chesham stuttered in attack, looking less than convincing going forward. Not so Holmer Green who took a two goal lead inside 20 minutes before Chesham's first shot on goal, Justin Wise flashing a shot inches wide of the far post. Holmer Green added a third before half time to drain the last drop of confidence from a team already running on empty and without a garage in sight.

A strangely silent half time team talk for the sake of young ears, and without any subs for this match the same eleven started the second half having been given the chance to redeem themselves. They failed in their attempt to do so although they did manage to create more chances, but only converted one. It was Justin once again, this time finding the right side of the upright with a low shot from 15 yards. The beginning of a glorious come back I'm afraid it wasn't, there was probably more chance of seeing Elvis performing at the Elgiva theatre than that happening as Chesham continued to struggle against a more positive and enthusiastic opposition. Two more well struck goals from Holmer Green sealed Chesham's fate and without a fine goalkeeping performance from Rory Curren it could easily have been worse.

Things don't get easier either, next week Chesham United travel to high flying Marlow FC a team they lost to overwhelmingly in their first game of the season. Another passing side with a high work rate and capable of scoring freely, let's hope Chesham can turn the corner, find their station, fill up on spirit and give us a four star performance.

Match report home to Bourne End 9 December 

Chesham United 6 Bourne End 5

Goalscorers: Rory Curran 4 Rory Cuthbert 1, Alex Morris 1

Match Mark*****

Chesham win thriller! Chesham deservedly returned to winning ways on Sunday with an absolute cracker jack of a match. Deservedly taking the lead, allowing Bourne End to take a two goal lead, and then coming back magnificently to win the game with virtually the last kick of the game, what a match!

Match report home to Towersey 16 December 

Chesham United 6 Towersey 1

Goalscorers: Rory Curran 3 Rory Cuthbert 1, Andrew Branigan 2

Match Mark*****

Match report home to Bedgrove, Mayor's Cup 13 January 2002 

Chesham United 1 Bedgrove 7

Goalscorers: Rory Curran 1

Match Mark*

Match report home to Hughenden, League Cup 20 January 2002 

Chesham United 4 Hughenden 3 (AET golden goal)

Goalscorers: Justin Wise 2, Rory Curran 1, Miles Beaven 1

Match Mark***

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