The Fleet’s impressive Kuflink Stadium record proved too much for Chesham United to overturn as goals at the beginning of each half gave Josh Wright’s side a 10th win in all competitions from 13 matches on home soil.
Finlay Barnes’ recent sure streak continued and Aaron Cosgrave returned to the scoresheet as goalkeeper Matt Hall made his debut in one of four changes from Tuesday night’s visit to Weston. Ben Chapman was back from suspension to turn in a performance that earned him the sponsors’ man of the match while Cosgrave and Lennon Peake were also starters. Dropping out were Jonathan Macaulay, Ben Coker, Gene Kennedy and Josh Coley.
Strong starts have been something Wright has called for more of and he got one again as Chesham struggled to see much of the ball in the opening encounters. Chapman’s positive run through the middle two minutes in opened a space before him and he took the opportunity to shoot, warming the gloves of Ben Goode early on who had to push the effort away from the bottom corner. Peake was up next as he instinctively fizzed a low shot from 10 yards out that skidded just wide.
The good start yielded dividends on 13 minutes when Kwesi Appiah’s excellent chip into the box found Peake and he laid the ball into Barnes’ path. The No.19 needed no second invitation to shoot, floating a fine effort from outside the box into the back of the net.
Barnes was at the heart of the next attack, getting in behind the Chesham back line and whipping a ball along the ground towards Cosgrave that defender Callum Adebiyi cut out but risked turning into his own net.
Chesham began to find their feet from the 20-minute mark and Jayden Bennetts launched a shot at goal that had power without the accuracy. Alex Babos then lifted another effort onto the roof of Hall’s net but the Fleet goalkeeper had to keep a careful eye on the flight of that one.
Fleet still looked the more likely to add a second and Appiah’s header was gathered by Goode before Chapman pounced on a loose ball to strike at goal, the Chesham goalkeeper stopping that with his legs and breathing a sigh of relief as the ball stuck under his body with Appiah on hand to mop up any half chance.
As the half-hour approached, it was Chapman again in the thick of things. He delivered a cross to the far post that the goalkeeper just beat Appiah to and then found Goode’s leg in the way again after an exchange with Barnes.
Fleet looked in little danger of conceding but on the stroke of half-time, Chesham equalised in somewhat fortuitous circumstances. Alfie Williams slipped in taking a corner but with the jeers still ringing in his ears, Chesham managed to play the ball into the box and a scruffy exchange saw Adebiyi climb for a lightweight header that gained just about enough power to drop in at the near post.
Fleet might have felt sorry for themselves trudging off at the break and when Chesham opened the half with a deflected effort at goal, they might have seized the advantage. But instead it was the home side who got the crucial lead. It came on 48 minutes, Charlie Seaman pinging a quick cross from the right that skipped past Barnes in the six-yard box but was met by Cosgrave at the far post to apply the touch.
The goalscorer had chances to add to his haul, not least when he was put through on goal but an ill-timed flag from the assistant referee put him off his stride and even though play was allowed to continue, the initiative was lost.
Goode stopped him with another chance on 70 minutes before the No.9 was sent sprinting away into the box once more but this time he delayed the shot and by then the angle was too acute and the ball flew wide of the far post.
Chesham’s best chances also arrived late on. Karl Oliyide sent a shot wide and Bennetts delivered another over the bar, and he was somewhat fortunate to only see yellow for cynically hauling down Cosgrave. Another illegal challenge stopped Toby Edser in his tracks but Ben Coker’s resulting free-kick on the edge of the box hit the wall and was then fired over the bar.
Matt Hall had to get involved on an otherwise quiet afternoon debut for him and his opposite number Goode went up for a late corner as the visitors tried to nick a point but Fleet’s fortress mentality on home soil held firm.
EUFC: Hall, Passley, Olagunju, Nelson (Dallison 90), Hessenthaler, Chapman, Seaman, Barnes (Edser 72), Peake (Coker 72), Cosgrave (Coley 85), Appiah (Samuel 64). Subs not used: Moncur, Macaulay
CUFC: Goode, Stevens (Weiss 85), Young, Adebiyi, Rasulo, Babos (Joseph 85), Addae, Bennetts, Williams (Esan 62), McClure (Bartolo 70), Minhas (Oliyide 70). Subs not used: Brown, Roberts
Attendance: 1,119 (34 away)
Photos: EUFC / Dave Plumb, Tom Harris
