Chesham 1-0 Slough Town

[Chris]

Pretty even game between two sides that will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season you would have thought, with each cancelling the other out for the majority of the match. We had the better of it the first-half, they had the better of it the second where we did not play well and just about deserved their win.

 

Far from a classic, but cold Tuesday non-league games never are! Not a disaterous result as Chesham go 2 points above us now, but we have a game in hand on them.

 

Slightly worrying that we still have not been able to beat a 'top' team like Chesham, Burnham and Hitchin and our away form needs to improve a bit as well. At home we have the best league record, but away we need to get some better results.

 

One thing is apparent though, I think were in desperate need of a new striker or two.

[Tom]

Cannot challenge for automatic promotion if you lose to the top sides. Simple.

 

2nd half was awful. Their keeper didn't have to make 1 save at all. Midfield was sloppy and couldn't string passes together. Chesham had the team worked out and were able to stop the threat from the wings.

 

Need Martin to be fit as he and Elliot are our 2 best strikers at the moment. Hayes isn't good enough.

[Rouser Rebel]

Cannot challenge for automatic promotion if you lose to the top sides. Simple.

 

2nd half was awful. Their keeper didn't have to make 1 save at all. Midfield was sloppy and couldn't string passes together. Chesham had the team worked out and were able to stop the threat from the wings.

 

Need Martin to be fit as he and Elliot are our 2 best strikers at the moment. Hayes isn't good enough.

 

 

Have to agree with most of the comments probably need a fit striker in fairness to Hayes I think he is more of a hold up player a bit like Jordan but Jordan probably better alround, thought Sweeney was possibly MOTM ahead of Harper who continues to impress surprised by Matt's choice on the site of Edwards as MOTM as thought he was off the pace (understandable having not played much recently) and was very suspect at the back. Felt sorry for Kean who worked hard but is only error cost the goal as passed it straight to a Chesham player who slotted through for them to score. Overall nothing between the sides so a bit unlucky

[Mr Rebel]

we could still make the playoffs even if we lose every game to the main teams such as Hitchin, Chesham and Burnham tbh (not that i want us to) as our form against the other teams is pretty superb

 

1st half we was better team no doubt but didn't create more than maybe 2 chances that should have been put away or at least 1 of them. we don't really have any player you would say you could definitely rely on to get a goal when the going is tough

 

like most the goals conceded against the better sides this season it came from a shocking mistake but as said that shouldn't really be focussed on too much as the goal should have still been stopped after the Kean error

[Mark44]

I think we need a striker. I personally like hayes abd buchanan but Martin and Jordan are well off the pace. Martin has a good record so I dont understand why he is playing so badly. Jordan just doesnt shoot but holds up the ball quite well, like a certain lee charles.

[Tom]

Martin's persistant injuries can't help.

[3spirit]

For my two penceworth,I thought Danny Murphy and Robbbie Kean[except for that wayward pass for the goal]were by far our best players last night.

 

Hugely disappointed by our second half performance and didn't think Steve Bateman got his substitutions or tactics right in that second half.Chesham nearly added another goal,in the first minute of the re-start.

Leon Hibbert had an awful game and to my mind should have been subbed.Tommy Hayes was totally isolated up front on own and to my mind,this just doesn't fit his game.Steve Sinclair was marked by two and sometimes three players because they knew he was a threat.

 

Being a bit of a football purist and given the players we've got,I would have liked to have seen a far more attacking,adventurous Slough Town because to me,attack is the best form of defence especially against a fast-flowing,footballing side like Chesham.I can understand keeping it tight when it was 0-0 but when 1 down,surely it's better to go for it.The mere fact that we never had one shot on target or that our pass and moves was lousy,says it all.Disappointed with Paul Edgeworth,too.He didn't have one of his better games,as he probably knows himself,but I thought he should have been far more vocal in his role of Captain,given the fact that we were playing one of the best sides in this league.

 

Substitions don't have to be the last 20mins,10 mins and 2mins from time,that Steve Bateman persittently does.Especially when things are not going to plan! The sad truth last night is that the players we had available yesterday could have given Chesham a far sterner test than we did do,if we had played a far more attacking formation.Instead,we supporters had to watch a very tame,lame and rather weak effort by Slough,who didn't at all,do themselves justice.

[Rebel_Glen]

We definitely missed Nathan, Elliott and Simon last night, had those 3 been playing I think we would have drawn or maybe won it. Nathan has a massive presence at the back and also at set pieces and I'm sure Elliott and Simon would have put away the 2 or 3 chances we had. It goes without saying that we need to get back to winning ways on Saturday at Atherstone and with Bromsgrove Rovers and Bedworth United at home after we need to be looking at maximum points to keep us in the top 5. Just out of interest all our 3 defeats have been on a Tuesday.

[Ted]

We currently lack someone up front who attacks the ball. Neither Hayes nor Martin do that, relying more on glances. Either might work well with a real hustler who gets onto the ball no matter what, but we don't have one (except for NBH and Hibbert at set pieces). Hayes runs and works hard,and is usually good with corners, but he doesn't seem to have the instincts of a striker.

[Sue]

Right no more Tuesday night games then !

[HorshamRebel]

Photos will be available this afternoon, they are currently uploading

[Reading Rebel]

For my two penceworth,I thought Danny Murphy and Robbbie Kean[except for that wayward pass for the goal]were by far our best players last night.

 

Hugely disappointed by our second half performance and didn't think Steve Bateman got his substitutions or tactics right in that second half.Chesham nearly added another goal,in the first minute of the re-start.

Leon Hibbert had an awful game and to my mind should have been subbed.Tommy Hayes was totally isolated up front on own and to my mind,this just doesn't fit his game.Steve Sinclair was marked by two and sometimes three players because they knew he was a threat.

 

Being a bit of a football purist and given the players we've got,I would have liked to have seen a far more attacking,adventurous Slough Town because to me,attack is the best form of defence especially against a fast-flowing,footballing side like Chesham.I can understand keeping it tight when it was 0-0 but when 1 down,surely it's better to go for it.The mere fact that we never had one shot on target or that our pass and moves was lousy,says it all.Disappointed with Paul Edgeworth,too.He didn't have one of his better games,as he probably knows himself,but I thought he should have been far more vocal in his role of Captain,given the fact that we were playing one of the best sides in this league.

 

Substitions don't have to be the last 20mins,10 mins and 2mins from time,that Steve Bateman persittently does.Especially when things are not going to plan! The sad truth last night is that the players we had available yesterday could have given Chesham a far sterner test than we did do,if we had played a far more attacking formation.Instead,we supporters had to watch a very tame,lame and rather weak effort by Slough,who didn't at all,do themselves justice.

 

 

Agree with most of your points.

 

Playing a 4-5-1 formation it seemed obvious to me it was SB's intentions from the start to try and stifle Chesham's midfield and hopefully score from a set piece.

 

For me, apart from being a danger at set pieces, Hibbert's overall game, passing, mobility etc, at present, are poor and does not warrent him a place in the starting 11.

 

I thought Sinclair along with Murphy and Keane were our best players on the night.

 

On saturday I would like to see Sinclair and Sealey start the game but i suppose that will be dependant on whether Hibbert's loan has been extended.

[Rouser Rebel]

For my two penceworth,I thought Danny Murphy and Robbbie Kean[except for that wayward pass for the goal]were by far our best players last night.

 

Hugely disappointed by our second half performance and didn't think Steve Bateman got his substitutions or tactics right in that second half.Chesham nearly added another goal,in the first minute of the re-start.

Leon Hibbert had an awful game and to my mind should have been subbed.Tommy Hayes was totally isolated up front on own and to my mind,this just doesn't fit his game.Steve Sinclair was marked by two and sometimes three players because they knew he was a threat.

 

Being a bit of a football purist and given the players we've got,I would have liked to have seen a far more attacking,adventurous Slough Town because to me,attack is the best form of defence especially against a fast-flowing,footballing side like Chesham.I can understand keeping it tight when it was 0-0 but when 1 down,surely it's better to go for it.The mere fact that we never had one shot on target or that our pass and moves was lousy,says it all.Disappointed with Paul Edgeworth,too.He didn't have one of his better games,as he probably knows himself,but I thought he should have been far more vocal in his role of Captain,given the fact that we were playing one of the best sides in this league.

 

Substitions don't have to be the last 20mins,10 mins and 2mins from time,that Steve Bateman persittently does.Especially when things are not going to plan! The sad truth last night is that the players we had available yesterday could have given Chesham a far sterner test than we did do,if we had played a far more attacking formation.Instead,we supporters had to watch a very tame,lame and rather weak effort by Slough,who didn't at all,do themselves justice.

 

 

Do we have a voice on the pitch should we have a different captain?

[Chris]

A captain does not have to shout here there and everywhere. We had Lee Riddell this time last year who geed everyone up, and talked all-game but his own performances were not good remember.

 

I think Paul is a good captain. He led Hemel to the play-off's in the league above remember - LETS NOT FORGET Were fifth in the league with a game in hand on a couple of sides that would take us THIRD.

 

This time last year our season had ended and we were awful, lets not make more of one narrow defeat against a side that will be there or thereabouts!!

[Rouser Rebel]

For my two penceworth,I thought Danny Murphy and Robbbie Kean[except for that wayward pass for the goal]were by far our best players last night.

 

Hugely disappointed by our second half performance and didn't think Steve Bateman got his substitutions or tactics right in that second half.Chesham nearly added another goal,in the first minute of the re-start.

Leon Hibbert had an awful game and to my mind should have been subbed.Tommy Hayes was totally isolated up front on own and to my mind,this just doesn't fit his game.Steve Sinclair was marked by two and sometimes three players because they knew he was a threat.

 

Being a bit of a football purist and given the players we've got,I would have liked to have seen a far more attacking,adventurous Slough Town because to me,attack is the best form of defence especially against a fast-flowing,footballing side like Chesham.I can understand keeping it tight when it was 0-0 but when 1 down,surely it's better to go for it.The mere fact that we never had one shot on target or that our pass and moves was lousy,says it all.Disappointed with Paul Edgeworth,too.He didn't have one of his better games,as he probably knows himself,but I thought he should have been far more vocal in his role of Captain,given the fact that we were playing one of the best sides in this league.

 

Substitions don't have to be the last 20mins,10 mins and 2mins from time,that Steve Bateman persittently does.Especially when things are not going to plan! The sad truth last night is that the players we had available yesterday could have given Chesham a far sterner test than we did do,if we had played a far more attacking formation.Instead,we supporters had to watch a very tame,lame and rather weak effort by Slough,who didn't at all,do themselves justice.

 

 

Agree with most of your points.

 

Playing a 4-5-1 formation it seemed obvious to me it was SB's intentions from the start to try and stifle Chesham's midfield and hopefully score from a set piece.

 

For me, apart from being a danger at set pieces, Hibbert's overall game, passing, mobility etc, at present, are poor and does not warrent him a place in the starting 11.

 

I thought Sinclair along with Murphy and Keane were our best players on the night.

 

On saturday I would like to see Sinclair and Sealey start the game but i suppose that will be dependant on whether Hibbert's loan has been extended.

 

 

Hibbert if you remember arrived following a serious knee injury so was always going to take time, last week he was outstanding and last night began well again only to get caught by a late tackle which caught his knee, despite trying to run it off it clearly impeded him, hopefully we can retain him and as I see him as a good player

[3spirit]

I never said that Leon Hibbert is a bad player.I just felt that he was NOT playing to his potential at the Chesham game and therefore should have been substituted.

To get a win or a draw at Chesham,at this present time,you need players who are going to battle and dig in. Something Hibbert[with his injuries and all] didn't seem to be able to cope with. He made one challenge which resulted in him limping off,mainly due to him tackling half-heartedly. Don't get me wrong,I can fully empathise and sympathise with Leon's situation but is he what was needed for one of our bigger games,as the game wore on.Only my opinion but I didn't think so.

 

As for Paul Edgeworth,he is one of our best players,but perhaps the captaincy role,maybe doesn't suit him. In one of the previous home games,Nathan Bowden Haase had a heated argument with Edgeworth about Paul's less than stirring vocals. I'm not the manager,so that's up to him! but surely when we play the top sides in this league,we should have, at the very least,passion and commitment as a team and not be a group of prima donnas.Unfortunately for us,too many had an off night against one of the best teams in this league.Perhaps this is why we're not beating or drawing against the better opposition.

 

Undoubtedly,we missed Elliot Buchanan,Simon Martin and NBH but I still feel that we missed an opportunity of, at least, getting a point off of Chesham.Their forwards and midfield are a handful for any defence and I thought we coped reasonably well,considering Graeme Edwards game time.

We just didn't put their defence under pressure. Trying to stifle their play first half was sensible tactics but God knows,what Steve Bateman said,for the second half,because we were garbage!

 

Its only one game but we can't keep doing this against the better sides and expect to be promoted.

[Rebel_Glen]

Problem is we can't and shouldn't expect promotion this season. I'll personally be very happy with a top 5 finish which I feel is realistic given our current squad. We all need to remember the last 2 seasons and what we would have given then to be where we are now. It's all about progress which is obvious to see so far this season and also keeping together a squad and adding to it bit by bit, which the likes of Chesham United have done.

[A Rebel and a Saint]

Well said Glen. Personally I think that Hitchin are in a position to run away with the league and go on to win it, so it is a case of us having to battle it out for a playoff place, which I think is possible for us given the squad we have.

We just have to pick ourselves up from defeat and head to Atherstone knowing we can play better. With 2 home league games to come next week we should be looking to pick up a few more points over the next few games.

[Sue]

Going back to noise on the pitch, I dont think Paul or any of them are verbal enough. Jacko is the only player I can think of that you can really hear letting the players know what is happening and that is when he is on or off the picth.

 

When I watch other teams I think most of them are louder than us. I actually think its a good thing but I am no expert and perhaps it doesnt help at all.

[Reading Rebel]

I think it is far too easy to dwell on the negatives when you lose a close game to local rivals.

 

When we played Hitchin, who I think are most peoples favourites to win the division, we didn't play that well defensively but almost snatched a point.

 

Against Chesham we were missing some key players and but for one crucial mistake we would have come away with a point.

 

It's already been pointed out that if we win our game in hand we will be 3rd in the table with everything to play for.

 

Personally I'll be delighted just to get into the play-offs.