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Saturday 20 August 2005 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm

Southern League Premier Division
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| half-time: 1-0 |
result: W1-0 |
attendance: 610 |
| team: |
Evans, S Jones, York, Holloway, Coupe, Rollo, Ford (c), Harris (Holland 77), Walsh,
Partridge (Paul 82), Sandell (Duggan 86). subs not used: Fisher, Hulbert. |
| man of the match: |
Scott Partridge |
| scorers: |
Partridge (23) |
| bookings: |
none |
| officials: |
A Laver (Portsmouth), J Fortescue (Broadstone), C Hubbard (Poole) |
| league position: 1st |
form: ---WWW |
next match: Yate (A) |
Following the excitement, although not always for the right reasons, of the 1-0 victory over Tiverton Town early in the week it was a much more low-key meeting with Chesham United but with exactly the same outcome. Compared to Tiverton’s thoroughly unpleasant physical approach, Chesham’s efforts to play football were a welcome sight and on another day they could have got something from the game. However, for all their possession and neat build-up work, particularly in the second half, they could only manage one shot on target during the game against a City defence that has now gone 895 minutes of Southern League football without conceding a goal.
That defence welcomed back Paul Evans between the posts after he missed the Tiverton battle due to illness but was missing Graeme Power, who was at a wedding, with Andrew York filling in at left-back. One further change saw captain Bobby Ford back in the starting XI having got over his back problem, Gethin Jones dropping out to rest his ankle injury. The opening exchanges were largely confined to the middle of the park with just a Chesham corner that flew across the face of goal and a weak Andy Sandell header livening up the encounter. Sandell also got into a couple of promising crossing positions without producing the necessary delivery but on 23 minutes he finally got his range. Jon Holloway’s cross field pass picked out the winger. He ran past his marker and sent in a low centre that Scott Partridge turned home from six yards. Despite this breakthrough City were still somewhat lethargic and a second goal never looked likely during this first period. The visitors were looking no more threatening and the game reached halftime with little else to liven up proceedings.
In contrast the second half began with a flurry of entertainment and it was almost all in and around the City area. Straight from the kick-off Chesham won a free-kick right on the edge of the box when Holloway was harshly adjudged to have handled. This came to nothing as the City wall did its job but moments later Evans had to be alert to save at the feet of prolific scorer Lawford after a neat cross from Skinner. The Generals were now beginning to dominate, forcing City to defend deeper and deeper. However, it was City who came within inches of scoring again after 61 minutes. It was all down to the efforts of Partridge – who was looking City’s only threatening player. He stole the ball off Bowden-Haase, cut inside and curled a shot past Bonfield only to see it crash against the inside of the post. This was as close as City would come again to scoring with the last twenty minutes or so largely played in the City half of the pitch. Chesham were knocking the ball about confidently but time and again the first person to the final cross or pass was wearing a black and white shirt. Matt Coupe and Holloway were particularly impressive at breaking up United’s moves and Evans was not forced into another difficult save. The increasingly tired-looking Adie Harris was replaced 12 minutes from time by Chris Holland which allowed Holloway to push up into midfield. Partridge and Sandell, who had for the most part been a spectator during the second half, were also withdrawn for Martin Paul and Sam Duggan and this freshening up of the side allowed City to keep more possession during the concluding minutes and close out for their third victory of the season.
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