January 6, 2024
Today’s fixture at Didcot’s Loop Meadow stadium was a meeting of bottom versus top in the Southern League Premier South.
Didcot Town
Didcot won the FA Vase in 2004/05 and are managed by Jamie Heapy, who played over 900 matches for the club. Their nickname is The Railwaymen, but are often also referred to as Diddy.
Didcot have struggled this season after promotion from Division One Central, which was achieved by a third placed finish in the league, then play-off home wins over Walthamstow ( 3-1 ) and Ware ( 1-0 ). The play-off final against Ware was played in front of a crowd of 1,938, with Jamar Smith’s penalty proving decisive. Didcot’s record attendance was 2,707 in 2015 for an FA Cup tie against Exeter City.
Smith joined Salisbury City in the close season, and from the players that featured in the two Didcot games covered by these diaries last year ( a 3-1 home win over Harlow Town and a 1-3 reverse at Thame United ), midfielder Jenson Wright is now with Hanwell Town and Harley Giles has recently joined Banbury United. Forwards Connor Barrett and Adam Smith are now at North Leigh. Centre-half Luke Carnell rejoined Didcot via Hungerford after leaving Thame United in the summer.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2022/11/didcot-town-3-1-harlow-town-att-217.html
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2023/01/thame-united-3-1-didcot-town-att-205.html
Didcot had won only two leagues matches prior to today, 4-2 at Basingstoke and 1-0 at home to Winchester, and sat 11 points from safety. However, they had drawn at three of the division’s current top 5 sides, including a 1-1 draw when these two sides met at Chesham in October. Draws were also achieved at Gosport Borough and Hungerford Town so Didcot seem capable of matching the better sides in the league, it is the rest they have had difficulty with ! A 0-7 home loss to Poole Town and 1-7 at AFC Totton being the standout blemishes.
The average home attendance at the Loop Meadow this season was 313, boosted by 592 being present for the massacre by Poole and 411 for the Christmas fixture against Hungerford. Midfielder Ben Putland was their top scorer with 4 league goals.
Chesham United
Chesham United play at the 5,000 capacity Meadow Stadium and are also known as The Generals. My only visit to their smart stadium was not to watch Chesham, but instead to watch their tenants Aylesbury United play Hertford Town in 2022.
The one occasion I have previously seen Chesham play was in 2008/09, when they lost 1-2 at Oxford City in the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.
Chesham have been in Step 3 in the non-league pyramid since 2011 and have been in the Premier League South since 2017/18. Last season they finished 5th and lost to Bracknell Town in the play-offs.
The Generals had a 16-3-4 record going into this match to be 4 points ahead of second placed Salisbury. They won their first 7 league games until slipping up 1-2 at home to Winchester City. They reached the First Round proper of the FA Cup after eliminating Walton & Hersham, Farnham Town and Braintree, but exited the competition after a 0-2 home defeat to Maidstone United, watched by 2,984 spectators.
After the cup loss Chesham’s form dipped a little, losing at Swindon Supermarine and Bracknell, but they then won four and drew one of their next 5 matches. After a 0-4 set-back at Plymouth Parkway, they won their last three games prior to today.
The standout player of Chesham’s season so far has been ex-Chesterfield and Crawley Town Grenada international striker Ricardo German ( 3 caps ) with 22 goals. After not making the grade at Crawley and being forced to play three divisions lower, on paper German now appears to be ready to move back-up to a higher level or two. Midfielder T’Shane Gallimore is also an international, with 17 caps for the British Virgin Islands.
A notable signing for Chesham in October was midfield Ryan Upward, who spent 9 seasons at Maidenhead United, most of them in the National League. No doubt The Generals hope he will keep them moving in an upward direction………
Another familiar name in their squad is centre-back Callum Adebiyi, who featured in these diaries for St Albans in their Conference South Play-off final defeat at Oxford City, whilst veteran centre-half Keiran Murphy played for MK Dons and Crawley Town, and striker Ogochukwu Obu is on loan from Maidstone United, having previously played for Slough Town.
Chesham have joint-managers. James Duncan and Michael Murray are in their 6th season in this role.
So far Chesham are the 7th best supported side in the division, with an average home attendance of 548.
Matchday Information
Entrance today was £12 for adults and £8 for concessions ( over 60 ). Didcot’s website hadn’t been updated with the new prices for this season !
The match-day programme was £2 and whilst a good effort with plenty of information on the visitors and player stats for Didcot, unusually it didn’t include Didcot’s results, forthcoming fixtures and the league table.
It was cash only at the turnstiles, but credit card payments were taken at the bar.
Bet365 made Chesham 1/2 odd on favourites, with Didcot at 4/1 to win, and the draw at 3/1
The distance between Chesham and Didcot is around 40 miles, depending on the route taken, and the journey for the Chesham supporters should have taken about an hour. However, with all the recent rain, most of the bridges over the Thames were closed due to flooding, so a detour via Abingdon was necessary for me. Oxfordshire now has a Lake District !
The weather at the 15.00 kick was dry and the temperature 5 degrees. After all the heavy rain earlier in the week, the pitch was pretty good condition, so credit was due to the Didcot groundstaff.
Commentary on the game was provided by CW Sport Radio, aka Motty Mic, and I was able to grab 5 minutes with Chris Walker before he went on air.
There were around 60-75 Chesham supporters who had made the journey, and the flags of Grenada and BVI were draped over the wall behind the goal. Both German and Upward were only on the substitutes’ bench for The Generals.
Chesham were in a change kit of all yellow with black shoulders and trim, whilst Didcot were in their usual all red kit.
Match Report
The early stages of the match were even, with the first attempt on goal coming after 5 minutes when Humphries turned just outside the Chesham area but his effort was comfortable saved by Oualah above his head.
Despite having a fair share of the possession, Chesham were careless in looking after the ball and three times lost possession enabling Didcot to break quickly but without creating any danger.
Chesham’s first sign of attacking intent came in the 9th minute when Obi beat two defenders by the left-hand by-line, but his low cross was blocked and Murphy forced a corner off Carnell. The corner was delivered too long and Osborne gathered and set-off to run at the exposed Chesham defence and got as far as just outside the Chesham penalty area before being hauled down. Barder’s free-kick was low but at Oualah, who made a routine save.
At the other end, another Chesham cross from the left needed to put out of play for a corner by Learoyd. The corner was played short, but came to nothing.
The pattern of the match so far was pretty evident. Chesham were attempting to play a passing game through midfield, but the movement of the ball was slow, and a lack of movement from the frontmen resulted in the ball being worked down the left for crosses into the Didcot area. Didcot on the other hand were pressing the Chesham ball players and forcing errors, and when they got possession to their lively 19 year olds, Gallagher and Osborne, they were making life uncomfortable for Chesham’s giant centre-backs.
Chesham’s left-back Lafleur played in Edwards down the left-wing, but his low cross flashed across the Didcot 6 yard box and off for a throw-in.
Chesham again gave the ball away with a poor pass just outside their area, but Osborne was unable to capitalize.
Chesham continued to probe down their left, and a cross from Conners went beyond the far post, where McNeill opted to play safe and head off for another corner to the visitors. Again, the corner was headed away by the Didcot defence for Osborne to go on another long run, with Lafleur making a great tackle as the Didcot forward went into the Chesham area.
The first yellow card was shown in the 19th minute when Learoyd attempted to control a bouncing ball but with Rolfe attempting to head the ball, the Chesham full-back received a kick-in the head for his efforts.
The first goal of the match arrived in the 22nd minute. Chesham again gave away possession and Didcot attacked swiftly. Gallagher skinned Gallimore near the half-way line, and after interplay between with Humphries, the ball fell kindly at the feet of Gallagher who slid the ball past Oualah from around 6 yards out. 1-0 to Didcot
Chesham sought an immediate response, and Bedwell was far from convincing in punching away a high cross from Rolfe, but a late challenge from Obi resulted in a free-kick to the Didcot keeper.
Chesham keeper Oualah was played into trouble by Rolfe but showed good skill to beat two Didcot attackers trying to close him down, and started a counter attack for Chesham. The ball was worked to Joseph who ran across goal and into the Didcot area, and an unnecessary lounge by Barder brought down the Chesham man for a clear penalty. With Bedwell diving to his right, Obi smashed the ball down the centre of the goal for the equalizer. 1-1 after 27 minutes
Chesham’s play continued to be error-strewn and Collins needless brought down Gallagher near the corner flag when he was going nowhere to give the home side a free-kick in a promising position. The free-kick flew across the goal-mouth but Learoyd on the stretch just beyond the far post was unable to make contact as his slid in.
Gallagher was again chopped down shortly after for another free-kick to Didcot but fortunately for Chesham, Oualah was alert to catch the chipped free-kick before Carnell could get to it. The keeper furiously criticised his defence, who made a couple of “observations” in return.
After 35 minutes Chesham won a free-kick mid-way inside the Didcot half, but the ball from Conners was missed by Adebiyi and went off for a throw-in.
Didcot continued to be a threat on the break and again Oualah needed to be on his mettle to intercept Osborne’s attempt to release Gallagher.
At the other end, another free-kick from ex-Dagenham and Redbridge man Conners was again headed away by the Didcot defence with Obi then fouling Glover.
Didcot’s front three continued to impress, and Adebiyi did well to stop another move close to his by-line, but he was less composed in dealing with a chip into the area by Grant, sending the ball high in the air, with Murphy then doing the same, but Chesham were eventually able to clear the danger.
Yet again Chesham gave the ball away and Barder released Grant, but his cross was cleared. Chesham then resorted to plan A of playing down the left and after a cross from Lafleur was partially cleared, Adebiyi volleyed the loose ball well over the bar.
As the first half entered added on time, Humphries and Adebiyi went for an aerial challenge, leaving the Didcot forward on the floor with a head injury. It looked accidental, and Chesham’s Murphy was immediately concerned and ran to the aid of the stricken Didcot player. Both trainers came on to treat Humphries, and after a delay of 7 minutes, he was eventually able to get to his feet and walk groggily from the field.
There was still time for Osborne and Gallagher to break down their right and interchange passes but Chesham defended, and the impressive Lafleur then made a good run down the left. When the ball was played into the Didcot area there was a couple of ricochets and the ball appeared to strike the arm of a Didcot player. Although it appeared to be ball on to arm from a very close range, the referee wasted no time in pointing to the spot.
The Didcot players surrounded the referee in protest but were eventually waived away, before the referee eventually went to speak to his assistant. Incredibly, the referee changed his mind and gave a free-kick to Didcot. I have no idea why, perhaps offside ? Also, I have no idea why it took so long for the linesman to get involved !
After 12 minutes of added time, the first half ended with honours even, with the second half resuming at 16.13.
The second half took a few minutes to come to life, and after 51 minutes Joseph skipped past three defenders, only to send a weak 20 yard left footed shot trickling well wide. Chesham then again frittered away possession and although Putland’s attempted through pass to Osborne was diverted by Adebiyi, the ball ran to Grant, but the cross from out wide on the right went beyond Gallagher.
The game’s next key moment came in the 54th minute. Joseph ran at the retreating Didcot backline and was fouled just outside the Didcot area. As a short delay the referee produced a red card for McNeil. Those around me speculated it was a second yellow for either the foul or kicking the ball away, but I hadn’t seen a first yellow card to McNeill. I therefore presumed it was a straight red for the foul……
With top of table now having a player advantage over bottom of the table, it seemed likely that The Generals would now romp to an easy victory.
Joseph got up to take the free-kick and his low drive was fumbled at his near post by Bedwell, but fortunately for the Didcot custodian the ball dribbled wide for a corner. The Chesham fans behind the goal had been giving Bedwell a lot of stick, which presumably would have increased had the ball gone in !
The set-piece was sent long, but Putland was covering to head-off for another corner.
Didcot were now being pinned back inside their area, and after Obi cut back inside onto his right foot, Carnell bravely headed the fierce drive off for another corner. Following the red card to left-back McNeill, Grant had switched from right-back to left-back, with Barder dropping back into the right-back berth.
In a rare moment of respite, Osborne went off on a mazy run, only to be chopped down by Adebiyi, but the referee’s cards stayed in his pocket. A few moments later Gallagher’s weak shot looked like it might be falling into the path of Osborne, but Oualah was again quick to intercept. Putland’s low ball across the Chesham area was then met by Elarfa, who could only fire over the bar from near to the penalty spot to waste a great opportunity for The Railwaymen.
Chesham were piling on the pressure, but a header from Edwards looped narrowly over the bar. The match was increasingly becoming like the siege of the Alamo with Joseph’s low shot from 20 yards, pushed around the post by the diving Bedwell for another corner. Clayton then drilled the ball across the face of the goal from the resulting corner but it was missed by everyone.
Clayton then attempted the same from the other side of the pitch, but this time it went it went off for a goal-kick.
With 20 minutes remaining, Chesham brought on German, who frankly looked overweight but is apparently suffering from a hamstring injury. Didcot managed to get to the other end of the pitch to win a corner, but after three headers across the area, the ball ended up over the bar.
If Chesham were to grab a winner, it was increasingly looking likely that Clayton would be involved in it but another dangerous run saw his shot blocked by Putland. A cross from Joseph then went beyond the far post, where Lafleur’s outstretched leg could only divert the ball into the side-netting.
With 12 minutes left on the clock, Obi looked to have played in German, but the ball ran away from the Grenadian and when the ball was reworked, the shot on goal was again blocked by the resolute Didcot rearguard.
Lafleur then tried his luck, but Carnell again put his body on the line to make the block. It was now all one-way traffic, with the only question as to whether Didcot could hang on to take a point.
After a bit of a scramble in the 6 yard box, the ball fell at the feet of German but the ball ended up going wide, with a corner awarded, although Obi looked to have fouled Learoyd earlier in the move.
The balls continued to rain into the Didcot area, and Learoyd produced another good header off for a corner from Rolfe’s delivery into the box. The corner was flicked on at the near post but again no-one was on hand for a tap-in for Chesham at the back stick.
With 90 minutes on the clock Murphy was found in space inside the area, but rather than going for goal the centre-back played the square ball, but again a Didcot defender was there to make the block and concede the corner. Fortunately for Diddy, the set-piece was sent straight out of play.
The comedy moment of the game came in the 4 minutes of added time, when Murphy’s back pass bounced over the foot of Oualah, but the keeper was able to recover and prevent the own goal.
Although Chesham continued to huff and puff, the home side saw out the closing moments relatively comfortably to take an unlikely point as the match ended at 17.05
This was an enthralling game to watch, but it was difficult to know what to make off it. When Didcot had 11 players on the field that more than matched the league leaders and you would not have believed they had taken only 11 points prior to today.
Once they went down to 10 men they produced a fabulous rearguard performance to prevent Chesham from scoring the winning goal, with Carnell and Learoyd outstanding.
The first half performance from Chesham was sloppy, perhaps complacently thinking all they had to do was to turn-up to take the third points, and were driven out of their stride by Didcot’s pressing game and willingness to get the ball forward as soon as possible to exploit the pace of Osborne and Gallagher.
On another day, Chesham would have converted their second half pressure into goals, but today they came up against very stubborn opposition.
Didcot remain bottom of the table, with the gap to safety down to 10 points but if they continue to play like this they should have a good chance of avoiding the drop. Chesham stay as league leaders, but are now only 2 points ahead of Salisbury.
Highlights : https://twitter.com/i/status/1744112142918340988
Didcot Town : Bedwell – Grant, Carnell, Learoyd, McNeill – Putland, Barder, Glover – Osborne ( Lucas ), Humphries ( Elarfa, Case ), Gallagher
Chesham United : Oualah – Collins, Murphy, Adebiyi, Lafleur – Rolfe, Joseph, Gallimore ( Clayton ), Conners ( Upward ) – Obi, Edwards ( German )
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