Stourbridge 2 Chesham United 3

This early season meeting between the two sides beaten in last season’s play-off semi-finals deservedly went the way of the Buckinghamshire visitors as the Glassboys paid the price for an awful first-half showing. Chesham, who were better in all departments in the opening 45 minutes, took a three-goal lead before Sean Geddes pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in first-half injury time to give Stour supporters a glimmer of hope and Geddes later converted another spot-kick on the hour mark to set up a tense finale as the home side rallied, but Andy Leese’s men held on to their slender advantage to the final whistle.

This home game for Stourbridge was played at the Valley Stadium, home of Redditch United, as the War Memorial Athletic Ground was unavailable and Chesham played up the slope in the first-half, but it took them only 5 minutes to take the lead. Sean Geddes dwelt on the ball a little too long just inside his own box and Chesham striker Inih Effiong managed to surprise him and nip in to steal the ball before being caught by the Glassboys midfielder. Mark Lambert sent Dean Coleman the wrong way with his resulting spot-kick which bobbled over the line. Chesham continued to look the livelier side and on 15 minutes a good flowing move ended with Bruce Wilson on the left threading the ball inside into the run of James Potton, but he hit his low shot too close to Coleman. Stourbridge responded in the 23rd minute when Geddes floated in a free-kick and Nathan Bennett went up for a challenge with Keeper Shane Gore who managed to push the ball out to the edge of the area where Jordan Fitzpatrick was on hand, however he lofted his effort over. The match got increasingly fractious as the half wore on, but it was the visitors who were playing the better pass and move football and on 34 minutes they doubled their lead after Ben Billingham was dispossessed by Daniel Braithwaite who slipped an early pass through into the stride of Effiong and with only Coleman to beat, he produced an assured finish to tuck the ball low past the advancing keeper. The Glassboys hit back two minutes later with their best move of the half as Billingham combined with Ryan Rowe down the right. Rowe pulled the ball back low from the by-line for Billingham to fire in a shot from the right-hand side of the box that drew a good diving save from Gore. Soon afterwards Billingham sent a near post header over the bar from Geddes’ right-wing corner, but Chesham remained dangerous going forward. In the 41st minute a clearing header from Nathan Bennett dropped invitingly to Potton and as the ball bounced up, he looked to hit a looping shot that ran wide of Coleman’s left-hand post. A minute later the Stour defence was opened up again as Effiong fed Potton who wriggled his way into the box before slipping the ball off to Steve Wales on his outside, but his angled shot was blocked by Coleman. However moments later Chesham did grab their 3rd goal of the afternoon. Wilson threaded a pass into Effiong who drove to the left-hand by-line and he pulled the ball low across the six-yard box for Potton to tap in from close range. Deep in first-half stoppage time though Stourbridge were thrown a lifeline when Billingham was adjudged to have been brought down on the right-hand side of the area and Geddes despatched his penalty past Gore.

Stourbridge went in search of another goal after the re-start and Luke Benbow went close to pulling another back on 50 minutes after a kick downfield bounced through to him. He struck a dipping volley that just cleared the crossbar. On the hour mark though Stourbridge were awarded another penalty as Billingham was clipped by Dave Fotheringham as he stole in to nick possession inside the area and Geddes stepped forward to again find the net from the spot – his 5th goal of the campaign – and all penalties!. Soon afterwards Geddes spotted Gore off his line and tried to a cheeky chip from the right-channel area, but the ball carried over the bar. The Glassboys looked to push greater number forwards in the last half-an-hour as Chesham were increasingly intent on defending their lead and countering through Effiong. In the 81st minute an Effiong shot from the edge of the area was pushed over the bar unorthodoxly by Coleman and then three minutes later at the other end Benbow collected the ball downfield from Coleman and cut in from the left past John Kyriacou, however his curling shot was parried by Gore. Benbow threatened again near the end as a throw-in from the left from Aaron Drake found his run, but this time his low shot was safely collected by Gore. In injury time a Scott Thomas header fed Effiong whose low cross-shot flew inches past the far post as Stourbridge ran out of time in their efforts to salvage something out of the game.