Chesham Rangers Youth (07/04/2002)
2001 - 2002 Season, Hithercroft Under 15s



The weather was sunny but very chilly in the easterly wind for this game that was played on the Ashley Green ground which was dry and firm.

From the kick-off Hithercroft went on the attack when Duane White played a superb ball down the middle for Jason Guy to collect but his shot was played straight at the keeper. Riccardo Falconi then received a facial injury when struck by the ball and went off for attention, being replaced by Jack Fuller. Jason had a couple of further attacks but without success before Chesham, on a break down the right wing crossed the ball back inside for James Dillon who came running in from the left to hit the ball past Phillip Lines to put Chesham 1-0 ahead after 16 minutes. Riccardo then returned to the game with Jack departing from the field. Jason had another unsuccessful shot at goal before Chesham returned to the attack with a lob over Phil’s head. However, the ball went wide of the right-hand post being closely tracked by Shahid Ahmed. Twenty-eight minutes into the game Aron Yeardie scored Chesham’s second goal when the home team broke through the Hithercroft defence and Aron lobbed the ball over Phil and into the net. A couple of minutes later James received a long pass and took the ball almost to the line on the left before crossing it back inside for Jamie Reynolds to apply the finishing touch, scoring the final goal before half time and leaving the visitors 3-0 behind.

Within three minutes of the restart Duane White sent the ball through to Jason on his right and Jason hit an angled shot into the net to open Hithercroft’s account. Chesham then came back and, just four minutes later, after a shot which Phil got to but could only deflect, Jamie produced Chesham’s 4th goal. Chesham then began to dominate the game but their next few shots went either too high or too wide to bring them any reward. Then Hithercroft’s captain, Jason, collected the ball and was edged out wide by the Chesham defence but he then cut back inside and was unfairly brought down inside the 18-yard box and had to leave the field for treatment. The resulting penalty was taken by Duane White but was played too close to the Chesham keeper who easily gathered it. Richard Sunderland, who had been taken off at half time when Jack came back on, then returned to replace Jason whilst he was attended to. Just after his return (22 minutes into the half) following a goal-mouth melee Richard directed the ball into the Chesham net to score Hithercroft’s second goal. Two minutes later Jason returned, replacing Jack, and he moved back to deep midfield. Shortly after this Jamie Reynold added another goal to Chesham’s collection and then, after 30 minutes of the second half they increased their lead to 6-2 when a corner kick came across to James Dillon whose shot, after hitting two Hithercroft players, ended up in the visitor’s net. Hithercroft took a short corner and Jason chipped the ball which was cleared from the line, but only as far as Matthew Stone. He tried a shot but it was pushed out to Duane White who also had a try with a lob. His attempt was also cleared, this time going to Jason who again crossed the ball in for Dewayne Dublin to head just wide of the left-hand post. Hithercroft then had another attack with Kevin Ife showing speed and determination on the left wing, chasing and winning the ball, rounding defenders before sending the ball into the goal area but seeing his pass cleared upfield. Then, with just about one minute left Jamie Reynolds took the ball down the left wing and hit a hard shot past Phil to make the final score 7-2 to Chesham.

Chesham were deserving winners. They maintained their formation throughout showing skill, powerful shooting and good support for the man with the ball. Hithercroft, although having numerous attacks showed poor finishing, either dwelling too long on the ball until dispossessed, hitting the ball wide or playing soft shots for the keeper to save. This result leaves Chesham needing just 4 points from their last 2 games to end up as Division Champions and ends Hithercroft’s bid to finish in third place. Regardless of our final game and the results of other teams we will finish up 5th.


Hithercroft’s scorers: Jason Guy and Richard Sunderland.

Chesham’s scorers: Jamie Reynolds (4), James Dillon (2) and Aron Yeardie.

Referee: Adam Cooper