Football Review – A Non-League Football Review

On a day when victory would confirm the title for Chesham United, the Generals fought back from a goal down to take the vital three points.

The visitors had looked to make a fast start, coming forward in the opening minutes of the game, but Tyler Tobin parried the ball out for a corner before punching the resulting corner off the line. A few minutes later, Harrow took the lead: a shot was blocked from close range before falling to Ronny Mfinda, who stabbed the ball home.

The league leaders struggled as there was nothing between the two sides. A free-kick launched forward but safely into Tobin’s glove was all they could managed until the 17th minute. Harrow almost made the Generals pay as a ball from the edge of the box was blocked with the rebound being fired just wide before another effort from the edge of the box rattled the bar.

Chesham United look to play down the right hand side. The first effort was well defended before the second, in a similar position, was fired over the bar. Harrow looked to cause chaos in the Chesham box and that’s exactly what they did. A cross was swung into the box, initially the keeper struggled to pluck the ball out of the air before he opted to punch it clear.

The visitors teased an equaliser when a cross was flicked on, but no one was close enough to tap home, before they found the back of the net in the 32nd minute. The ball had fallen to captain Kieran Murphy at the back post, with the skipper tapping it home. The goal gave the Generals confidence as they continued to come forward and within 10 minutes of the first, they had taken the lead. Kieran Murphy got his second of the afternoon as he slotted it beyond the keeper.

The second half saw Harrow try and started the brightest but an early ball forward was held comfortably by Zaki Oualah. Chesham United got a foothold in the game and sought to increase their lead. Ricardo German did well to round the defender, but his cross was blocked before the resulting corner was cleared. A couple of minutes later, a dangerous free-kick was parried off the line by Tobin.

Harrow looked to bring the ball forward to relieve the pressure from the visitors, but no one was there to tap home a ball across the face of goal before another good passage resulting in nothing as they struggled to work the ball into the box. However, it was Chesham who remained the most dangerous. German looked to run onto a through ball, but the keeper was out quickly to claim it before Brad Clayton looked to deliver a cross into the box, but it was blocked before another cross from the other side was held by the keeper.

In the 80th minute, Chesham had an opportunity to increase their lead when they were awarded a penalty after Zak Joseph was brought down. The resulting spot kick was slotted past the keeper from Ricardo German to make it 3-1. Despite being three-one down, Harrow continued to come forward, but their best remaining opportunity was a free-kick comfortably held by the keeper.

Chesham hadn’t settled for three. They came forward in the 87th minute, but the cross was deflected out for a corner. That resulting corner was swung in and headed beyond the keeper by Callum Adebiyi, making it four for the Generals and all but confirming the league title for them. With seven minutes added on, there was still chances for things to happen: Clayton cut inside but fired his effort over the bar before a fifth goal almost arrived when Edwards looked to fire the ball in from inside the box, but his effort was blocked. And with that the referee brought the game to an end.

The win confirms Chesham United as Champions with four games remaining, despite Gosport Borough winning 2-1 (against Winchester City) and having a game in hand whilst Harrow Borough remain 10 points from safety, with 15 points left to play for.