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14:00

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The National League U19 Alliance
6th
19pts

Boxing Day stalemate for Rebels and Generals

Chesham United

Chesham United

0
Slough Town

Slough Town

0
League Attendance: 479 Tom Moran
The Boxing Day showdown between Berks and Bucks county rivals Chesham and Slough delivered a goalless draw and a match in which both sides showed plenty of endeavour, but a lack of cutting edge.

Whilst Slough supporters will perhaps be happy their side didn’t lose the match, as has become customary in recent years, the Rebels created the better chances and went closest to scoring as Jake Parsons hit a post early in the second half, and Luke Knight headed wide.

One of the big battles throughout the game was that between Scott Harris and Chesham defender Darren Purse, the 37-year-old former Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City defender. Purse used all his experience to marshal his defence well during the match, and ultimately shut Slough out. At the other end, the far less experienced Tom Moran was superb alongside makeshift centre back Leigh Rumbold, and kept Ryan Blake and Simon Thomas equally quiet.

Ben Edwards and Adrian Sear continued their partnership in the middle of the park and performed strongly against their Chesham counterparts.

Slough enjoyed by far the better of the opening quarter of an hour, having plenty of the ball and forcing a few corner kicks, but goalkeeper Shane Gore was on hand to deal with most things.

At the other end, Jake Somerville got down well to hold a strike from Blake, and Thomas hit a snapshot well wide on the half volley.

Thomas had a much clearer chance soon after as Slough conceded possession, but Somerville pushed away his shot and his defence eventually got it clear.

Slough’s first real sight of goal came as Smith headed an inviting cross from Jake Parsons goalwards, but Gore held well with Harris lurking.

Not long after, neither Smith nor Harris could stretch to make sufficient contact with another Parsons cross from the right.

Luke Knight put a free kick over the bar after a rare foul from Darren Purse earned him a yellow card, and Smith fired off target from 25 yards after a Slough breakaway. Jake Parsons also sliced a volleyed effort into the side netting as the first half drew to a close.

Slough again started the second half strongly, and Jake Parsons was very unlucky to see his placed effort from the edge of the box rebound back off a post with Gore beaten, after the winger had shown a nice touch and piece of trickery to make space for the shot.

Parsons was again heavily involved in the next Slough effort. His attempt on goal from wide on the right was heading well wide, and Knight reacted quickly to try and head the ball past Gore, however Knight’s effort was made more difficult by a slight deflection off a Chesham defender, and the ball flew wide.

Chesham started to mount pressure of their own, and forced three successive corners, only for Thomas to head harmlessly wide on the third one.

Harris found himself with a presentable chance to score after a loose headed clearance from Purse fell straight to the striker, but his first-time volley was straight into Gore’s arms.

Slough seemed to tire a little in the closing stages, and Chesham had the ball in the back of the net after a corner, but referee J Richardson disallowed the effort after seeing a foul on Somerville.

Slough introduced James Dobson in place of Knight late on as the Rebels looked for more attacking thrust, but Chesham were next to threaten, with Somerville saving a Thomas header and then a free kick from Toby Little, which appeared to bounce awkwardly up off the turf.

In the dying minutes, Ryan Parsons made a superb block from Dave Pearce to ensure the game finished goalless and maintain Slough’s recent unbeaten run.

Chesham United Lineup

Shane Gore, Ashley Smith, Toby Little, George Fenton, Darren Purse (c), Luke Allen, Nathan Poulton, Mark Bell, Ryan Blake, Simon Thomas, Dave Pearce. Subs: Daniel Braithwaite, James Beasant, Tom McConway, Connor Wood, Shaun Reece.

Rebels

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