United 1
(Dyer 32′)
Chesham 2
(Lafleur 50′, 89′)
United suffered only their second home defeat of the season on Saturday, as Chesham came from behind to grab all three points at Plainmoor.
Jordan Dyer’s first half goal gave The Gulls a priceless interval advantage, however two goals from Alex Lafleur saw the Generals emerge from the English Riviera victorious.
Following last week’s win at Aveley, boss Paul Wotton decided to make one change to his starting line-up, with leading scorer Cooke replacing Will Jenkins Davies.
Chesham set their stall out early on by maximising every opportunity to slow the game down, much to the annoyance of the home faithful.
A few half chances came the way of both sides, until just past the half-hour, a set-piece gave United the breakthrough.
Jordan Young’s corner caused mayhem inside Chesham’s 18-yard box, and Dyer met the ball and sent a header goalwards. A touch from a Chesham player looped the ball high and over the line. Chesham made appeals that the ball hadn’t cleared the line but the goal was given. Dyer with his fourth goal of the season.
A goal up at the interval saw the Yellow Army in high spirits at the break, however it was sadly all downhill in the second 45 minutes.
Seven minutes after the change of ends, a low diagonal strike from Lafleur beat James Hamon into his bottom corner, with the equalising goal sparking delaying tactics from the away side once again.
Another flag kick nearly prompted a Torquay winner – only for the crossbar to intervene – but unfortunately when the winning goal did arise, it went the way of Chesham.
Once again it was Lafluer that found the net, and with only one minute of normal time remaining, it really was the proverbial suckerpunch United had been dreading.
A missed opportunity, yes. But with just three points separating top spot to 5th-placed United, with four games to go, it’s not over yet.
UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 2. Finley Craske (26. Jordan Thomas, 78′), 3. Jay Foulston, 4. Jordan Dyer, 5. Sam Dreyer, 8. Jordan Young, 17. Offrande Zanzala (25. Emmanuel Ilesanmi, 57′), 18. Oscar Threlkeld (22. Will Jenkins Davies, 82′), 19. Cody Cooke, 20. Dan Hayfield, 27. Matt Jay (10. Omar Mussa, 72′).
SUBS NOT USED: 16. Ed Palmer.
Yellow Card: Threlkeld 41′, Hayfield 53′
CHESHAM: 1. Ben Goode, 2. Lewis Rolfe, 3. Alex Lafleur, 5. Steve Brown, 6. Connor Stevens, 10. Mitchell Weiss, 11. Zak Jospeh, 15. Jack Connors, 17. Callum Adebiyi, 20. Connor Roberts, 22. Samson Esan.
SUBS NOT USED: 9. Nathan Minhas, 16. Joe Grant, 18. Ashley Lodge, 19 Ryan Upward, 30. Taylor Forna.
Yellow Card: Rolfe 36′, Foran 87′, Goode 96′
Attendance: 3,701 (64 away)