Chesham United3

Bishop's Stortford1

(Ryman League Premier Division)

THE Blues are now well and truly in a relegation crisis after this inept display left them further adrift from safety and cemented their position in a lowly 23rd place.

With Freddie Hyatt out with an ankle injury, Rob French took over the captain's armband, although he was unable to inspire his team against a Chesham side, who opened the scoring after just five minutes.

Damian Forde broke the offside trap and rounded oncoming keeper Micky Desborough before striking the post but the rebound allowed Andre Scarlett to follow up into an empty net.

Despite some good possession it took Stortford until nearly the half-hour mark to register a meaningful attack, but Gareth Gwillim's shot from distance was easily claimed by Delroy Preddie in the hosts' goal.

Chesham increased their lead three minutes before the interval when Scarlett hit an unstoppable shot into the top corner from long range.

Stortford responded after the break and with Vinnie John coming close for the Blues, before they managed to halve the deficit on 58 minutes when French picked the ball up in the home side's half and advanced, before hitting a shot that was deflected into the bottom corner past keeper Delroy Preddie.

But Chesham sealed the game with 13 minutes to go when the referee awarded a penalty following a suspected push by Rob Gould.

Grant Cooper calmly converted the spot kick to ease Chesham's relegation fears and leave Stortford and the thought of relegation a distinct reality for Martin Hayes' side further in the mire.

Stortford will now be hoping to bounce back this Saturday when they entertain Billericay Town, whom they will also play at Woodside Park on Tuesday night in the Bryco Cup fourth round replay after drawing 1-1 against them last week.

January 29, 2003 17:00