Charlie Williams netted a late winner to send the Bucks through to the Third Round of the FA Trophy.

Match highlights

Match report

Kevin Wilkin’s men made a dream start to the game when Matty Stenson gave the Bucks the lead in the 6th minute. Jordan Cranston’s long ball forward into the left channel wasn’t dealt with by the Chesham defence, and Stenson nipped in to round Ben Goode and finish into the empty net.

The Generals responded in the 21st minute. The Bucks were undone by a Jayden Bennetts’ diagonal ball in behind Ammar Dyer that found Alfie Williams on the Chesham left, and the wide man had plenty of time and space to square the ball to an unmarked Nathan Minhas, who had the simple task of turning home from close range.

Williams and Bennetts were behind much of Chesham’s best attacking play in the first half, and shortly before the break the two combined from a short corner, with Bennetts sending in a curling cross that captain Steve Brown headed just wide. Although there were few clear cut chances, it was a lively first half that saw a few scuffles as the sides headed off at the break with the score at 1-1.

There wasn’t much between the sides after the break either, with each team making the other work hard to fashion any clear cut openings. On the hour, after his initial corner was cleared, Remi Walker crossed for the returning Oliver Cawthorne who powered a header towards goal but unfortunately just wide of the target. Meanwhile, Chesham’s best chance of the half came on 75 minutes, when Matt McClure slid in Minhas, but the Bucks 16-year-old debutant stopper Xander Grieves, on loan from Wolves, was quickly off his line to snuff out the danger.

Three minutes later, the Bucks had a great chance to take the lead. Jordan Piggott’s long ball forward was wonderfully controlled by Stenson, who with chested the ball down before slipping in a lovely diagonal ball through the heart of the Chesham defence for Ricardo Dinanga to run on to. But Goode was alert to the danger and did well to close down Dinanga, whose effort was blocked by the feet of the Generals’ stopper. Then, moments later, Dinanga’s defelcted cross found Jimmy Armson in space on the penalty spot, but he could only head over when well placed.

As the game headed into added on time it seemed likely that the tie was going to end all square. But in the 96th minute Charlie Williams, who had been felled on the edge of the box, curled a lovely free kick right inside the keeper’s left-hand post to give the Bucks a 2-1 win and a place in the Third Round.

Match reaction