After two successive home draws in the Evo-Stik League, the Peacocks will be looking to turn one point into three when they welcome Chesham United to the Viridor Stadium tomorrow afternoon (15th September), kick-off 3.00pm.
Town have had a fortnight’s break from league action following their commitments in the Southern League Cup and Emirates FA Cup so will be keen to return to league action with a positive result to maintain their decent start to their inaugural Premier Division season. Three wins and just a solitary defeat to leaders Weymouth sees Town sit in fourth spot after six games but things have not been straightforward for them in their last two home league fixtures, a stoppage time equaliser salvaging a 3-3 draw with Hendon following a below par defensive display and then a rather uneventful encounter with Basingstoke which ended goalless. Confidence will be high though after the trouncing of Bemerton Heath Harlequins in last weekend’s FA Cup tie.
Chesham travel west in the unfamiliar position of being bottom of the table following a poor start. They have been a Premier Division club since 2010 and finished eighth last season but they commenced their campaign with five defeats on the spin with only one goal scored, a sequence which was finally halted when they gained a point at home to Wimborne in a 1-1 draw. The break for cup duties seems to have helped the Generals turn the corner, a 2-1 victory over Premier Division Central side Biggleswade Town being followed by another win in midweek against Dunstable Town in the League Cup.
The last meeting between the sides came in October 2012 when the Peacocks had only a James Blake goal to show from their 5-1 drubbing in an FA Trophy 2nd Round Qualifying tie at the Meadow. The teams also played each other during the Southern League season of 2006-07 when both sides gained 1-0 home victories.
The Peacocks are able to name a full strength squad with Ben Adelsbury, Matt Buse and Pierce Mitchell all recovered from knocks and fit to play. Acting manager Rob Dray remarked: “It’s another game against an established Southern Premier team with some very good players. I certainly think they are in a false position, borne out by the fact they beat previously undefeated Biggleswade in the FA Cup last week. It’s another step into the unknown to a degree but with all the boys available it will make selection more difficult but the squad stronger.”