11:00am Friday 12th March 2010
By Dave Peters
TWO weeks ago a furious Andy Leese challenged his team to prove him wrong – and now he is delighted they have.
The Chesham chief had angry words with his troops when they lost 2-1 at Leighton Town, questioning their desire and attitude.
The team felt the criticism was harsh and told their manager that he was unfair to slate them after their first defeat in nine games.
The dressing room argument was left with Leese telling them to prove him wrong and the gaffer was this week delighted to admit they have done.
Promotion rivals Slough were toppled, then leaders Hitchin were beaten 2-0 at The Meadow before Tuesday’s hard-fought 1-0 derby win over Beaconsfield Sycob kept United on course for a home play-off as the players silenced their leader.
Leese said: “I have had my words rammed down my throat. I questioned whether they were mentally strong enough to do it and they have certainly rammed those words down my throat with wins Tuesday, Saturday and Tuesday.
“I thought I was right to have a go at them. I questioned their quality and desire and the players had a pop back at me and said I was wrong to question it.
“I thought they’d switched off and got complacent and they told me I was wrong to knock them after one defeat in seven or eight games and they would prove me wrong which they have.”
Saturday’s double over Hitchin was achieved with goals from John Frendo, who continued his goal a game record since joining the club, and Chris Bangura’s effort.
And when Frendo’s hot-streak ended on Tuesday, midfielder Dave Fotheringham stepped up with a classy finish to provide the only goal of the game to sink a stubborn Beaconsfield side who belied their position at the wrong end of the Zamaretto Midlands Division table and made it tough for their promotion chasing hosts.
Leese said: “Beaconsfield were full of energy, they had nothing to lose and they had a couple of chances in the second half but I was delighted with us, I thought we controlled the game.
“We are about clean sheets and putting points on the board and that’s what we’ve done.
“Last season we would probably have given away a draw there or slipped quietly to a defeat but we didn’t let it happen.
“We were professional and the goal that won it was a bit of quality.”
John Kyriacou started the move before Steve Wales picked out a peach of a pass, arcing a quality ball round the back of the Becky defence for Fotheringham to run onto and the United midfielder matched the quality of the move with a quality 41st minute finish after taking one touch to bring the ball under control.
And United needed that moment of class to take the game away from a Beaconsfield side who looked much better than their statistics of nine matches without a win suggests.
They were always in the game and caused their hosts some uncomfortable moments with Craig O’Connor going close to an equaliser.
Tuesday’s victory set United up before a run of three away games starting with tomorrow’s encounter at Sutton Coldfield Town.
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