We suffered our 18th league defeat of the season after a 3-1 loss away to Chesham United at The Meadow.
The result was a familiar story that we have seen throughout the campaign, with our chances ultimately not being enough to give us the result that we desperately needed.
The hosts were leading 2-1 for much of the second half, but when Alex Lafleur tapped home into an empty net only seconds before stoppage time, the scoreline was settled as we were confined to another loss.
We were already up against it after the break following Zak Joseph’s free-kick on the only minute of added time put “The Generals” ahead, after Brooklyn Genesini’s equaliser had initially cancelled out Mitchell Weiss’ 23rd-minute opener.
Ultimately, it was a disappointing result considering our valiant victory the previous weekend, where the incidents throughout the game were, in Warren Feeney’s eyes, reflective of the “fine margins” that have been costing us results.
More frustratingly for us, our loss now increases our gap from safety to 12 points, following 20th-placed Welling United’s 1-1 draw at home to St Albans City.
FINE MARGINS
Following our impressive 5-1 victory at home to Welling, Warren made one change as he brought in skipper Tom Bearwish, back from suspension, in place of Rio Davidson-Phipps.
Regarding our chances, our first one came in just the eighth minute, and could have opened the scoring.
Brooklyn attempted to dink the ball over Dillon Addai, only for the ball to land just wide of the left post.
Then, in classic end-to-end fashion, the hosts responded only one minute onwards when Chesham skipper Connor Stevens curled wide of the post from approx. 25 yards out.
We then continued to attack, looking dangerous one gain on the 20-minute mark when Brandon Goodship’s cross was cleared away before Diamond Edwards could reach the ball.
Though shortly afterwards, we would rue our earlier missed chance.
Weiss, who was played into space, cut inside from outside the box and lofted the ball over Busey and into the top corner to give Chesham a 1-0 lead inside 23 minutes, and for us a familiar mountain to climb.
Though luckily, we gave just the response that was needed.
Pouncing on a Chesham mistake made in midfield, we slotted the ball into Brooklyn’s path, who slid the ball into the bottom-left corner to score just four minutes later.
His third in two games.
Then, just two minutes later, we had the chance to take the lead.
A dangerous cross met the head of Jake, whose flick-on was pushed away by the single hand of Addai.
We came close again on the half-hour mark, this time through Diamond Edwards, whose shot was parried away.
Proving tough to break down, the Chesham shot-stopper again recovered well to deny Goody on the rebound.
But our missed chances almost proved costly, as Joseph took advantage of Will Buse’s clearance.
Though the forward, perhaps unexpectedly, took his time looking for a shot inside the box, eventually firing wide.
However, as the half was in its one and only minute of added time, Joseph would have another crack at goal.
This time from a free-kick position, with what would be the final kick of the half.
Which he would score, sending the ball over the wall and beyond Busey to put the hosts in front right before the break.
We continued to respond threateningly as the second half began, first through Brooklyn, who cut inside and saw his strike deflected at the near-post six minutes in.
Then, three minutes later, Corey Jordan headed Goody’s dinked ball just wide of the post, however we wouldn’t have drawn level anyway due to our defender being flagged offside.
Our intensity wouldn’t stop there, though, as our next two chances came within either side of the hour-mark, first through Jake’s header before substitute Josh McQuoid side-footed towards goal, both chances flying over the bar.
After all of our opportunities, the hosts struck back in the 73rd minute, this time via a deflected strike that our goalkeeper was able to push away with both hands.
But, as the game drew to its close, there was time for one roll of the dice in the 90th minute when Lefleur lifted the ball into an empty net, and sealed the points for The Generals.
