Chesham United consolidated their position in the playoff zone with a narrow win at relegation-threatened Hartley Wintney.

Chesham started well and after initial probing took the lead on 13 minutes. The goal was due to an error from the normally reliable Row goalkeeper Luke Williams. A long punt down field saw Williams come out his area to make a headed clearance. However the bounce was misjudged and the ball went over the stranded keeper leaving Kylian Kouassi to run the ball into an empty net.

The Generals controlled much of the play and created a chance on 18 minutes. A move down the left saw the ball played to Kouassi some 20 yards out. The striker’s shot saw Williams dive to his left and pull off a good save.

From the resulting corner from Bradley Clayton a flick on found Zac Joseph who shot over from close range. After 26 minutes Chesham had an opportunity to increase the lead from a penalty kick after Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick was pulled down in the area. Bradley Clayton took the kick and Williams atoned for his earlier error with a good save.

The Generals continued to look the more likely to score and five minutes later a good move down the right enabled an opportunity for Roddy Collins who shot wide. On 41 minutes the Row had a good chance to equalise when Harry Cooksley set up Adam Allen who shot over.

The Row came out for the second period and looked to be a different proposition from the opening half. However it was the Generals who had the first chance when Joseph managed to get beyond the Row defence and Williams came to Hartley’s rescue with a good save.

Hartley were to dominate for the remainder of the second half. On 51 minutes Kofi Halliday threaded a pass through to Allen who saw his effort saved by Sam Beasant in the Generals goal.

Jordan Edwards came on as substitute on 60 minutes and his introduction made an impact. On 67 minutes after pressing the Row were desperately unlucky not to equalise. Edwards and Vine combined well and a through ball found Allen in the clear. The midfielder struck his shot well and it hit the inside of the post and came back out. Kofi Halliday combined well with Reece Wylie eight minute later on the left. The latter’s cross just eluded the inrushing Row attackers.

The Row finished strongly and on 77 minutes were awarded a free kick on the edge of the penalty area. Jordan Edwards free kick beat the wall and was tipped over the bar by Beasant in the Chesham goal.

Despite pressing Hartley were unable to fashion another chance and the Generals held on to claim the points. It was very much a game of two halves with Hartley unlucky not to claim a point.