Alves on target to avoid seven year itch

City secured a first away league win of the season this afternoon, on the seventh anniversary of Jerry Gill’s appointment as Romans manager, against Chesham United thanks to a Jordan Alves header early in the second half.

City almost took the lead in the opening minute when Scott Wilson reached a long ball forward ahead of keeper Goode but saw his lofted shot drift just wide of the goal. City looked to build on this promising start, Sol Wanjau-Smith and Alves looking a threat down the flanks, before the home side’s more direct approach began to turn the game in their favour. However, City stood up well to this threat and the game reached the break goalless.

Within four minutes of the restart City broke the deadlock. Alves ghosted across the face of goal to divert Latrell Humphrey-Ewers’ corner past Goode into the far corner of the net. Chesham responded well to this set-back, Minhas seeing his 61st minute effort strike a post then missing an even better close range chance five minutes later. Aransibia shot narrowly wide following a 75th minute corner as Chesham continued to press for an equaliser. Two minutes later Alves forced a smart stop from Goode. The hosts had scored in every league game this season so far, including a number of late strikes, but despite several promising attacks couldn’t find a way past City’s defences and deny Gill and his team a successful anniversary.