Chesham crushed by Chelmsford but Forest Green cup tie awaits

Monday 12 October 2026 · By Ivor Latimer

Chesham United endured a painful afternoon on Saturday, losing 5–0 at home to Chelmsford City in the Enterprise National League South. But the club’s biggest game of the season is just days away, with former Football League club Forest Green Rovers coming to The Meadow in the FA Cup.

Chelmsford scored all five of their goals in the first 38 minutes. Barham struck in the first minute, Lafleur put through his own net on 14 minutes, and Bridge, May and Barbrook added further goals before half-time. Chelmsford’s Ashley Clarke was sent off late in the game, but by then the result was long settled.

The match was watched by a crowd of 841 and was segregated on police advice, only the second time that has happened in the club’s history, according to chairman Peter Brown.

It was a second heavy home league defeat in a row for joint managers James Duncan and Michael Murray, following a 4–0 loss to Maidenhead United. Chesham are now 19th in the table on ten points from 11 games, with three wins, one draw and seven defeats. They have scored 16 goals but conceded 24, and their last five league results read lost, lost, won, lost, lost.

The FA Cup has been a very different story. On 3 October Chesham beat Real Bedford 4–3 in a thrilling third qualifying round tie, which means they have seen 16 goals in their two home cup ties this season. Now they host Forest Green Rovers in the fourth qualifying round on Saturday 17 October, with a place in the first round proper at stake.

Forest Green are currently without a permanent manager, and the tie gives Chesham the chance of a famous result. The winners will collect £9,375 and go into the first round proper, with £3,125 for the losers. Because of the cup tie, Chesham’s scheduled league game at Tonbridge Angels that day has been postponed.

There was another cup exit last week. On 6 October Chesham went out of the Berks & Bucks Cup at Holmer Green, losing 7–6 on penalties after a 3–3 draw. Six under-18 players were used in that game.

Off the pitch, the club is appealing for help. In his notes on 9 October, Brown made an appeal for volunteers, said crowds were nearing 1,000, and advertised a paid matchday catering role.

After the cup tie, Chesham travel to Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday 24 October, a game that Dagenham are promoting as a community open day with £1 admission. Chesham then host Farnham Town on Tuesday 27 October and Folkestone Invicta on Saturday 31 October.

Saturday’s defeat exposed problems that the joint managers will need to fix. But for now, the focus is on Forest Green and the chance of a cup upset. A win at The Meadow would be one of the biggest results in the club’s recent history.