CHESHAM United have gone backwards this Christmas with their 3-1 home defeat to Hemel Hempstead yesterday making it just two points from the nine available for Andy Leese’s men.

They could only manage draws with St Albans City and Arelsey in their other two games during the Christmas rush, and with a 3-2 loss to Bigglsewade leading into the festive spell they now find themselves back in third place, 11 points behind Hemel.

A bumper crowd of 1,104 turned up at The Meadow for the Hemel derby, but the home side were 2-0 down inside half an hour and although Drew Roberts pulled a goal back after 49 minutes, a third Hemel goal from the spot consigned Chesham to defeat.

With every other game in the Southern League Premier being postponed, the game was a fine opportunity to Chesham to put some space between them and the pack.

However, defeat means they are still three points behind second-placed Cambridge City, having played a game more.

The loss continued a bleak period for the Generals.

Toby Little and John Kyriacou scored at St Albans City but their efforts only earned their side a 2-2 draw, and there was more of the same a few days later when Arlesey came to Bucks and shared a frantic 3-3 draw.

Chesham led 2-0 thanks to a Chris Dillon strike plus an own goal, but Arlesey pulled one back just before the interval and then made it 2-2 after 88 minutes.

Chesham promptly went up the other end and made it 3-2 through Steve Wales in the second minute of injury time, but just second later Arlesey equalised again to deny Leese’s men a crucial three points.

They go to Weymouth on Saturday.

Meanwhile, in Division One Central, Beaconsfield, Marlow and Chalfont St Peter have all been hit by cancellations.

Beaconsfield’s match with Aylesbury United on January 1 was off, as was the Marlow versus Chalfont match.

Beaconsfield were also frustrated on Saturday when they were due to play Barton Rovers, but they did beat Slough Town 3-1 on Boxing Day.

Meanwhile, Marlow have taken four of the six points on offer, defeating Ashford 4-0 on Boxing Day with Ian Davies scoring a hat-trick alongside a Yash Romeo goal before a 1-1 draw with Uxbridge, Davies again on target.

Meanwhile, the Saints lost 2-1 at Dunstable Town on Saturday but were 1-0 winners over Potters Bar Town on Boxing Day thanks to a goal from Farai Hallam.

On Saturday Beaconsfield host Dunstable, Marlow go to Leighton Town and Chalfont St Peter host North Greenford United.