CHESHAM boss Bob Dowie blasted his players after they crashed 2-0 amid blustery conditions at home to lowly Hendon.

Dowie said his side lacked the passion to play on Saturday and let the fans down.

He said: "There was a lack of ideas, lack of inspiration, lack of support, lack of passion. There were too many people playing badly.

"At home we've been entertaining but that was by far our worst performance of the season.

"It's up to me and the staff now to rally the team round or the season could slide away into mediocrity."

Chesham slumped to only their second home defeat of the season to a Hendon side striving to get out of the bottom three.

The first side saw the Generals attacking into the strong wind and they struggled to get out of their half with Delroy Preddie's kicks not even reaching the half-way line.

And it was no surprise when Hendon scored on 29 minutes when Chesham allowed Hendon to hook back a corner into the area.

Steve Forbes was then left free to head the ball goalward, which Fitz Hall deflected into the net.

Worse was to come for Chesham as they fell asleep on 35 minutes. A long ball was punted down field for Eugene Ofori. He controlled and released Randall who slotted it in.

Chesham needed to get an early goal in the second half and nearly did after 19 seconds from Richard Graham but the keeper saved well.

From then on, Chesham huffed and puffed as the rain started lashing down, forcing the supporters to run for cover.

But despite some chances near the death, Hendon always looked likely to hold on to a deserved victory.

In Division One, a four-goal blitz in ten superb second-half minutes saw Thame through 4-1 at home to Bromley.

Bromley actually went ahead in the 40th minute through George Gibson but on the hour mark, Thame went nap.

Justin Merritt grabbed the first with a cross shot and Jefferson Louis put Thame ahead two minutes later after Nando Perno played him through.

Martin Brown then made it three, slamming the ball home after Wayne Cort's header had been cleared off the line and Louis scored his second from a corner to complete the rout on 69 minutes.

Marlow also had a good win in Division Two but left it late against Cheshunt to secure all three points.

James Pritchard opened the scoring on ten minutes when he rounded the keeper and shot.

But Marlow then had to wait until the last two minutes for the second when Jason Bowler struck a first time shot past the keeper.

Pritchard then grabbed his second from the penalty spot to make it 3-0.

In Division Three, Flackwell won the local derby against Chalfont to climb out of bottom place.

Gary Wiltshire opened the scoring on 32 minutes, finishing off a fine move but Chalfont equalised four minutes later when Chris Powell powered in a header.

The game seemed to be heading for stalemate at half-time but then Gavin Mernagh scored. He grabbed his second with ten minutes left to make it 3-1 and though Matt Holian scored, Flackwell held on to make it 3-2.

February 12, 2002 09:30