Match Reports 2010/11

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Eastbourne Town 3 Chatham Town 1

Tuesday 1st February 2010

A solid performance by Chatham Town saw them record a 3-1 win at home to Eastbourne Town on Tuesday evening; apart from two short spells, one in each half, they dominated the game throughout.

Eastbourne were quicker out of the blocks at the start of the game, and had all the possession for the first five minutes. After a brief and comic delay caused by one of the linesmen’s flags falling apart, Chatham came right into the game. Chatham’s first chance came after ten minutes when a free kick just inside the Eastbourne half was missed by the goalkeeper, but the ball ran wide. Two minutes later, another chance when Francis Tshikaya was pushed to the ground inside the penalty area, and the referee pointed to the spot – but Aaron Firth’s penalty was comfortably saved.

An Anthony Hogg corner midway through the half curled in viciously and forced the goalkeeper to clear over the bar with his fingertips, but it was to be another eight minutes before the evening’s first goal. Once again, Tshikaya was fouled, this time just outside the penalty area. The free kick was cleared for a corner, but from that corner the ball went via several players onto the head of Firth and into the net.

As the first half drew to a close, Firth went close from a cross by Tshikaya, and then two minutes into stoppage time Chatham doubled their lead. Gary Ward made good ground down the right and crossed into the penalty area. At first it seemed that Firth had missed the ball, but in fact he was leaving it for Anthony Hogg a few yards to his left, and Hogg blasted the ball into the top corner of the goal.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Billy Shinners went close after a ball on the right from new signing Billy Parkinson, and the same player went close after receiving a cross-field pass from Ward. The game went quite for a while, and for a time in the middle of the half Eastbourne had the majority of the possession. They pulled a goal back on 69 minutes, when a long clearance from goalkeeper Thorp was allowed to bounce, which gave Eastbourne’s Crabb time to get to the ball and slot it past James Tedder.

Tedder was forced into a good save from a free kick on 76 minutes, but then Chatham once again began to dominate. A minute later, the ball ran loose after a late tackle on half way. Aaron Firth was first to the ball and took it into the penalty area, but was unable to score; meanwhile, Eastbourne’s Goldsmith saw his second yellow card of the evening.

Shinners blasted over the bar from close range with 81 minutes played, but made amends five minutes later when he received a through ball on the right hand side of the penalty area and put it straight in the back of the net. That third goal sealed the game, and although Eastbourne had an injury time effort ruled out for offside, the final whistle soon went to give Chatham a well deserved 3-1 victory.

Chatham Town 3 (Firth 31, A Hogg 45+2, Shinners 86) Eastbourne Town 1 (Crabb 69)
Team: Tedder, Parkinson, Laker, Fuller, Wilkins (Hunt 90+1), Barton, Ward, A Hogg, Shinners, Firth, Tshikaya. Subs not used: J Hogg, Packer, Ticehurst, Molloy.
Referee: Mr D Blunden (Kent).
Attendance: 68.

Horsham YMCA 1 Chatham Town 1

Saturday 29th January 2011

Chatham Town came away with one point after a fast and furious game at Horsham YMCA on Saturday. Both clubs had clearly identified this fixture as one to win, but ultimately they were forced to share the honours.

The game began at a frenetic pace with both teams playing the ball forward at every opportunity, but it was eleven minutes before Chatham Town forced the day’s first corner. That corner was well taken by Ryan Laker, but cleanly caught by YMCA goalkeeeper Fox. Seven minutes later, it was Chatham’s turn to be under pressure. YMCA’s Sachies committed James Tedder on the left hand side of the box and then rounded the keeper and shot towards an empty net – but Craig Wilkins was easily able to get to the ball and clear it to safety.

Aaron Firth forced a good save with 22 minutes played, but three minutes later YMCA took the lead. From a corner, the goalkeeper spilled the ball in a crowded goalmouth, and a YMCA striker had a simple task to put his team in front.

Billy Shinners and Joe Fuller both went close with shots from distance, but Chatham’s best chance yet came from a Firth free kick after 34 minutes. Fox was unable to take the ball cleanly, and Gary Ward came close to stealing it from him as the two players collided; fortunately, neither was injured.

YMCA had most of the possession as the first half neared its end, but then Chatham equalised on the stroke of half time. An excellent strike from Anthony Hogg on the right hand edge of the area gave the goalkeeper no chance, and so at half time the teams were level at 1-1.

Two minutes into the second half, Chatham were awarded a free kick for a handball scarcely a yard outside the penalty area. Shinners stepped up for a shot, but his effort went wide. Chatham began to dominate the game as YMCA tired; Hogg and Laker both forced good saves with shots from distance, while at the other end Tedder made a fine save to keep out a rare YMCA break.

Chatham introduced Uche Ibemere as their only change during the game, and still they continued to push forward. With ten minutes to play, a Nick Hegley free kick from 30 yards out was seen late by the goalkeeper and he could do no more than push it into the path of Fuller – but Fuller was unable to get a shot in and the ball was cleared. Chatham continued to press and Firth hit the side netting from a narrow angle, but YMCA started to make a few breaks of their own as the time ran out.

With both teams committing men forward, there was always the chance that either team might score on the break – but it was not to be. On a bitterly cold afternoon, all the players were keen to keep moving; so was the referee, and he blew the final whistle with scarcely a minute of stoppage time added. Both sets of players will probably feel that they ought to have won, but Chatham should be reasonably happy to come back from the long trip to Sussex with a point.

Horsham YMCA 1 (Someone 25) Chatham Town 1 (A Hogg 45)
Team: Tedder, J Hogg, Laker, Fuller, Wilkins, Barton, Ward, A Hogg (Ibemere 66), Shinners, Firth, Hegley. Subs not used: Restell, Parkinson, Tshinkaya, Dolby.
Cautioned: Wilkins, Ward, A Hogg.
Referee: Mr M Webb (Surrey).
Attendance: 86.

Chatham Town have the last in a run of midweek home games on Tuesday when the visitors are Eastbourne Town (this was only confirmed this week and may not be shown on some listings). Then next Saturday they are on the road again as they travel to fourth placed Leatherhead.

Chatham Town 0 Whitstable Town 0

Saturday 22nd January 2011

After four goals in each of the last two home games, Chatham Town came back down to eath with a goalless draw at home to Whitstable Town on Saturday. Both goalkeepers had excellent games, but the game will probably not live long in the memories of many of the other players.

The game began cautiously, with neither team committing players forward from the outset. Chatham had the first real chance on eight minutes, when Nick Hegley made a good run down the left hand side, committed the goalkeeper and then passed to Uche Ibemere, but Ibemere’s shot was cleared for a corner. Whitstable Town missed their best chance of the game four minutes later when the attacking player sliced his shot horribly when in a good position, and the ball went harmlessly out for a goal kick. They hit the side netting a minute later, but had few other chances until late in the half.

Aaron Firth did have the ball in the net for Chatham after 21 minutes, but his effort was correctly ruled out for an offside. A good run from the same player four minutes later saw him cross to Hegley, but goalkeeper Smith made a good save to keep Hegley’s shot out. Ibemere limped out of the game soon after, bringing the exciting Francis Tshikaya onto the field.

Late in the first half, Chatham goalkeeper James Tedder was forced to come out of his area with a Whitstable striker rushing towards a long ball forward, and did well to clear it. Billy Shinners too went close for Chatham as the first half came to an end, but no goals by half time.

Both teams created chances as the second half began more brightly than the first, and Tedder was forced into another fine save nine minutes into the half. But still no game, and the game became rather scrappy for a while. With twenty minutes to play, Aaron Firth took the ball by the penalty spot and turned and shot, but with the goalkeeper beaten his shot went narrowly over the bar. Five minutes later, and Tshikaya went close after getting on the end of a Hegley corner. Still no goal though, and Paul Foley introduced Gary Ward, returning after suspension, and Ryan Restell in the hope of breaking the deadlock.

But with ninety minutes played, still the game was goalless as four minutes of injury time were announced. With two of those minutes played, good work by Hegley saw him cross the ball to Shinners who headed from close range. Surely a goal – but no, Smith was equal to the task with another excellent save. Two minutes more, and the final whistle blew.

Playing for the first time under new manager Peter Nott, Whitstable will be the happier to have taken one point, but Chatham’s point still moves them a place closer to mid-table security, now above Godalming Town on goal difference.

Chatham Town 0 Whitstable Town 0
Team: Tedder, Rice, Laker, Potter (Ward 57), Wilkins, Barton, Ibemere (Tshinkaya 27), A Hogg, Shinners, Firth (Restell 72), Hegley. Subs not used: Fuller, J Hogg.
Cautioned: A Hogg, Firth.
Referee: Mr D Richardson (Surrey).
Attendance: 154.

Chatham Town are at home to Chipstead on Tuesday evening, and then travel to Horsham YMCA – currently bottom of the league – next Saturday.

Chatham Town 4 Fleet Town 1

Tuesday 18th January 2011

A much improved performance by Chatham Town on Tuesday night saw them record a 4-1 win over Fleet Town.

The game began at a frenetic pace, but with no clear goal chances on either side. But with ten minutes played, a Nick Hegley effort went close and won a corner. From that corner, Jason Barton headed in to give Chatham the lead.

Fleet went close ten minutes later, when an attacking player chose to leave a long ball, thinking that it was headed for the goal; he might have made it count had he put a head on the ball. But soon Chatham were two up, thanks to a rare goal scored directly from a corner. Kane Rice was the scorer, curling the ball straight into the net from a corner on the left hand side.

James Tedder was forced to make an excellent save from close range on 33 minutes to preserve Chatham’s two goal advantage, and in the late part of the first half Fleet did come back into the game. They had most of the possession for a ten minute period, and several times took the ball into the penalty area, but the defence held firm and so Chatham took their 2-0 lead into half time.

Five minutes into the second half, a goalkeeping error saw Chatham win a throw in in a dangerous position. The throw was played into the penalty area, from where Hegley again went close. Three minutes later, and a good save from the Fleet goalkeeper after a free kick on half way found Uche Ibemere, whose cross found Rice.

Fleet were reduced to ten men with an hour player, after a reckless and rather pointless challenge on half way. Minutes later, Chatham introduced new signing Francis Tshikaya as a substitute, and he made an impact almost at once. He left a Fleet defender standing on the right hand side, crossed, and although Brad Potter’s shot was well saved the ball broke to Billy Shinners. Shinners made no mistake, and Chatham were 3-0 up.

The goalkeeper soon made two more good saves, first from Ryan Restell, making his first appearance after a break from football, and then from Hegley. Meanwhile, Fleet began to put together a few attacks of their own, and twice the ball was cleared off the goal line. It was no great surprise when Fleet’s Read pulled a goal back on 80 minutes, but a minute later Chatham made it four when Restell slotted home from close range after good work by Shinners.

Immediately after that goal, Fleet had a second player dismissed, this time for directing foul language at a linesman. Despite being down to nine, Fleet continued to push forward, but the Chatham defence held firm and it was Chatham who had the night’s last shot, when the goalkeeper saved well from Hegley in injury time.

Chatham Town 4 (Barton 11, Rice 28, Shinners 68, Restell 81) Fleet Town 1 (Read 80)
Team: Tedder, Rice, Laker, Potter, Wilkins, Barton, Ibemere (Tshikaya 63), A Hogg, Shinners, Firth (Restell 66), Hegley. Subs not used: J Hogg, Watson, Molloy.
Cautioned: Firth.
Referee: Mr D Buck (Kent).
Attendance: 78.

Chatham Town are at home to Whitstable Town on Saturday, and then at home to Chipstead next Tuesday.

Corinthian Casuals 2 Chatham Town 1

Saturday 18th January 2011

Chatham Town had a rather unsatisfactory afternoon at Corinthian-Casuals on Saturday, losing 2-1 and having two players sent off in the process.

Corinthian-Casuals dominated the early minutes of the game, and James Tedder was forced to make a good save with nine minutes played to keep the teams level. But after this slow start, Chatham soon came into the game and had the bulk of the possession for the next twenty minutes. Unfortunately, this possession did not lead to many clear cut attempts on goal, and a Brad Potter effort which went just over the bar on 26 minutes was the closest they came to a score.

Slightly against the run of play, Corinthian-Casuals took the lead on 33 minutes. The home club won a free kick on the right, following which Chalke headed home from close range. But Chatham were behind for only three minutes. Billy Shinners was brought down by the home goalkeeper, and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty. Up stepped Leroy Huggins, whose spot kick gave the goalkeeper no chance and put Chatham level.

Another good save from Tedder kept Chatham level a moment later, but the home club took the lead once again three minutes before half time. After Chatham had defended a series of corners, again the goal came from a free kick, and this time it was Sankoh who shot his team into the lead.

At half time, the Chatham supporters were wondering whether they would see another eight goal thriller, but it was not to be. The second half was tepid for long periods, and chances on goal were few. Corinthian-Casuals went just over from a free kick, and the goalkeeper could only parry a Ray Powell effort with an hour played, but the ball was cleared. Chatham introduced both Aaron Firth and Ryan Laker as substitutes after both had been absent from the team for some time, and then on 74 minutes, they won a free kick on half way. The ball was played into the penalty area, and from the left side of the box Shinners hit the right post.

But a minute later, Chatham were down to ten men when Kane Rice was sent off for a needless foul. Brad Potter too was ordered from the field in the closing minutes, again for a foul on a player not in a dangerous position. But as so often happens, the team which was short on numbers then dominated the rest of the game. Firth went close deep into stoppage time, but the equalising goal refused to come and the home club ran out 2-1 winners.

Corinthian-Casuals 2 (Chalke 33, Sankoh 42) Chatham Town 1 (Huggins pen 37)
Team: Tedder, J Hogg (Firth 65), Rice, Potter, Wilkins, Watson (Barton 55), Powell, A Hogg, Huggins, Shinners (Laker 82), Hegley. Sub not used: Ibemere.
Cautioned: Powell. Sent off: Rice, Potter.
Referee: Mr A Gillett (Buckinghamshire).
Attendance: 127.

Chatham Town now have three home games in a week. They are at home to Fleet Town on Tuesday night (7.45), and then entertain Whitstable Town next Saturday and Chipstead the following Tuesday.

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