Chatham Town 0-1 Chipstead - Angry O'Brien calls his side in for Sunday morning training

Saturday 24th October 2009

CHATHAM TOWN 0-1 CHIPSTEAD
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 24th October 2009
Mike Green reports from Maidstone Road

CHATHAM TOWN surrendered their long unbeaten record in a dour struggle as Chipstead won for the first time this season in a very poor game at the Maidstone Road Sports Ground.

A fuming Chats boss Alex O'Brien, when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after the game, summed up the despondent mood perfectly. "I don't mind losing," he said, "but to lose like THAT is simply unforgivable. Quite simply I think its probably one of the worst, if not THE worst game I have ever been involved with. No team of mine will lose like that again not in my book!"

It was Chatham's first game for ten days (they had no FA Trophy tie last weekend unlike their opponents) and O'Brien was convinced that the inactivity didn't help.

"We were rusty from the off - we have trained but today no one tackled, no one harried, no one could pass the ball, no one could cross a ball - simply dreadful", said the Chats boss ruefully shaking his head.

"Take nothing away from Chipstead they worked hard, and they shut us down very well. their players were willing to put their bodies on the line for the cause - ours..." shrugged O'Brien, "they're coming in for extra training tomorrow (Sunday) at 9:00am and I'll be looking for and after today expecting a huge response at Eastbourne on Wednesday night" - a game that we will be covering on www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

The game itself was simply dreadful, and in fairness you could see why Chipstead hadn't actually won for 20 league games - they looked a very nervous side from the off; almost afraid to make the mistake that could cost them. That said they took their chances when they arose and the home side didn't...

On 16 minutes the visitors should have taken the lead when Reggie Savage was left unmarked at a corner, only to head the ball wide.

Seven minutes later, Brendon Cass was denied by a one handed save from keeper Dean Rose, as the Chats joint top scorer got on the end of a Ray Powell cross.

Then on 28 minutes Cass flicked on Richard Avery's long through ball for Juston Ascheri, who's first time shot flew across the face of goal.

On the stroke of half time, Michael Scott got in behind the defence only to see his low drive first fumbled and then recovered by Rose in the visitors goal.

The games only goal came four minutes after the break and followed some kamakaze defending.

Powell played a one two with keeper Dean Ruddy and as the former Tonbridge man was about to clear he was disposed by Scott Simpson who strode into the box and shot beyond Ruddy and into the bottom corner of the net.

Chatham then piled forward having bag loads of possession but without creating a lot in front of goal.

On 79 minutes a corner from substitute Mark Green fell to Avery in the box, but the Chats skipper just couldn't get the ball out from under his feet in a crowded box and the chance was gone.

And then with just eight minutes left sub Byron Walker (from Matt Solly’s astute through ball) shot on the turn but into the side netting.

Not even playing defender Ben Payne up front for the final moments could save Chatham and their long unbeaten home League record was gone!

Spare a thought for Chipstead midfielder Allan Matthews as with time elapsed, he had the ball at his feet as the referee blew his whistle. Thinking it was the final whistle, Matthews launched the ball into the air only to find the Maidstone official had indeed given Chatham a free kick, and that a yellow card was being shown the Chipstead mans way!

Final word to the Chatham boss "Today was a blip thank god - I hope! We've a busy month coming up, and I hope I'm right in saying that the more games we play the better we could become.

“We've got two big games in the next week - at Eastbourne on Wednesday and they'll scrap as much as Chipstead have today and then we go to Walton and Hersham who I think are still unbeaten.

“I've always said football is habit forming either winning or losing. I hate losing so now we must start on a winning run as winning breads confidence and that is what we need at the moment."

Chatham Town: Dean Ruddy, Ray Powell, Ashley Probets, Matt Solly, Richard Avery, Ben Payne, Michael Scott (Byron Walker 76), Tom Davey, Brendon Cass, Justin Ascheri (David Hall 55), Matt Lovell (Mark Green 61).
Subs: Jim Lyons, Richard Stroud.

Chipstead: Dean Rose, Robert Lynch, Joe Garner, Chris Head, Callum McLean (Nick White 48), Allan Matthews, Jordan Kiffin, Callum Crawley, Wayne Grizzle (Ray Freeman 59), Reggie Savage (Paul Deegan 80), Scott Simpson.
Subs: Danny Dudley, Martin Grant

Goal: Scott Simpson 49

Booked: Wayne Grizzle 40, Scott Simpson 81, Allan Matthews 90

Attendance: 138
Referee: Mr Paul Harris (Maidstone)
Assistants: Mr Richard Joss (Margate) & Mr John Ridout (Maidstone)