Chatham Town 0-1 Worthing - I want something to play for, says O'Brien

Saturday 05th December 2009

CHATHAM TOWN 0-1 WORTHING
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 5th December 2009
Mike Green reports from Maidstone Road

WORTHING returned to the top of Ryman One South with what Chats boss Alex O'Brien described as an ugly win in the Maidstone Road drizzle.

The games only goal, scored by Jamie Brotherton midway through the first half, summed up the game rather well - a ball ricocheting through the penalty area before landing perfectly at the feet of Brotherton who just 8 yards out on the angle couldn't really miss!

Talking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after the game, O'Brien was in a philosophical mood. "I've just said to the boys that at the end of the season whoever wins this league will be well organised, and I guarantee that they'll come to places like here and get "ugly" 1-0 wins as they are undoubtedly results that get you titles.

“Lew (Watts, assistant manager) and I have done and its gives you a big confidence boost and that what we're trying to get across to the players at the moment - we need to nick a 1-0 win somewhere and continue and that's the world continue a winning scenario, which is an unbeaten scenario and its that that makes you stand out from the rest if you like."

This defeat condemned the Chats to their fourth defeat at Maidstone Road in their last five games - a run that has the manager stumped.

"We ask the players all the time what is it about playing at home," he said. "And unfortunately today we missed Lee Barnett (who turned his ankle in training on Thursday) and we missed having that opportunity to change things.

“It doesn't matter what coaching you do, if the players don't grind out results at home what can you do? A similar scenario would be the pressure the Dartford players are under playing in front of 2,000 people every week. Not that we get that playing here - I'll try and find the excuse and let you know but the quicker we win games of football here the better..."

Whilst Worthing didn't produce the electrifying performance you would hope from a side who clearer have higher aspirations, you have to undoubtedly admit that as a unit their performance was one of potential champions - organised all over the pitch, as soon as they scored you feared that the Chats would find it tough to get back into the game and so it more than proved as it was only in the latter stages when the very heavy Maidstone Road pitch was taking its toll that the home side tested keeper Alan Mansfield - and even that was only from distance!

The visitors could have been in front as early as nine minutes when Evan Archibald somehow skied over from six yards on the slide after Ross Treleaven had done well down the left.

Archibald then missed an even clearer chance as Treleaven flicked on a free kick only for his strike partner to miss hit his shot straight at Dean Ruddy.

The goal then arrived on 23 minutes with the lucky ricochet taking the ball perfectly into Brotherton's path and the winger, who spent most of the rest of the game rolling round the pitch, made no mistake.

The home side thought they'd won a way back into the game nine minutes from half time as Steffan Gaisie battled through only to be felled by Stuart Axten. With the home players and fans baying for a penalty, referee Buck seemed unsure, looked to his assistant, and when no help was forthcoming the Istead Rise official waved play on.

Chatham upped the tempo at the start of the second half, and after Brendon Cass has been hacked to the ground inches outside of the box, Gaisie will be disappointed that he didn't test Mansfield with the free kick. The striker (whose original loan spell from Welling expired after this game - O'Brien is though hopeful that he will return for at least another month) then saw a shot on the turn thud into Mansfield's chest as the home side tried to get a foot hold.

Brotherton missed a gold chance to seal the game 18 minutes from time when another very lucky bounce fell his way in the box, but this time with the goal at his mercy, he shot wide.

Defender Axten then sent a header wide as Worthing looked to close out the game. It almost worked against them as in the closing minutes, Chatham created their best chances of the match. Matt Solly got on the end of a poor clearance and when he found Gaisie, the striker against found the keepers chest with his shot.

Ray Powell then almost grabbed the equaliser as he wriggled clear of Glen Woodburn, but the defender and keeper Mansfield were relieved to see the Assistants flag waving for offside.

Solly then extended Mansfield from 30 yards with the keeper doing very well to hold on as he dived away to his left.

A disappointed O'Brien admitted afterwards, "We're looking to be in the pack and not for the season to filter out with people higher than me saying that we've done al right and pull the plug lets make a few sacrifices. I don't want that - for me footballs finished because if you haven't got something to go for as I just think we've got to go to Tonbridge and get a win; go to Walton Casuals and get a win and the get Godalming back here nice and confident, and lets get a win here and go into the Christmas period and the New Year with a little bit of a spring in our step."

Chatham Town: Dean Ruddy, Ray Powell, Ashley Probets, Matt Solly, Cedric Ngakam, Ben Payne, Jim Lyons,
John Wilfort, Brendon Cass (Michael Scott 76), Steffan Gaisie, Byron Walker (Justin Ascheri 64)
Subs: Matt Rowe, James Smith, Richard Stroud

Booked - Ben Payne 52, John Wilfort 89

Worthing: Alan Mansfield, Luke Denton, Charlie Garner, Glen Woodburn, Stuart Axten, Brett Patton, Ben Johnson, Karl Akehurst, Evan Archibald (Gavin Gordon 70), Jamie Brotherton, Ross Treleaven (Ben Williamson 53).
Subs: Paul Kennett, Matt Simpson, Matt Whitehead

Goal: Jamie Brotherton 23

Attendance: 173
Referee: Mr David Buck (Istead Rise)
Assistants: Mr Guy Marley (Bexleyheath) & Mr James Macey (Bexley)