Chatham Town 0-1 Worthing - We couldn't have given anymore in terms of effort, says Kevin Watson

CHATHAM TOWN 0-1 WORTHING
FA Cup with Budweiser First Qualifying Round
Saturday 17^th September 2011
Paul Parkinson reports from Maidstone Road

With the shell of the new bar extension taking shape, and the first shoots of a new footballing philosophy taking root at Maidstone Road, there is a sense of real optimism around Chatham Town these days, but the Chats suffered a heartbreaking reverse to exit this season’s FA Cup at the First Qualifying Round.  

Despite dominating Ryman League Division One South visitors Worthing for large periods of the game, and testing visiting goalkeeper, and man of the match, Alan Mansfield to his limits, the game was ultimately settled by Jamie Brotherton’s 35th minute header, from arguably Worthing’s best move of the game.

Chats boss, Kevin Watson, in his first full campaign as a manager, said: “Disappointed with the result but not with the performance.  I feel the players were an absolute credit to the club today and have said so them.  No disrespect to Worthing, but I don’t think I’ve ever been involved in a game where one side has dominated so much and created so many chances.”

He added: “Even with hindsight, I don’t think we could have done anything differently or given any more in terms of effort or quality.  

“Worthing are a good side.  I honestly think we’ve made them look average today, but they’ve come away with the result and that’s football.  

“I don’t think the team could have done any more; apart from put the ball in the back of the net.  There was an element of luck in there.  I counted that they had three chances, whereas we had seven really good chances, with probably the same number of half-chances.  

“There is disappointment in football when you don’t get the perceived result and there was a good Ryman One South team who we were able to dominate.””

Although Worthing edged the possession in the opening exchanges, all of the early chances fell to Chatham, even though none really tested Mansfield.  

Matt Newman and, twice, the outstanding Lee Hales came close, and after a Jason Barton header, a scramble in the Worthing area forced a clearance off the line by full back Matt Piper.  

The only real effort from the visitors was a volley on the turn from giant forward Ryan McBride that was gathered easily by Adam Molloy.

The crucial breakthrough came in the 35th minute.  A long throw from Steve Metcalfe was flicked back to the edge of the area by McBride, where Brotherton, in acres of space, met the ball with a powerful header into the top right corner of Molloy’s net.

McBride had one further chance before the break, driving wide from the edge of the area, and it was the 28 Worthing supporters in the crowd who could be heard as the half-time whistle was blown.

Chatham came out for the second half with a renewed determination and within the first ten minutes both Joe Fuller and Hales saw chances go begging.  

After this, it became the Mansfield show, as the Worthing keeper seemed determined to be a one-man brick wall.  

In the space of four minutes, Mansfield pulled off a full length parry to deny Barton and twice bravely blocked Hales’ efforts when the Chatham man was through in one-on-one situations.

Chatham substitute Jack Jeffrey was introduced with 23 minutes left, and had an immediate impact on the match.  First Jeffrey released Brad Potter, but the Chats’ skipper was denied by another Mansfield block.  

Then, following a well-timed interception and driving run from Chris Hill, Newman fed Jeffrey, whose sliding effort squeezed past the far post.

With Worthing unable to create anything apart from one speculative effort from Tom Lawley that flew straight at Molloy, Potter was able to push further upfield and had he been able to get more power on one of his three headers in the closing seven minutes, the result could have been different.  Once again though, Mansfield came to Worthing’s rescue as time ran out, denying Barton in another one-on-one, following a pinpoint Hales cross.

So Chatham exit the country’s premier Cup competition, but having had to rebuild his squad this season, Watson was able to reflect on the positives from the performance.  

He said: “I think the quality of players we’ve got here is outstanding for this level, and a number could play at a higher level.  We’ve got a good atmosphere in the dressing room, the lads have gelled well, and based on today’s performance, we’ve got a hell of a lot of quality in our squad with strength in depth throughout.  

“It doesn’t matter whether it is league or Cup, we want to go out and play our football in a certain way, taking the same philosophy into every game.  I’m sure if we play like we did today, we’ll get a result nine times out of 10.”

Chatham Town: Adam Molloy, Chris Davis, Jason Barton, Lee Hales, Chris Hill, Kes Metitri, Brad Potter, Matt Solly, Joe Fuller (Jack Jeffrey 67), Matt Newman, Rob Denness (Adam Marsh 85).
Subs:  Tony Kessell, Jon Hogg, Ryan Laker, John Pilbeam, Kevin Watson.

Booked: Rob Denness 41, Kes Metitri 63

Worthing: Alan Mansfield, Matt Piper, Steve Metcalfe, Darren Budd, Matt Hurley, Glen Woodburn, Jamie Brotherton (George Murphy 87), John Lansdale (Luke Gedling 80), Ryan McBride (Mark Pulling 73), Tom Manton, Tom Lawley.
Subs: Billy Franks, Tony Timms, Shaun Charles.

Goal: Jamie Brotherton 35

Booked: Matt Piper 25

Attendance: 234
Referee: Mr David Richardson (Epsom, Surrey)
Assistants: Mr Daniel Dodd (Walton-on-Thames, Surrey) and Mr Thomas Ellams (Tadworth, Surrey)