Chatham Town 0-2 Charlton Athletic - We evntually gave a good account of ourselves - Kevin Watson

CHATHAM TOWN  0-2  CHARLTON ATHLETIC
Kent Senior Cup Sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com Second Round
Wednesday 24^th October 2012
Mike Green reports from Maidstone Road

On paper it was always going to be a tough ask for Chatham Town to progress into the Quarter Finals of this season's Kent Senior Cup - and at half time in this contest, it looked as the young, quick and useful young Charlton Athletic side were going to run away with the game as the home side simply couldn't match their opponents as they really struggled to cope with the pace and speed exhibited by the Charlton side.

But the way his side responded after the game would have pleased Chats boss Kevin Watson, as in the end his side were beaten yes, but far from disgraced.

As early as the fourth minute, Johnson fired in a shot (after good work from Morgan Potts down the left) that beat Chats keeper Tim Roberts but also beat the post.

The Ryman League Division One North hosts struggled to get a foot hold in the game, but that also limited the chances that Charlton Athletic were creating.

Johnson was to turn provider on 21 minutes when after showing some great skills in threading his way through the Chats defence before delightfully releasing Michael Smith, who's first time point blank shot was brilliantly kept out by Roberts at the base of his right post.

It only though delayed the inevitable though as Charlton took a deserved lead on 29 minutes when Johnson fired home after some more great inter play down the left between Potts and Courtney Harris.

The south Londoners then doubled the lead ten minutes before half-time but the second owed a touch of good fortune as Roben Bovers shot was deflected beyond Roberts by the unlucky Taylor McDonagh, who came within a whisker of blocking the shot.

Upon such small margins games are won and lost, and sadly for Kevin Watson, his Chatham side have been on the wrong end of too many this season.

The second half began just as the first finished with Bover again going close this time after a great run which began almost on the half way line.

It somehow finally seemed to sting the Chats into life and Lee Hales was desperately unlucky as his 25- yard drive beat Nick Pope's dive but thundered back off the left post and away to safety as the ball bounced directly between two onrushing Chats strikers.

The home side again went close on 77 minutes when sub Roddy N'Diane - who at one time was on Charlton Athletic’s book's - saw an angled shot ricochet off of keeper Pope and away to safety.

Overall though it was a deserved win for the Charlton side who now travel to Herne Bay in the Quarter Finals, whilst for Chats boss Watson, it was a question of what might or could have been.

He said: "It was an interesting evening and we've I hope that everyone who saw the game had a good night.

“Overall I think we did put in a decent performance - OK maybe not in the first half, but we've got to be reasonably happy with the second 45 minutes.

“It was a good fixture for us to have - I think that the crowd proved tonight that it is probably the best fixture that you can get in competition and the one that everyone wants!

“They fielded a strong team and it was difficult for us. But we eventually gave a good account of ourselves after all it was a chance for the boys to show that they can play against players from that level.

“We've brought some new boys in and I think they did all right tonight. Ideally as I've said before we're looking to strengthen in forward positions which is why we included Miles (Cornwell) tonight, and he did OK.

“And yes I can confirm as I said in the paper that we have put in a seven day for (Rochester United striker) Stuart Zanone and now it’s just a question of waiting to see how what happens. I know he's played at our level before, and let’s face it his goal scoring speaks for itself, so lets’ wait and see. We've got ten days until our next game so we'll have to wait and see."

Chatham Town:  Tom Roberts, Taylor McDonagh, Liam Hickey, Matt Solly, Ashley Sains (Roddy N'Diane 46), Kes Metitiri, Brad Potter, Matt Newman (Jamie Lawrence 56), Miles Cornwell, Lee Hales, Garry Tilley (Jack Jeffrey 64).
Subs:  Ryan Laker, Harry Smith

Charlton Athletic: Nick Pope, Harry Osbourne, Morgan Potts, Semi Ajayi, Roben Bover, Matt Taylor (Oliver Muldon 75), Courtney Harris, James Ashton, Michael Smith (Ade Azees 56), Bradley Johnson, Joe Piggott (Callum Marriott 56).
Subs: Dillion Phillips, Harry Gerrard,

Goals: Bradley Johnson 29, Roben Bover 35

Attendance: 352
Referee: Mr Darren Blunden (Dartford)
Assistant: Mr Karl May (Gillingham) & Mr Elad Amir (Maidstone)