Chatham Town 0-2 Sittingbourne - O'Brien: We’re not in free fall – it’s an absolute down pour!

Tuesday 02nd March 2010

CHATHAM TOWN 0-2 SITTINGBOURNE
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 2nd March 2010
Mike Green reports from Maidstone Road

GOALS in each half from Hicham Akhazzan and Jimmy Bottle kept Gary Abbott's Sittingbourne side on course for the Play Off places, whilst Alex O'Brien and his Chatham Town side were left rueing their sixth league defeat in a row.

A very happy Brickies boss Gary Abbott told www.Kentishfootball.co.uk after the game “Our objective was to come here and get the three points and I was confident that we would. They battled but I think at the end of the night we thoroughly deserved our two-goal win.

“We had a bit of luck with the first goal, but it’s about time that we did – we’re on a good run and I think that when you’re on that sort of run, the luck follows you!”

A slice of luck that Chatham boss O’Brien would dearly love as he admitted when he spoke to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after the game – his sides sixth League defeat in a row.

“I just don’t know when its going to end – it’s when we’re going to make it end. It’s down to the players to go out and give that little bit extra.

“For all our good play tonight we’ve been beaten 2-0 to a side who knew how to defend and were very very well organised.

“Second half, as much as we huffed and puffed, I thought that their centre halves (Matt Bourne and Nick Reeves) were absolutely magnificent!

“We’re not in free fall at the moment – it’s an absolute down pour!

“I hate looking at the current form table or league table – but it’s a mess that we’ve made for ourselves and one that we’ve got to get out of ourselves, whether its with these players or with new players.

“One thing that I have to admit is that it’s in a role that I’m not used to and in all honesty don’t like one bit.

One of the players that O’Brien has brought in on loan, Jack Hobbs, had a great early shot which veteran Sittingbourne keeper Steve Williams did well to tip around the right post, before minute number 13 proved so lucky for the visitors.

Inexplicably Chats keeper Dean Ruddy had a rush of blood and picked up a back pass from Ashley Probets, and from the resulting free kick Joe Horlock’s drive (which seemed to be flying wide) deflected off the knee of Akhazzan and crept into the net.

At the other end Hobbs was battling to try and get his side onto the scoreboard, but with two chances late in the first half shot just wide and over the top, before on the stroke of half time, Sittingbourne came within inches of doubling their lead as Colin Richmond’s driven cross missed at least two lunging yellow shirts by inches before beating the far post.

Early in the second half, Ruddy redeemed himself to a degree with a fabulous low save to deny Tom Bradbrook, before at the other end Matt Solly’s 25 yard drive was just too high.

Chatham’s golden opportunity to level came on the hour, when from Probets right wing cross Brad Potter had a free header which he could only divert wide of Williams’ right post.

Bradbrook was then denied by a combination of keeper Ruddy and Chris Henry at the other end, before Chatham’s golden opportunity to level came on 83 minutes, when from Probets right wing cross, Richard Avery’s flick found the unmarked Potter, and his free header went wide of Williams’ right post.

Just three minutes later, the points were sealed as Akhazzan beat the offside trap down the right, and his driven cross to the back post found Bottle who walked the ball into the unguarded net.

Further goals could have come from Bottle’s late header which he really should have done better with, whilst Michael Scott almost pulled one back for the Chats only to be denied at the last minute by a back pedalling Williams.

After the game, Abbott was in a very happy mood. “They had they spell in the second half as I knew they would but we fought hard and changed our formation, with Bill (Manners) going into the middle and we looked so much stronger.

“Everyone is looking at our results now, but we’re Sittingbourne – we’re just going to get on with it and we’re not going to say that we’re going to do this or we’re going to do that as no one expects us to do anything except for everyone involved in the club.

“We’ve come here tonight and done a great job,” and with a huge grin on his face given some of the pre game comments attributed to him, “we could have won by four again!”

Chatham Town: Dean Ruddy, Ray Powell, Ashley Probets, Matt Solly, Richard Avery, Chris Henry, Michael Scott, Brad Potter, Brendon Cass (Rico Biggs 70), Jake Hobbs (Jack Pallen 78), Rob Denness.

Subs: Ben Payne, Jim Lyons, Richard Stroud.

Booked: Brendon Cass 35

Sittingbourne: Steve Williams, Joe Horlock, Joe Dowley, Matt Bourne, Nick Reeves, Karl Dent, Hicham Akhazzan, Colin Richmond, Tom Bradbrook, Ely Kayembe (Billy Manners 72), Jimmy Bottle.

Subs: Sam Payne, Barney Abbott, Josh Davidson, Richard Brady.

Goals: Hicham Akhazzan 13, Jimmy Bottle 86

Attendance: 244

Referee: Mr Ian Bentley (West Wickham)

Assistants: Mr Emir Amir (Maidstone) & Mr Nick Dunn (Deal)