Chatham Town 0-2 St Albans City - I just hope more local people come back, says Kevin Watson

St Albans City, who went into this Fourth Qualifying Round tie in seventh-place in the Calor (Southern) Premier League with 18 points from 12 games, will be ball number 67 in tomorrow’s draw.

The Saints grabbed the lead against the run of play on the stroke of half-time when striker John Frendo scored his fifteenth goal of the season, before David Keenleyside killed Chatham Town off with a second goal, only 137 seconds into the second half.

“I’m proud of the lads because for a lot of the game in the first half I thought we was the better side and not often I say that,” said Watson after his side’s elimination on The Football Association's 150th birthday.
 
“I’m not saying we deserved to win the game because when you lose a game very rarely you deserve to win it because over 90 minutes there’s a lot of elements that you haven’t done right but on the whole, like I said in the week, I wanted us to have a clear conscience and I think a lot of players can go away with that today.”

Chatham Town, who went into this game in the bottom four in the Ryman League Division One North table with 11 points from 11 games, kept faith with the same starting eleven that comfortably defeated Calor Division One Central side AFC Hayes 2-0 in The FA Trophy First Qualifying Round last weekend.

And Chatham Town’s largest crowd since their switch to Ryman League Division One North, were satisfied with their start, containing their higher league opponents in the early stages.

Chatham Town, who last reached the First Round 84 years ago, started the game in the right frame of mind and battled in the wet and windy conditions in front of 849 supporters.

The Kent side enjoyed a good spell around the 20 minute mark when they forced their way into St Albans City’s final third.

Brad Potter, Kalvin Morath-Gibbs and Matt Solly combined in a triangle and Morath-Gibbs whipped in a cross from the right which was flicked on by Austin Gaucheru at the near post and Kieran McCann blasted his shot over the bar.

A flag was raised for an earlier foul and play was brought back and Greg Benbow swung in the resulting free-kick and Drew Crush’s bullet header at the far post deflected agonisingly wide.

Benbow then swung in a free-kick with his left-foot from he left channel and Potter clipped his shot straight at Paul Bastock in the St Albans City goal.

St Albans City were pleased to get the ball out of defence at every opportunity and the body language from the men in yellow shirts was evidence that they weren’t happy with their start.

Watson said: “We had a lot of possession.  We didn’t quite work their goalkeeper enough after all that possession in good areas that we got into and that’s something that we need to work on and that’s happened in other games and that’s something that we need to address.

“But those chances we’ve created by resilient efforts by good football so everything that leads up to them it’s pleasing to reflect on and carry those positives forward.”

But the longer the first half went on, St Albans City started to stamp their authority on the game.

They missed their first opening in the 37^th minute when they hit Chatham Town on the counter attack.

Frendo broke through the middle and released James Comley down the left and he whipped in a low cross across the face of the six-yard box and striker Mark Nwokeji swept his first time right-footed shot narrowly past the foot of the near post from eight-yards.

It should have been the striker’s ninth-goal of the season but Chatham Town should have capitalised from that left-off.

Chatham Town’s Left-winger Kieron McCann reached the by-line before smashing the ball straight at Alfie May at the near post, the ball sending the former Corinthian striker to the deck as the ball bounced wide of the near post.

A ball inside from Richard Graham set up Frendo, who stroked a left-footed drive towards goal from 25-yards, which Jack Bradshaw dived to his left to push the ball away from the Chatham goal.

But St Albans City grabbed the lead in the second phase of the attack, with 44:34 on the clock.

Graham whipped in a cross from the right and dangerman Frendo peeled away from Potter at the near post to sweep his shot into the bottom near corner from eight-yards.

“Their goal came about against the run of play but he is a good player that forward,” admitted Watson.

“I went to watch them previously – clubs should be looking at him, he’s decent – not to say some of our players aren’t decent.”

When asked whether the goal, so close to half-time, was avoidable, Watson replied:  “Every goal you can do something about can’t you? Everyone looks at maybe getting tighter in the box when it’s come in.  We could have stopped the cross. I thought there was a foul (further up the pitch). I’m not blaming the ref by any means. Maybe we could have defended (it better).

“Every goal is avoidable, but if you beat yourself up about that you never progress and move forward.”

Bradshaw kept Chatham Town in the game when he made a smart block with his right knee to prevent Frendo scoring again, just before half-time.

“Best keeper in the league by far,” added Watson.  “Another player who will go on and play higher without a doubt.”

Watson revealed he went to Clarence Park last Monday to watch St Albans hold league leaders Hemel Hempstead Town to a 2-2 draw in the Southern Premier League.

“He’s a good player, he’ll move on,” Watson said of Frendo.

“I thought he was good when I went to watch him earlier in the week.  I went to watch them against the league leaders and I think we posed them – whilst they drew that game – I think we posed them more problems than they (Hemel Hempstead) did on Monday which is pleasing.”

The goal received the same welcome from the local fans as the grey rain clouds hovering above the stadium.

“We knew we had to come out and it would be a slightly different game in the second half because of the way they’ll approach it,” said Watson.

“There was some weather elements with the wind and that but if we could keep it to one goal, which we didn’t do because they went 2-0 up, but there’s no blame whatsoever. 

“I don’t think anybody played poorly today. I think we had some outstanding performances. Matt Solly, who for me was probably the best player on the pitch, he’s outstanding week in week out.

“The two boys (in the wide) positions do well week in week out. They’ll be a little bit disappointed that they didn’t create a bit more today because usually they’re more of a threat.  I thought Austin (Gacheru) was excellent up front. I thought Lee Hales did very well alongside Matt Solly.”

St Albans City came out with much more urgency straight after the half-time whistle and immediately took the game to Chatham Town.

Graham whipped in a low cross from the left and Nwokeji’s shot on the turn from the edge of the box, curled past the far post, aided by a deflection.

St Albans City sent their vocal travelling supporters into raptures when they scored from the resulting corner.

Graham swung in a corner from the right which was headed on by Darren Locke at the near post and Nwokeji headed the ball against the crossbar from close range and the ball dropped to Keenleyside, who slammed his right-footed shot across Bradshaw and into the bottom far corner.

Watson said: “The first header was a little bit too easy for me. Then obviously Jack’s committed to come which I don’t blame Jack for. It’s come off the crossbar. We’ve just got to be a little bit more alert. It’s never nice to concede from set-pieces because we do quite a bit of work on that.”

McCann cut in from the left before curling his shot around Bastock and past the far post but the veteran goalkeeper was hardly tested during this winner-takes-all clash.

Lady luck was certainly not on Chatham Town’s side, twice in the second half.

Chatham Town stalwart Solly swept the ball out wide to right-back Morath-Gibbs, whose wind-assisted cross, 35-yards from goal, sailed over everybody and clipped the crossbar.

St Albans City went close when Graham played the ball into Lee Chappell, who cut inside before seeing his left-footed curler go just wide of the near post, with Bradshaw diving to his left.

Chatham Town – who have defeated Erith & Belvedere, East Preston, Whyteleafe and Horsham to reach this stage – were cursing their luck again when they were denied a deserved consolation inside the final sixteen minutes.

Substitute Ricardo Andre played the ball inside to Lee Hales, who took a couple of touches before drilling a right-footed shot from 25-yards.

The ball screamed over the 43-year-old goalkeeper and crashed agonisingly down off the underside of the crossbar and it was deemed that the ball did not cross the line.

“We posed them lots of problems,” said Watson.  “Yes, they had some good chances but equally we had some chances. 

“If you can keep one goal in it until the death – obviously Lee Hales had a chance. He struck it well. It’s hit the crossbar. Whether it did or didn’t go in I couldn’t see from here.

“If we could’ve got it back to one goal there could have been nerves from their team in the dying minutes.”

Watson thought Hales should have scored his second goal of the season with that strike.

He said: “It was a good shot from Lee. He’s not scored as many goals this season.   He’s a very important player for us, technically very good. It’s a decent strike. A little bit unlucky because it’s hit the underside of the crossbar.

“I just think to myself it would have been an interesting game panned out if that gone in with one goal in it towards the death but you can’t change the past as such now.”

Within seconds, Solly clipped the ball to substitute Andy Constable at the near post, but the former Erith & Belvedere striker saw his shot sail harmlessly wide.

Morath-Gibbs, Constable and Hales linked up well but substitute Billy Bennett couldn’t get the ball from under his feet and St Albans City snuffed out the danger.

Morath-Gibbs then whipped in a cross from the right where Constable sent his free header sailing wide from ten-yards.

Chatham Town’s best chance of the game, however, came at the death when Bennett set up a chance for Morath-Gibbs, whose left-footed shot on the turn brought a fine low save out of Bastock, who dived to his left to push the ball away.

Chatham Town have banked £16,925 in prize money from The Football Association from their FA Cup run – and don’t forget the £5,200 collected for beating Redbridge and AFC Hayes in The FA Trophy.

Watson was pleased that many Gillingham fans watched his side due to the fact that Peter Taylor’s side were up at Port Vale in League One.

He said: “I just hope more people will come back – obviously they won’t come back from St Albans will they – but the local ones comes back!

“It’s given us a chance to put ourselves on the map and nobody can complain about paying the entrance fee because the boys gave it a good game and a good spectacle.

“I’ve always said this gives us a chance to attract more people. If people come down to watch us they’ll have a good experience and I think they’ll come back especially the Gillingham fans when they’re away wherever it may be and we mustn’t forget there was another local big FA Cup game (Ebbsfleet United v Dartford) today.”

When asked what he has taken from this FA Cup run, Watson replied: “Some money, not me personally!  We just need to use it as a learning curve and it’s what we can achieve if we apply ourselves right.  We need to learn from it in The FA Trophy certainly and in other cup competitions like the League Cup.”

The noisy St Albans City supporters worshipped their heroes at the final whistle and can now look forward to their first appearance in the first round since going down to a 4-1 defeat at Stockport County eleven years ago.

Watson said: “Everyone’s a hero to a certain extent because there’s people sitting on the bench like Billy Bennett who got on today but in a previous round he’s scored two goals.

“We’ve got to look at the overall picture. That’s why I’m really pleased with the squad that we’ve got.”

Chatham Town return to Ryman League action on Tuesday night with a long trip to Norfolk to play Dereham Town.

Watson said: “Just because it’s a cup run at this point you can’t say this season has been a success because we need to apply ourselves in the league. We can’t rest on our laurels so that will be important going forward.”

Watson complained about the midweek trip to Norfolk.

“It’s very difficult. That’s a big commitment again. There’s problems there. We have to leave at four o’clock from Dartford.  People have got jobs to do so that travel is ridiculous but we go there and hopefully apply ourselves right. 

“We need to build on the confidence. The lads’ will have a night out tonight so I hope they’ll recover in time. I’ll be in doors with the kids’.”

Chatham Town then travel to Suffolk to take on Ryman Premier League side Bury Town in The FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round next Saturday.

Watson added: “That will be another tough Cup game but if we apply ourselves like that we won’t be far short in many games.”

Chatham Town: Jack Bradshaw, Kalvin Morath-Gibbs, Greg Benbow, Matt Solly, Brad Potter, Drew Crush, Lee Hales, Luke May (Andy Constable 61), Austin Gacheru (Billy Bennett 84), Alfie May, Kieron McCann (Ricardo Andre 67).
Subs: Liam Hickey, Taylor McDonagh, James Alderman, Kevin Watson, Lee Kidman

Booked: Matt Solly 45, Kalvin Morath-Gibbs 57, Andy Constable 74

St Albans City: Paul Bastock, Danny Green, Lee Chappell, Ram Marwa, Ryan Wharton, Darren Locke, David Keenleyside (Chris Watters 71), James Comley, John Frendo (Greg Ngoyi 81), Mark Nwokeji, Richard Graham (James Kaloczi 87).
Subs: Chris Henry, Harrison Georgiou, Elliot Bailey, Tom Coulton

Goals: John Frendo 45, David Keenleyside 48

Booked: John Frendo 25, Richard Graham 59, Ryan Wharton 80, Darren Locke 90

Attendance: 849
Referee: Mr Nigel Lugg (Coulsdon, Surrey)
Assistants: Mr Matt Goldsmith (Hastings, east Sussex) & Mr Marcus Carmichael (Camberley, Surrey)
Fourth Official: Mr Ryan O’Sullivan (Croydon, Surrey)