Chatham Town 0-3 Romford - It was our worst performance of the season, admits Kevin Watson

Romford were unlucky not to double their advantage when, in the 29th minute as Chris Richardson’s left foot volley crashed back from the angle of post and bar with Molloy well beaten. 

Then, seven minutes later, Kurt Smith somehow steered a flick wide of the left hand post from Jamie Dicks’ dangerous cross.

Chatham’s only real effort of the half came on 43 minutes, with a speculative 30-yard drive from Ryan Laker, which fell comfortably for Elliot Anderson in the visitor’s goal.

But Romford did extend their lead in stoppage time, courtesy of a dreadful mix-up and panic in Chatham’s defence. 

Under pressure from Smith, Chris Hill’s poor defensive header forced Molloy into a hurried clearance, which he sliced into the path of Richardson.  The Romford forward swivelled on the dropping ball on the edge of the area and hooked goalwards, where Hill, in a desperate attempt to recover, failed to pull the ball back.

Early in the second half, another free header from Toms had to be blocked on the line by Laker, before Chathams’ best chance of the night fell to Gary Tilley. 

Jason Barton’s accurate ball into Joe Fuller was touched back to Tilley, whose curling right foot effort was heading for the top corner, before Anderson managed to divert it round the post.

As Chatham pushed forward, searching for a way back into the game, Romford were content to hit on the counter-attack.  Smith had an effort on 62 minutes, which he steered past Molloy’s right post, before finally gaining his reward seven minutes later. 

Another long ball split Hill and Barton, allowing Smith time to turn Barton before firing a shot under Molloy’s body to make it 3-0.

Smith had one further chance to extend the lead in stoppage time, picking up an Elliot Long clearance in the inside left channel, but this time Molloy was able to parry the forward’s shot to safety.

Chatham Town’s player-manager Kevin Watson, was understandably disappointed.

He said:  “It was the worst performance of the season by us by a mile.  We haven’t changed too much, it’s the same personnel that started the season well. 

“Some of the performances recently, even though we’ve lost, have been quite good, but this one tonight wasn’t.”

Talking about the change made to the line-up at the break, Watson added “It could have been anyone coming off at half-time.  Lee (Hales) was just a victim of the performance, but he has been great for us this year. 

“I don’t think any of our play was ok tonight, it has been.  We have been strong defensively as a team, but tonight it just wasn’t there.  We’ll review things ahead of the Trophy game at the weekend, talk to the lads on Thursday and look to turn it around.  You don’t become a bad team overnight.”

Chatham Town:  Adam Molloy, Ryan Laker, Jason Barton, Lee Hales (John Pilbeam 46), Chris Hill, Kes Metitri, Brad Potter, Matt Solly, Joe Fuller, Matt Newman (Jack Jeffrey 59), Gary Tilley (Kevin Watson 78).
Subs: Adam Marsh, Chris Davis.

Booked: Matt Newman 17, Joe Fuller 55, Kes Metitri 90

Romford: Elliot Anderson, James Ishmail, Paul Kavanagh (Elliot Long 80), Paul Clayton ©, Matt Toms, Abs Seymore, Addian Clifton (Lee Hyun-Jin 86), Jack Barry (Chuck Duru 63), Kurt Smith, Chris Richardson, Jamie Dicks.
Subs: David Otley, Neil Finn.

Goals: Matt Toms 17, Chris Richardson 45, Kurt Smith 69

Booked: Jamie Dicks 53, Chuck Duru 90

Attendance: 135
Referee: Mr David Spain (Westfield, East Sussex)
Assistants: Mr Stephen Brown (Ashford) and Mr Ben Wesley (Dover)