Chatham Town 1-2 VCD Athletic - It was the most I've enjoyed a result this season, says Tony Russell

CHATHAM TOWN  1-2  VCD ATHLETIC
Ryman League Division One North
Thursday 27^th March 2014
Stephen McCartney reports from Maidstone Road

VCD ATHLETIC manager Tony Russell says he enjoyed his side’s win over their Kent rivals Chatham Town.

The Crayford-based club moved five points clear of Witham Town (who now have three games in hand) at the summit of the Ryman League Division One North table with 84 points from 38 games after ending Chatham Town’s eight match unbeaten run.

Michael Power swept home his twelfth goal of the season to give Vickers a first half lead, before Lea Dawson thumped home a brilliant volley into the top right-hand corner to score his first goal for the club.

Chatham Town attacker Ade Yusuff scored a 30-yard screamer to score his fourteenth goal of the season, but VCD Athletic sealed their 27^th league win of the season to go into their last eight games with everything to play for.

“Delighted! That’s probably the most I’ve enjoyed a result all season because I said to the boys I thought this was our biggest game,” said Russell afterwards.

“At lunchtime we’re struggling with numbers, really, really struggling so we’re patching people up at the moment.

“Chatham have been on an amazing run, they’ve won seven in a row, they’re buzzing. They’re a good side.

“I like Kevin (Watson) as a manager as well. Whenever I talk to him he talks sense and this is a hard place to come so I’m absolutely over the moon.”

Chatham Town manager Kevin Watson was unavailable through work commitments at his school, so assistant manager Keith Levett took charge.

“Obviously disappointing that we lost the game,” admitted Levett, who’s side have slipped down a place to fourteenth-place in the table with 49 points from 36 games.

“We’ve been on a very good unbeaten run and the players’ have done excellent throughout that.

“To be honest, we did ok tonight. Just fell short a little bit tonight I think with our final pass and possession in the final third probably wasn’t as we’d like it to be and we probably didn’t make enough of the times we got in their final third but they’re a good side so we have to give them credit. 

“They’re not top of the league for nothing so there’s two aspects to it, them being a good side, but I think we could have done a bit better with our possession.

“First half they played out and they got out and in the second half we had a little tactical change and I felt it worked better in the second half.

“I thought it was a fairly even contest but they’ve shaded it and we’ll have to take it on the chin.”

VCD Athletic created the first chance of the night inside the opening four minutes when man-of-the-match Karl Dent stroked his low right-footed free-kick around the wall and Jack Bradshaw made a comfortable save beside the post.

But Chatham Town were to be denied a ninth minute lead when Vickers keeper Nick Blue made a fine save.

Lee Hales stepped up and stroked his right-footed free-kick towards the corner from 22-yards, but Blue dived to his left to push the ball away to safety.

“Moments in the game, sometimes those moments go for you and if you win seven games on the spin, which we’ve just done just recently then you’re going to get a bit of luck and the breaks are going to go your way. Tonight things didn’t go our way so we didn’t get those breaks,” said Levett.

“It was a very good save from Nicky, but we have to say we’ve done well and tonight was just a bit disappointing but the boys put in a shift and there was no lack of effort, just a lack of quality maybe.”

Russell added: “Top goalkeeper, Bluey! He doesn’t have a great deal to do in terms of we haven’t really been battered this year with him diving around but what he has to do is very good.  He’s made for us, the way we play.  You couldn’t find a better goalkeeper.”

Kieran McCann cut inside but his shot took a deflection and rolled into Blue’s gloves at his near post, before Alfie May almost scored against his former club.

May, who scored 23 goals for the Medway side before his move to VCD Athletic, was to be denied his third goal in Vickers’ colours in the 17^th minute.

Latching onto Dent’s fine pass, May hit a right-footed curler towards the far corner, which forced Bradshaw to dive to his left to push away to safety.

Russell said: “I said to Alf before the game because Alf’s a very enthusiastic character I actually used to think he was really cocky when I used to play against him. I didn’t really like him but once you get to know him, he’s a lovely kid. 

“I said to him today this isn’t about Alfie May and I don’t want you running about like a lunatic and trying to be a hero, showing everyone just how good you are. You just do your job.  I thought he done that.

“It’s hard. He’s a young man as well. He’s 20-years-old, he’s young and going back to an old club.

“Listen, it was hard to get him. It was really hard to get him. We offered him no more money than what he was getting here and a lot of people were trying to get him when he was with Corinthian. He’s a loyal kid. He doesn’t like change so when I said him down I didn’t feel the deal was going to get done so that’s the sort of character he is. When he was talking about Chatham he spoke about them really nicely. He said it was a really good club and they were really good to him.  I can imagine it was quite difficult for him.”

Levett added: “We wish Alfie all the best. He’s gone there and they’re obviously doing very well so you can understand why he wanted to move so there’s no bad feeling.

“I don’t think he was overly threatening tonight. I felt we handled him quite well.  I thought Karl Dent is a very good player for them in midfield. He done very well, very impressive performance.”

VCD Athletic created another chance during a tight first half.

Dawson slid the ball out to Uche Ibemere out on the right, who sprinted forward before playing the ball inside to Dent, who played the ball into May’s path but the striker lifted the ball over the bar from a tight angle.

The Chatham defence dealt with Dent’s free-kick into the penalty area before May cut across the penalty area to drill a right-footed drive harmlessly over the crossbar from 25-yards.

Vickers’ skipper, Ben Payne, then clipped the ball out of defence and Ibemere shrugged off Greg Benbow to cut inside before blasting his right-footed drive high over the bar from a yard inside the penalty area.

VCD Athletic deservedly opened the scoring on the half-hour mark.

Ibemere burst past two Chatham Town players in the shape of left-back Benbow and central defender Liam Hickey to reach the right hand side of the penalty area.

Ibemere then cut the ball back and Power slid in to sweep his right-footed shot from 12-yards across Bradshaw for the ball to kiss the inside of the far post before nestling into the back of the net.

“Shaggy’s scored a few goals for us now since he’s been here. He’s been superb,” said Russell.

The Vickers boss was full of praise for Ibemere, who has also played for Dartford, Thamesmead Town and Cray Wanderers this season.

“It was a good move. It was a hard surface for us. It was probably the worst surface we’ve had. It was bobbly, it was jumping around.

“We got in a good area and he (Uche) hasn’t really been doing it for us this year. I’ve been really critical of him because I love him. 

“He hasn’t been setting the world on fire but when we lost to Romford that was the lowest we’ve probably been. We’ve done a session and I stressed to him the importance of him for us when he’s in that mood, you’re (the opposition) in serious trouble!

“He virtually stepped over Greg Benbow, steamrolled his way, having got in good areas and he’s picked someone out.”

Levett added: “I was a little bit disappointed with our marking because there was a couple of warnings earlier when I think Alfie May cut inside and there was another opportunity where the distances in the penalty area were too great and we were lucky to get away with the one earlier and the warning signs were coming.

“It’s one of them when the balls cut back, you tend to go on your back foot and really you’ve got to mark players and not space but it’s easier said than done when the ball’s moving and the ball’s being cut back. It was a scrappy first goal. We could have defended it better!

“Michael Power is a strong lad, who will hold the ball up, but sometimes I think we just got caught the wrong side of him.”

VCD Athletic build a move down the right channel through Dent and Ibemere before the ball was cut back to Power again, but this time his low left-footed shot was comfortably saved by Bradshaw.

Chatham Town almost equalised four minutes before half-time when they hit VCD Athletic on the break.

Yusuff swept the ball into Austin Gacheru’s feet, who laid the ball back to Yusuff, who drilled a right-footed shot, which only just cleared the crossbar.

The Chatham assistant manager said: “I just think tonight we lacked that final ball and final pass, the final shot just wasn’t there.

“The balance of play, I think we were in their attacking third as much as they were in ours but we just didn’t make enough of that but I don’t want to sound negative, it was a positive performance, just a poor result.”

Levett continued: “I think they had more possession. It’s hard to say sometimes when you’re on the side. I don’t think their possession was really hurting us. I don’t think they had too many opportunities in the first half. I can’t really remember them really opening us up in the first half.  Our possession wasn’t good enough, our quality of our play needed to be better and has been better in the last seven or eight games.

“We’re a bit disappointed with our play knowing that they were going to play the way they did and we expected that but when we had the ball I don’t think we kept it well enough at times in the first half.

“In the second half I felt we improved. Our possession was better. I thought we grew into the game.”

Russell said: “I thought we were the better side if I’m being honest, maybe I’m being biased but we had two or three great chances and I didn’t really see how -  baring the free-kick - that was really it.  I thought we were in the ascendancy if I’m being honest.”

Chatham Town squandered an excellent chance to force their way back into the game after only eight seconds into the second half.

A poor back-pass from Vickers’ left-back Teddy Nesbitt was latched onto by Yusuff, who lacked composure and clipped a poor shot straight at Blue from just inside the corner of the penalty area.

Chatham Town performed much better during the second half and they continued to pop shots towards goal.

Gacheru and Hales linked up well to set up a chance for Corey Holder on the edge of the penalty area, his right-footed drive deflecting just wide of the foot of the far post.

Chatham Town’s best chance of the game, however, arrived in the 56^th minute when Hales saw his left-footed shot curl agonisingly around the diving keeper and the far post from 25-yards.

“He’s been brilliant in the last seven or eight games and he’s added another string to his game in terms of winning the possession ball back because Lee is great on the ball,” hailed Levett.

“He’s got lovely quality, nice vision, very creative and he’s added a little bit more second ball to his game.  He’s looking the best since he’s been down with us so there’s a lot of good things that have been happening in terms of players performances to go unbeaten for so long, but we just have to pick ourselves up from that but Lee’s certainly had a bit contribution in the last half a dozen games.”

Yusuff then tried his luck with a speculative right-footed drive from 30-yards, which bounced once into Blue’s hands for a comfortable save.

VCD Athletic created a chance as the game entered the hour mark.

Dent floated his right-footed free-kick into the penalty area where Nick Reeves came up from the back to plant his free header over the top of the near post.

“Karl Dent has been good all season, it’s just not tonight,” added Russell.

“He’s signed a contract for us, not like there was a lot of interest, but I said to him I won’t stop anyone from going, I encourage it.

“All the while we’re progressing as a football club, I see no reason if I generally thought there was someone who could give him more than I’m giving them, then I’ll drive them there.”

Hales, who impressed for Chatham tonight, cut inside to sweep a left-footed shot into Blue’s gloves from 25-yards.

Russell looked on in despair when substitute James Duckworth missed the first of two sitters in the 69^th minute.

Right-back Billy Manners played the ball down the line to release Dent, who cut the ball back for Duckworth to smash his right-footed hooked volley sailing harmlessly wide of the far post.

Seven minutes later, substitute Sherwin Stanley launched a long throw into the penalty area and Duckworth cracked another right-footed volley sailing wide of the far post.

Russell said: “His technique is ridiculous and he’s missed two sitters tonight! One was an open goal. He could’ve had two in a critical time in the game.  He lost his shape. He’s missed a lot of chances in the last three games, a lot!  But he’s getting in positions. I suppose if he scored with every chance, he wouldn’t be playing with me!”

However, VCD Athletic seemingly killed the game off with Dawson’s world-class strike with nine minutes remaining.

Stanley’s pace took him past Chatham’s central defender Lewis Knight down the left channel before whipping in a cross towards the other side of the pitch towards Ibemere.

Ibemere cut the ball back to Dawson rifled his right-footed volley into the top right-hand corner from 22-yards.

Russell said: “Beautiful strike! I wasn’t overly surprised by the strike. He’s got that. He’s definitely got that in his locker! Great goal!

“To be fair I was a relieved man when I saw it go in. It’s tense when you’re away from home 1-0 up. 

“The chairman said how good was Lea Dawson today?  We’ve killed him a little bit because when he played for Thamesmead and East Thurrock he was box-to-box and he just crashed everything, bang, wallop!

“He came here and every time he got the ball he wanted to go forward. He was hooking it over his head and we’ve slowed him down and said “no this is not the way we’re going to do it! I know you can win your headers and tackles but can you also play?  I don’t want you to go box-to-box. You sit there and protect Karl Dent.”

“Smudger (Peter Smith) and Daws sit there and free up Karl Dent and late runs into the box and pull backs, that’s his area.

“A lot of people don’t give him enough credit. I remember when I signed him. I spoke to one or two and they said he won’t suit you - he can do whatever he wants to do.”

Levett added: “It was a good goal wasn’t it?  You couldn’t wished it for the ball to sit up any better, not taking anything away from his strike. But the way it set up but having said that he’s moved onto it lovely.  Yes, it was a fantastic strike, but looking at it, it really had goal written all over it, the moment it left his foot!

“It’s a great strike so you put your hand up to that one.”

Dent played Stanley in behind the Chatham defence but Levett praised Bradshaw for advancing off his line to make a fine save.

“He did a great save when he was one-on-one,” he said.

“Jack’s been impressive all season. He’s been really solid, dependable, a reliable character. He gives us a lot of calmness at the back, which he’s been brilliant for us.”

However, he followed that with a poor free-kick that went straight to Stanley, who took a couple of touches before drilling a low right-footed shot just past the near post from 35-yards.

Russell felt the former Tonbridge Angels striker took the wrong option.

He said: “The goalkeeper kicked it straight out to him. It’s a hard hit to score that – just go in the corner. Take a 2-0. We’ll roll up and go home.”

Chatham Town pulled a goal back with four minutes remaining through Yusuff’s world-class finish.

Peter Smith gave the ball away and Yusuff picked the ball up, cut inside before drilling a right-footed shot into the top left-hand corner from 30-yards.

“I actually thought Ade’s strike was better because technically,” said Levett.

“I think it’s hard to do and to pick it out like that, it’s a fantastic strike! Both were really good goals.”

Russell added: “From a neutral, a great strike! He’s a good player as well. I’ve watched him a few times.

“From our point of view. Poor! We had a little huddle at the end and I said to them if you want to progress you’ve got to box a little bit clever. You’re 2-0 up away, we’ve got the ball at right-back, no-one’s marking him. We’re trying to score a third. We’re picking them off. I said to them you’ve got to be more clever.

“Smudger got the ball there, dallied on it and let a pass short but from that point on, great goal!

“It’s just the mentality. It’s the whole ethos of what we’re trying to say to them is you’re not a Kent League side no more and you’re not this naïve Ryman team no more.  We’ve got to be clever now.  You’re away from home, you’re 2-0 up, five minutes to go.

“The moment they scored all hell broke loose. Up to that point I thought for 85 minutes we were relatively comfortable and then all of a sudden it was absolute carnage.

“We’re all young in what we do so lessons to be leant.  The goal itself was a wonderful strike.”

The home side threw bodies forward and raised their urgency levels for the remaining minutes of the game but they couldn’t snatch a point against a well-organised Vickers’ back four.

Levett, meanwhile, was quick to thank the vocal home support that was coming from the corner of the main stand.

He said: “It’s been fantastic. These boys, I don’t know where they’ve come from, they’re local lads but for the last four, five, six home games they’ve been coming down. It’s great. The players love it, the fact these boys are coming down because it’s something vocal.  It gets us going and I’d say that’s been a big part of our unbeaten run.  Getting the crowd going and a bit noisy gives the players a bit of encouragement.”

Chatham Town: Jack Bradshaw, Kalvin Morath-Gibbs, Greg Benbow, Matt Solly, Liam Hickey, Lewis Knight, Ade Yusuff, Corey Holder (Jamie Lawrence 67), Austin Gacheru, Lee Hales, Kieran McCann.
Subs: Taylor McDonagh, Ben Chapman, Lee Kidman

Goal: Ade Yusuff 86

VCD Athletic: Nick Blue, Billy Manners, Teddy Nesbitt, Nick Reeves, Ben Payne, Peter Smith, Lea Dawson, Karl Dent (Greg Moorse-Macdougall 85), Michael Power (Sherwin Stanley 70), Alfie May (James Duckworth 61), Uche Ibemere.
Subs: Ashley Sains, Ray Powell

Goals: Michael Power 30, Lea Dawson 81

Booked: Alfie May 56, Peter Smith 80, Lea Dawson 90

Attendance: 154
Referee: Mr Neil Davies (West Hampstead, London NW2)
Assistants:  Mr Michael Marsh (Herne Bay) & Mr Richard Joss (Margate)