Chatham Town 1-3 Corinthian-Casuals - We lacked some leadership, admits frustrated O'Brien

Saturday 14th November 2009

CHATHAM TOWN 1-3 CORINTHIAN-CASUALS
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 14th November 2009
Mike Green reports from Maidstone Road

CHATHAM TOWN’S hopes of claiming third place in Ryman One South were literally blown away by a gale force wind and a determined Corinthian-Casuals side at the Maidstone Road Sports Ground.

For the third home league game running, the Chats failed to secure maximum home points - a fact that wasn't lost on manager Alex O'Brien when he spoke to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

"I'm a very frustrated manager tonight" he said. "When you look at the way we got the ball down and played against Cray in the League Cup in midweek and then look at the way we played today - particularly in the second half - its like chalk and cheese, the difference is that great!

“I'm just glad that we've a chance to get back on track on Tuesday (away to Whyteleafe).

"You know so tight is this League that I'm beginning to think that whoever scores first in a game wins it.”

Although O'Brien was very frustrated, even he would have to acknowledge the intelligent play his side produced in the first half when kicking into the teeth of a gale, not that referee Andy Mead saw too much of the action, as after only 15 minutes, a hamstring injury forced the Orpington official off, and play duly resumed once a member of the crowd (Mr Sean Cunningham) volunteered to take a flag.

Such was the force of the wind that Chats keeper Dean Ruddy was nearly embarrassed early on as when he went to take a drop kick the ball blew out of his hands, and the American keeper was relieved to see the ball just drop behind rather than blow over the line.

Both sides battled gamely in the conditions without creating too many chances until eight minutes from half time when Byron Walker escaped down the left and pulled the ball back for Brendon Cass who's first time shot struck Casuals midfielder Tyrone Myton full in the face before ricocheting for a corner.

From Mark Green’s flag kick, the ball fell to skipper Richard Avery, but the central defender’s shot on the turn beat keeper Luke Naughton only to clip the base of the left post.

Ashley Probets then launched a deep cross into the box, and Cass reacted quickest and his shot brought a smart save from Naughton away to his left.

The keeper was nearly embarrassed on the stroke of half time when Walker clipped the ball forward; Naughton came outside of his box to try and head clear under pressure from Cass only to head the ball straight up in the air, and as is dropped the keeper tried to head the ball back towards his own goal only to get too much on the ball and was mightily relieved to see it bounce just past his right post.

Just after the break, the Chats came so close to opening the scoring. Walker was bundled over on the left and from the free kick Avery's head seemed to be looping into the net before Jason Turley appeared to head the ball off the line and away to safety.

The second half then became a real battle and war of attrition with Walker (who had clearly been identified as the danger man) being fouled so regularly that three Casuals defenders soon found their way in Mr Stone's notebook before the pacey winger was forced off hobbling on 62 minutes.

On 75 minutes Casuals took the lead with a goal that left manager O'Brien fuming! "How can so many players switch off at the same time? There was no communication in the box and as a result their fella has had a free header!!!"

Indeed the goal was a soft one for the home side to concede - a left wing corner was "headed" (or perhaps that should be shouldered) over the luckless Ruddy and into the net,

Chatham tried to respond and Matt Solly (playing his 150th game for the club) pulled the ball back to Cass who's drive thudded into Naughton's chest.

Then came the double whammy that sealed the points. On 85 minutes a long ball into the Chatham box was nodded down by substitute Carlton Murray Price to fellow sub Ali Wiltshire, who's magnificent drive gave Ruddy no chance from 18 yards.

Worse was to follow for the home side as sixty seconds later, Wiltshire hit another unstoppable thunder bolt from the edge of the box - poor Ruddy must have felt he was in a shooting gallery at this point - and that was that!

Chatham did pull one back in the final minutes when David Hall stuck out a leg to divert Cass' drive past Naughton, but as the final whistle blew, O'Brien was left to rue that his side have now dropped eight points out of nine at home.

"After battling so well, we switched off in the second half - some of our players thought we'd done the job and as they proved, we hadn't!

“We missed some leadership out there at times today - there wasn't much talking and that annoys me. We had two out suspended today (Ray Powell and John Wilfort) and they will both come back into the squad from Tuesday.”

A disappointing afternoon then for Chatham Town who's chances of going third in Ryman One South were literally "gone with the wind!"

Chatham Town: Dean Ruddy, David Hall, Ashley Probets, Matt Solly, Richard Avery, Ben Payne, Michael Scott (Lee Barnett 82), Jim Lyons, Brendon Cass, Byron Walker (Justin Ascheri 62), Mark Green
Subs: Tom Davey, Lew Watts, Richard Stroud

Goal: David Hall 88

Booked - Richard Avery 10, Ben Payne 80

Corinthian-Casuals: Luke Naughton, Jason Turley, Dave hennessey, Youdef Metwali (Carlton Murray Price 46), Gavin Cartwright, Scott Corbett, Jamel Carr, Tyrone Myton, Jo McNermy, Glenn Boosey (Ali Wiltshire 70), Nicky Ogbanufe (Kane Sergeant 82)
Subs: Aaron Cole Bolt, Matt Mann

Goals: Gavin Cartwright 75, Ali Wiltshire 85, 86

Booked: Youdef Metwali 45, Joe McNermy 55, Jason Turley 57

Attendance: 118
Referee : Mr Andy Mead (Orpington) replaced by Mr Keith Stone (Manston) 15 mins
Assistants - Mr Keith Stone replaced by My Sean Cunningham (Medway) 15 mins & Mr Martin Lehane (Bexleyheath)