Kentish Football 
Chatham Town 2-0 Whitstable Town - I want top six in April - O'Brien
CHATHAM TOWN 2-0 WHITSTABLE TOWN
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 13th October 2009
Mike Green reports from Maidstone Road
AN ENJOYABLE if unspectacular Kent derby saw Chatham Town maintain their top six place in Ryman One South whilst condemning neighbours Whitstable Town to their fifth successive defeats.
Chatham's Alex O'Brien said, "After Saturday (and losing a 3-1 late lead at Dulwich) it would have been a travesty if history has repeated itself - tonight we defended well and we scored two good goals.
“(Brendon) Cass scored another good goal whilst Justin (Ascheri) can score goals from anywhere."
He went on, "what's really pleased me tonight is that we finally got a clean sheet, and I saw something tonight that we haven't seen yet - players putting themselves on line with last ditch blocks when then had to. That's pleased me no end, but I have to admit that we should really have scored more than just the two we did!"
Mark Munday, his opposite number was far more frustrated.
"I'm very disappointed with the result,” the Whitstable manager told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.
“When it mattered we didn't clear our lines and we got punished. Over our last three games we've stopped doing the very basics from Non League football. Chatham's defenders cleared their lines every time, and that's all we're asking of our players.
“We need to get a run of games going where we don't just play for 60 / 65 minutes. For that time we're not a bad team - problem is the 25 / 30 that we don't play and that's where we're getting hurt!
In fairness to the despondent Munday, there were times when the Oystermen looked the better side.
But the Chats with skipper Richard Avery and the returning (from suspension) Ben Payne awesome at the back there simply was no way through for the Oystermen.
And when they did get through, they failed to beat the assistants flag, although on the first occasion on 18 minutes, referee Bentley's decision did take some working out - but was 100% correct.Dan Dolton was fouled a yard outside the Chatham area, and the ball ran to David Cory who smashed the ball home only for the Assistants flag to go up against Cory.
Quite rightly the official gave the visitors a free kick ruling out the goal simply because the foul had been the first offense and the advantage was nullified by the flag. Anyhow, from the resulting kick Dolton failed to trouble Dean Ruddy in the Chatham goal.By this time, Ruddy's opposite number Kevin Fewell had excelled to deny Brendon Cass. Justin Ascheri did well to battle to the line, and his cut back was perfect for Cass who's first time drive was brilliantly turned aside by Fewell.
Cass was to gain his revenge however on 24 minutes when he headed home his sixth goal of the season to give the Chats the lead - Tom Davey's free kick from the right was pin point and Cass' header gave the keeper no chance.
On the half hour the lead was doubled by a fine Ascheri strike after some woeful defending.
Matt Lovell on his home debut battled down the left, only to be dispossessed by Tom Parker. Unfortunately for Parker his clearance fell straight to Ascheri who picked his spot from the edge of the box giving Fewell no chance.
After the break Lovell and Davey combined to release Cass who broke clear only to shoot under Fewell but into the side netting.
Three minutes later (on 54) Davey was then denied by a fabulous save from Fewell - the Chatham number 8 hit a shot from 30 yards which clipped off Clint Gooding, and appeared to be looping (at pace) over Fewell's outstretched arms, but somehow the keeper stretched that bit further and was able to claw the ball away.
Whitstable then enjoyed a period of pressure where Sam Denly headed wide from a Gareth Cornhill corner, and the on 66 minutes Munday's side were denied by the assistant’s flag again.
Another Denly header caused chaos in the box, and Cory did well to hook the ball goalwards only for Ashley Proberts to chest the ball off the line with the Whitstable players screaming for handball.
As the play continued, the ball was threaded through to Gooding who blasted the ball home from the edge of the box only for the offside flag to be flying again. Whereas the first decision was correct, the offside decision was oh so tight!
The home side enjoyed the best of the remaining chances with substitute Byron Walker going twice close (Matt Solly's drive from the rebound deflected inches wide) before Fewell had to be at his alert best to deny the substitute after Cass' defence splitting ball found him at full pace.
Munday was left ruing his sides misfortune after the game when he said "We're not far off competing with sides, but we're far enough to know that if we don't do the simple stuff we're going to keep getting punished."
For Chatham, the points cement their top six place - a position that the manager is happy with for now! "We'll take the start, but know that if we draw we're going to slip down the table but as long as we're in the pack I'll be reasonably happy! After all," O'Brien concluded smiling "there's no point being top six at Christmas if we're not in April is there?"
Neither side have games on Saturday - Chatham's next fixture is on October 24th when Chipstead come to Maidstone Road, whilst Whitstable welcome Fleet Town to the Belmont next Tuesday (October 20th).
Chatham Town: Dean Ruddy, Ray Powell, Ashley Proberts, Matt Solly, Richard Avery, Ben Payne, Michael Scott, Tom Davey, Brendon Cass, Justin Ascheri (Byron Walker 70), Matt Lovell (Mark Green 64).
Subs: Jim Lyons, Richard Stroud.
Goals: Brendon Cass 24, Justin Ascheri 30
Booked: Tom Davey 67, Ben Payne 82, Ray Powell 87Whitstable Town: Kevin Fewell, Greg Smith, Dean Powell, Clint Gooding, Tom Parker, Sam Denly, Joe Hitchings (Dominic Elmes 78), Gareth Cornhill, Dan Wisker, David Cory, Dan Dolton (Jake Gess 55).
Subs: Stephen Lloyd, Ian Batten, Mark Munday. Booked: Dan Wisker 59, Dean Powell 70, Clint Gooding 90.
Attendance: 193
Referee: Mr Ian Bentley (West Wickham)
Assistants: Mr Adam Bakarlarz (Bromley) & Mr M Choi
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