Chatham Town 2-0 Wingate & Finchley - Barnett has been the find of the season, says Binks

The former Slade Green striker, playing behind Rob Denness and Byron Walker, took his own personal goalscoring tally to 21 for the season, as his 11^th goal in Chatham colours sealed a hard-fought victory in atrocious conditions.

Barnett, who signed for the club from Kent League side Slade Green last December, has now scored in each of Chatham’s last seven games as the Medway side move towards mid-table safety.

On a night when right-back Tom Binks started his 300^th game for the club, the visit of eighth-placed Wingate & Finchley and the bleak weather meant only 71 people watched this dull encounter.

Wingate & Finchley, now managed by former Arsenal star Martin Hayes, had the first chance of the game when 34-year-old captain Marvin Samuel drove a right-footed shot from the edge of the box, which flashed wide.

Chatham went close after sixteen minutes when Binks’ driven pass found Denness and Michael Dodsworth’s floated cross was met by Barnett at the far post, but his glancing header dropped agonisingly past the far post.

But when Chatham got their noses in front - after eighteen minutes - they never looked in any danger.

Barnett swung in a corner from the left, which was flicked on at the near post by Dodsworth and Ben Payne, who was solid at the back throughout, had a couple of shots from inside the six-yard box that were blocked on the line and Brad Potter was on hand to smash the loose ball into the net to score his third goal of the season.

Chatham goalkeeper, James Platten, who was making his home debut, saw another Samuel drive from just outside the box sail over his crossbar just before the half-hour mark.

Chatham were a solid side, playing a 4-3-3 formation, and despite changing their rain drenched shirts to last season’s home kit at the interval, they were never in any danger against a side that are in the play-off hunt.

Wingate & Finchley striker Leon Nelson did, however, roll his shot past the near post, and Chatham called the experienced goalkeeper Dave King into action after 49 minutes.

Barnett stepped up and bent his right-footed free-kick from 25-yards over the visitors’ wall and King dived full length to his left to divert the ball away.

A disappointing Wingate & Finchley side did, however, go close when Ahmet Rifat drove a right-footed free-kick from 35-yards, which flashed just past the post.

Platten, who has signed from Northern League leaders Consett, having moved down south due to family reasons, made his one and only save of the night with twenty minutes remaining when he dived full length to his right to turn Nelson’s low curling effort around the post.

But Chatham remain in fifteenth place in the table, but now move five points clear of their only Kent rivals Thamesmead Town in the division, as Barnett sent King the wrong way from the penalty spot just a minute later after striker Walker was fouled inside the box.

Chatham Town boss Steve Binks, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, was pleased with the victory that takes his side eighteen points clear of the relegation zone.

“Nice dogged performance to get our noses in front and I think everybody made a contribution on a really, really awful night for playing football,” he said.

“I think we worked our socks off and there were contributions from everybody. A great save from James Platten at 1-0 up, which is as good as scoring at the other end.

“The front three were a real handful, the middle three absolutely worked their socks off and I thought Brad Potter and Michael Dodsworth were outstanding and the back four, no chances, nothing silly, really, really solid performance from the back four and an improved performance from Ashley Probets at the back and Ben Payne (was) outstanding.”

Binks, meanwhile, admits Barnett has been the “find of the season.”

“Lee Barnett has now scored in seven successive matches,” he said.

“I think he’s set up quite a few of our goals as well and he’s scoring them. He’s a great outlet, he holds the ball up well and he’s got good vision and puts other players in.

“We’ve played him in a hole behind the front two and one of the front two and he’s just done both jobs magnificent and (he’s) one of the finds of the season.”

Binks was pleased with the battling qualities shown from his side in horrible wet and windy conditions.

“We did the ugly bits better than they did, we worked our socks off and we did the ugly bits,” he said.

“When you get ahead on a night like this, it’s difficult (for your opponents) to pull it back.”

Chatham Town: James Platten, Tom Binks, Ashley Probets, Matt Solly, Richard Avery, Ben Payne, Brad Potter, Michael Dodsworth, Rob Denness (Steve Best 70), Lee Barnett, Byron Walker (Justin Ascheri 87).
Subs: James Bodle, Craig Clark.

Goals: Brad Potter 18, Lee Barnett 71 (pen)

Booked: Michael Dodsworth 10

Wingate & Finchley: Gavin King, Mark Weatherstone, Daniel Neilsen, Craig Ellis, Bobby Aisen, Ahmet Rifat, Tim Lees (Dean Williams 67), Marvin Samuel, Leon Nelson, Chris Chase, Keifan Street.
Subs: Frankie Webb, Michael Sacks, Jake Furman, Callum Horton.

Booked: Chris Chase 15

Attendance: 71
Referee: Mr Constantine Hatzidakis (Strood)
Assistants: Mr Saul Kay (Sittingbourne) & Keith Scudder (Gravesend)