Chatham Town 4-1 Fleet Town - We got a little bit of the rub of the green, admits Paul Foley

CHATHAM TOWN 4-1 FLEET TOWN
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 18^th January 2011
Mike Green reports from Maidstone Road

Chatham Town eased their alarming slide down the Ryman League Division One South table with a comfortable win over a very poor Fleet Town side at the Maidstone Road Sports Ground. 

 

The Chats win, their first since early November, was achieved with a fair degree of comfort as the men from Hampshire conceded two goals in each half and lost their discipline to finish pointless and with nine men.

Following Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Corinthian-Casuals which left his side dangerously close to the relegation places at the tables foot, manager Paul Foley was understandably a very happy man after the game.  

“One of the main differences tonight was that we got a little bit of the rub of the green that we haven’t genuinely had all season,” he beamed after the game. 

“We played well I though and were good value before they got their sending’s off – I thought we deserved the win!  Compared to Saturday I thought tonight was a huge improvement – yes I’m very pleased!”

Foley added: “We’ve said all along that its important to score first in this league, but given the way we’ve defended recently, we’ve now worked out that we need two instead of one but it was very pleasing from Saturday, as there were some things from Saturday that I haven’t seen from a side of mine in four years – there were a few harsh words and I thought the reaction tonight was excellent. 

“We were really thin on the ground tonight – we had very little on the bench – the new lad (Francis Tshikaya) came on and Ryan Restell we dragged back in – but overall it was very pleasing performance.”

It was a performance that began well for the Chats and got better!  The home side were in front on 12 minutes when a Kane Rice corner from the left which was met by Jason Barton at the far post who powered home his header of the underside of the bar.

Within a couple of minutes the visitors should have been level as Darren Wheeler flashed a free header wide of James Tedder’s right post in the Chats goal. 

The home side then got the cushion their early dominance warranted as Rice added a second by embarrassing Fleet keeper Leigh Beazley by scoring directly from a second left wing corner – two corners and home side lead by two goals to nil.

The fact that the home side went in at the break with their cushion intact was courtesy of their giant keeper.  Tedder made a stunning low save to deny Wheelers low curling drive, whilst he was at his alert very best to block away Wesley Harrison’s drive from the edge of the area after a corner wasn’t cleared! 

It was almost as if Tedder’s double save deflated an already struggling Fleet side still further, and their night was just about complete around the hour mark.

On 61 minutes, Jamie McClure was shown a straight red card by referee Mr David Buck for leaving his foot in after a challenge on half way that led Chats skipper Brad Potter in a heap, and within eight minutes the game was effectively over as a contest when Billy Shinners made it 3-0. 

Francis Tshikaya, on as substitute for his Ryman League debut, sprinted free down the right and his cross fell to Shinners who side footed a couple of defenders to slam the ball past a helpless Beazley. 

Given the Chats recent defensive frailties, there was a moment of concern nine minutes from time when Fleet substitute Dan Read seemed to “chest home” Wheelers long free kick. 

The home fans needn’t have worried though as within a minute the points were safe and locked away as Shinners turned provider with a goal that was far more controversial that at first seemed.  Shinners received the ball wide on the right, and raced clear before rolling the ball square for Ryan Restell who gleefully hammered the ball into the net. 

The problem was that Fleet were insistent that the ball had gone out of play, and skipper Leigh Rumbold protested too loudly and became the second Fleet player to “leave” early.

After the game, the Chats boss had some compassion for Rumbold – Foley said: “I definitely think that both of the sending’s off were right and that the ref had little choice!  I don’t know about that lad moaning – that’s verbal’s – but I would say that from I was standing, it looked like the ball did go out!”

Foley added:  “That said I heard what he said to the linesman but the ball did go out but we’ve had luck and decisions like that against all season so it’s nice to be on the other side of the fence tonight!  But the first one the lads kicked out and he’s got to go – we had that Saturday!”

Foley had been forced into changes as three of his squad have left the club.  Matt Solly has asked to be released, whilst Ray Powell and Leroy Huggins have left Maidstone Road. 

Foley said, “Ray and Leroy had approaches, as did Nick Hegley (from Faversham) and Billy Shinners (from Hythe), and all I said to Leroy and Ray was that “if you’re thinking of going I’d rather you go before Tuesday as we need people who want to stay at the club”.  They decided to move on (to Dulwich Hamlet and East Thurrock United respectively) and have my best wishes.  We know we’re in a bit of a battle and I think tonight proved that.  Everyone played as a unit and really worked hard which is all this leagues about if I’m honest.”

With a busy time ahead, Foley admitted that victory was important against a side that started the game just one point above the Chats. 

He said: “We needed the three points tonight as we’ve got Whitstable here on Saturday.  They’ve had a change round and got some players in – they seem to be picking up as are Horsham YMCA as are Corinthian – they’ve all improved so it’s not going to be easy.  But there isn’t a lot of difference in the League, there really isn’t.  Take maybe four or five out of the mix and everyone else is quite similar.  There’s not a Lowestoft as I faced last year at VCD – I reckon anyone can beat anyone; it really is quite a strong league and is going to go all the way I think!”

Chatham Town:  James Tedder, Kane Rice, Ryan Laker, Brad Potter, Craig Wilkins, Jason Barton, Uche Ibemere (Francis Tshikaya 64), Anthony Hogg, Billy Shinners, Aaron Firth (Ryan Restell 67), Nick Hegley.
Subs:  Jon Hogg, Kevin Watson, Adam Molloy

Goals:  Jason Barton 12, Kane Rice 29, Billy Shinners 69, Ryan Restell 82

Booked:  Aaron Firth 67 

Fleet Town:  Lyall Beazley, Chris Page, Chad Coombes (Grant Powell 71), Sean Hankin, Leigh Rumbold, Iain Hendry, Wesley Harrison, Jamie McClure (Lee Riddell 85), Darren Wheeler, Mark Anderson (Daniel Read 54).
Subs: Paul Harkness, Chris Baker

Goal:  Dan Read 81

Booked:  Chad Coombes 59

Sent Off:   Jamie McClure 61, Leigh Rumbold 82

Attendance: 78
Referee: Mr David Buck (Istead Rise)
Assistants: Mr Martin Lehane (Bexleyheath) & Mr Paul Gorvett (Erith)