Kentish Football 
Chatham Town 5-2 Ware - It was an important result for us, says Chatham Town boss Kevin Watson
Saturday 03rd March 2012
CHATHAM TOWN 5-2 WARE
Ryman League Division One North
Saturday 3rd March 2012
Paul Parkinson reports from Maidstone Road
The quality of the football at times from Chatham Town was demonstrated in four of the five goals, two from Garry Tilley, one each for Lloyd Blackman and Jack Jeffrey, either side of Lee Hales’ 71st minute penalty.
Even Chatham’s player-manager Kevin Watson was thrilled by the quality of his team, saying, “It was an important result for us, important to get the three points. We probably didn’t deserve to win it by three goals, as we didn’t do ourselves justice, particularly in the first half. But at times through the season, you take wins when you’re not at your best.”
“We’ve tried to play that kind of football all season and it’s nice that it has resulted in a couple of goals today.
“We created a number of chances playing like that, but both finishes were quite clinical. The first one was one of the best goals of the season in terms of team play, nice one-touch stuff, and it is difficult to defend against us when we play like that.
“It’s not always easy to play like that at this stage of the season as, although our pitch is in good condition, others aren’t as good. We showed that when we passed the ball, we could cut them open.””
Chatham made one change the side that had won its first game in six a week earlier against Heybridge, with the experienced Tony Kessell replacing Tim Roberts in goal, but the veteran was unable to prevent Ware from taking the lead after just 7 minutes.
With Chatham still wondering how Mr Wilde had waved away their penalty appeals after Michael Akande had baulked Lloyd Blackman in the area, Ware broke quickly.
A poor clearance from the Chatham defence, temporarily shorn of skipper Brad Potter, who was receiving treatment off the pitch, saw Marut Karagul set up a chance for Ricci Crace, that the Ware no.10 dispatched into the bottom left corner of the goal from 20-yards.
Chatham were level within 11 minutes through Tilley’s ninth of the season and arguably, their goal of the season, if not, it will take something special to beat it.
A slick one-touch passing move from the right back area to the left corner of the area saw Watson, Blackman, Hales and finally Matt Newman involved, before Newman slid the ball in for Tilley on the edge of the Ware area. Tilley turned full-back Michael Elliott and with only the keeper to beat, slotted the ball calmly home at the right hand post.
The majority of the half became a midfield battle, until the last five minutes came to life.
As Ware appealed for a foul in the Chatham area when Lawrence Rispoli was blocked by a combination of Watson and Jason Barton, Kessell took a quick goal kick that was flicked onto Blackman on the halfway line. Blackman held off Elliott as he powered into the area, and coolly slid the ball beyond Madden into the right corner.
But the lead only lasted three minutes as Aime Blessing nipped in at the back post to meet Elliott’s deep cross, that was missed by both Karagul and Kes Metitri, and turn it into the net.
Watson was frustrated with the two goals, but full of praise for Tony Kessell, who kept the scores level in stoppage time with a full-length save from Karagul.
The Chats’ boss said: “The first goal was frustrating as we’d gone down to ten men with Brad’s injury, and while he was getting treated it seemed to disjoint things a bit.
“The second, certainly it should have been dealt with as there were three or four there to prevent the goal.
“With the early goal, it was probably a positive to come out of the game as Tony did really well after it. He made a good save in the first half as well as claiming the rebound from the save. He couldn’t do anything about the first goal, and I couldn’t fault him on the second either.””
The only real chance in the early part of the second half fell came on 63 minutes from a Tilley cross that substitute Jack Jeffrey flicked goalwards, only for Akande’s deflection to wrong foot Madden, who somehow twisted back to produce a wonderful save.
But the third goal would soon follow, along with the decision that changed the game.
With twenty minutes remaining, Blackman headed Hales’ free kick back into the middle of the area, and as Chris Hill ran to nod home, Lewis Rolfe rugby-tackled the Chats’ defender to the ground. After Mr Wilde showed Rolfe the card red for his foul, Hales stepped up to restore Chatham’s lead with a well taken penalty into the top right corner.
Kessell saved an Akande free kick comfortably as Ware tried to mount a comeback, but the game was effectively sealed after 80 minutes, as Tilley scored his second of the game.
Jeffrey battled through two challenges on the halfway line before firing a long cross field ball to Chris Davis. The substitute fed the ball inside to Tilley, whose first time scuffed effort had enough on it to beat Madden and roll in off the left post.
Jeffrey sealed the win with a composed finish of his own with five minutes left. Tilley broke down the left wing, cut into the area and rolled the ball to Jeffrey, who took a touch and curled the ball round Madden into the right corner.
Now playing against a dispirited side, Chatham had chances to extend their lead further as Davis guided a header wide when he had time to find the target, and Madden pulled off a miraculous save in the top right corner of his goal to deny Jeffrey’s spectacular 20-yard volley.
But for Watson, still celebrating the birth of his first child, daughter Lois Ruth, on Tuesday 28th February, the response of his team was most pleasing.
He added: “I thought we stated to settle, having been sloppy with some of our passes, but it felt comfortable and I’d have been disappointed at that stage if we’d not come away with the three points. We had to be ruthless when they went to ten men because if you don’t take advantage with a one goal lead, there is always the chance to come back into it.”
“So yes, there was some good finishing, but I have to mention the lads who came on and did well. Ryan Laker, who came on for Brad when he got injured and was probably one of our best players, Chris Davis did very well and Jack Jeffrey who scored a very good goal with a composed finish. We all know what he is capable of, and he could have scored another excellent goal but for a great save by their keeper.”
“I’m quite fortunate that players have been very patient. I expect them to be frustrated, but that shows they want to play, but they haven’t let it affect them. To succeed, it is very much about a squad, a tight-knit squad that we’ve got, and the character they’ve shown when they’ve come on. It’s the same with Joe Fuller. I’m sure over the next couple of games, he’ll be smarting, wanting to come in and do well.”
Everyone in Kent would like to congratulate Kevin and his wife Nikki on their new arrival and the Chatham Town boss said: “It’s been a bit of a baptism of fire this week, a wake-up call, but it’s nice because you can come away to football, which has got to be a part of your life that you can enjoy. While it feels like a full-time job here at times, none of us are full-time, so there needs to be a release from the rest of your life.”
Chatham Town: Tony Kessell, Brad Potter (Ryan Laker 40), Jason Barton, Matt Solly (Chris Davis 77), Chris Hill, Kes Metitri, Kevin Watson (Jack Jeffrey 62), Matt Newman, Lloyd Blackman, Lee Hales, Garry Tilley.
Subs: Joe Fuller, Tom Roberts
Goals: Garry Tilley 18, 80, Lloyd Blackman 41, Lee Hales 71 (pen), Jack Jeffrey 85
Ware: Rhys Madden, Michael Elliott (Elliott King 73), Tom Querry, Lewis Rolfe, Michael Akande, Vince Rispoli, Lawrence Rispoli, Danny Johnson, Murat Karagul, Ricci Crace (Junior Adeoye 73), Aime Blessing (Ryan Mattos 73).
Sub: Stuart Nethercott
Goals: Ricci Crace 7, Aime Blessing 44
Booked: Tom Querry 68
Sent Off: Lewis Rolfe 70
Attendance: 134
Referee: Mr Nolan Wilde (Maidstone)
Assistants: Mr Karl May (Gillingham) & Mr Paul Yates (Maidstone)
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