Kentish Football 
I want a winning habit, says O'Brien
Alex O’Brien’s side suffered their fourth home League defeat in five games when Worthing won 1-0 at Maidstone Road and O'Brien admitted to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after the game that, ""We ask the players all the time what is it about playing at home," he said. "And unfortunately today we missed Lee Barnett (who turned his ankle in training on Thursday) and we missed having that opportunity to change things. It doesn't matter what coaching you do, if the players don't grind out results at home what can you do? A similar scenario would be the pressure the Dartford players are under playing in front of 1,000 people every week. Not that we get that playing here - I'll try and find the excuse and let you know but the quicker we win games of football here the better.
"I've always said that we're looking to be in the pack and not for the season to filter out with people higher than me saying that we've done all right and pull the plug lets make a few sacrifices. I don't want that - for me footballs finished because if you haven't got something to go for as I just think we've got to go to Tonbridge and get a win; go to Walton Casuals and get a win and the get Godalming back here nice and confident, and lets get a win here and go into the Christmas period and the New Year with a little bit of a spring in our step."
His side’s inconsistency has the manager and his Assistant Lew Watts conceded that their charges need to start scoring after Tuesday's blank at Tonbridge means that the Chats are now scoreless in their last three games and in four of the past five - a fact that O'Brien admitted must end soon.
He said: "It needs to come soon and Saturday is a great place to start - losing is habit and so is winning. If you speak to Neil Cugley at Folkestone, he'll admit that they might not be playing the best but they're winning games because winning becomes a habit, and its the same when you keep losing.
“But I'm not all doom and gloom, once we start hitting the net and once we start doing it confidently, I'm sure that with the players that we have in the squad the wins will come."
The main worry for O'Brien ahead of Saturday will be who of his squad are actually eligible!
"Brad Potter is back now running after his injury that he ironically got in the Cup defeat at Walton, but isn't ready yet - but the suspensions are really going to hurt us now.
“Ray Powell's going to miss the next four games, John Wilfort's out for two games, Ben Payne's got three games. On top of that Michael Scott got injured at his England trials on Sunday - the trial apparently went well, but I got a text saying he's got a dead thigh otherwise he would have played tonight as when he has started for us he's done well, and is getting better which is a massive plus, but how can I say that he can’t pursue his dream of playing for his country?
“I don't have that right and even if I did it would be wrong of me to do so. Matt Solly we'll have to look at on Saturday morning because of his calf. That said I thought Matt Rowe did well when he came on at Tonbridge so we'll go with what we've got and hopefully get that win to kick start us."
With home games against second placed Folkestone Invicta and third placed Godalming Town, together with home and away games with Sittingbourne to come over the holiday period, O'Brien knows that this weekend represents an ideal opportunity for his side to win just their second League game since the end of October!
Visit Chatham Town’s website: www.chathamtownfc.net
Walton Casuals v Chatham Town
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 12th December 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Waterside Stadium, off Waterside Drive, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey KT12 2JG
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd