Match Reports: Chatham pull off another shock result

Tuesday 23^rd October 2007
Deal Town 1-1 Erith & Belvedere
By Thomas Hawes

Erith & Belvedere picked up what could prove to be a very useful point in the battle to secure a place in the Quarter Finals of the Kent League Cup.

With Thamesmead in superb form and Faversham struggling at the bottom of the Kent League, the second placed side behind Thamesmead is almost certain to be Deal Town or Erith & Belvedere.

A win for Chris Cosgrove & Paul Gorman’s side would have given them a six point advantage over Deal and things looked to be going to plan after Erith dominated the first half hour.

Lee Benevente forced a superb save from David Coupe after 4 minutes with a stunning 35-yard drive and on 21 minutes Steve White, who was playing as a right winger, cut in from the right and charged through on goal only to see Coupe save his shot.

The breakthrough finally came for the Deres after 33 minutes. A corner from  the right eventually fell to the feet of Lee Benevente who fired the ball at goal. An outstretched leg managed to claw the ball off the goal-line.

The ball hit the back of Coupe and fell kindly to Sam Prett, who showed the predatory instincts that saw him bag a hatful of goals during his time at Whitstable Town, to give the visitors a deserved lead.

The lead was to last only 9 minutes as Deal captain Dave Bathgate nodded his side level from a corner kick. 

Two minutes later it could have been 2-1 to Deal, but Grant Wallis pulled off a superb save to ensure that the scores stayed level at the interval.

The second half saw Deal take charge of the game, causing the Deres all sorts of trouble down the wings.

Their best chance came 8 minutes into the second half when Danny Smith cut inside Chris Perifimou before shooting at goal. Fortunately for the visitors, Grant Wallis was once again on hand to make the save.

Both sides had half chances to steal all three points, but it was certainly a game of two halves and in the end a draw was a fair result.

Erith & Belvedere: Wallis, Perifimou, Button, Johnson, Morgan, Hardie, Benevente (Smith 60), Berkley, Prett, S.White (J.White 78), Pursglove (Bell 48).

Attendance: 63

Saturday 20^th October 2007
Walton & Hersham 2-1 Folkestone Invicta
By Richard Murrill

Folkestone Invicta went out of the F. A. Carlsberg Trophy when they were beaten 2-1 in this First Qualifying Round tie away to Walton & Hersham despite leading at half time thanks to an early goal from James Corbett.

The home side turned the game around with two goals in quick succession early in the second half and Invicta were unable to retrieve the situation, with James Everitt missing a gilt-edged chance to equalise during the closing stages.

After an 11-match unbeaten run, this was Invicta’s second successive 2-1 away defeat following their midweek reverse at East Thurrock.

And this loss followed a similar pattern to Invicta’s 3-1 defeat at Stompond Lane last season when Walton & Hersham again hit back after the Folkestone side had taken an early lead.

Invicta welcomed Samuel Kola Okikiolu and Corbett back into the starting line up after recent injuries in place of both Mark Saunders and Leigh Bremner (hamstring) who watched from the sidelines.

And it was Corbett who opened the scoring in a sunny afternoon in Surrey with his first goal of the season.

The one-time Gillingham and Blackburn Rovers star headed in from close range after just six minutes when Ryan Briggs’ good ball in from the left was headed back across goal at the far post by captain Roland Edge.

Invicta had threatened a minute earlier when the ball was headed off the Walton & Hersham line after centre forward Ellis Remy hooked the ball back across goal from the right hand side of the penalty area when Corbett sent over the game’s first corner.

James Everitt then shot wide for Invicta from 25 yards after 17 minutes as everything was going to plan for the Folkestone side early on.

Invicta centre half Liam Friend got back to deny Richard Thompson after 22 minutes when the home striker chased down an attempted headed back pass from Okikiolu.

But it had been Invicta’s half and the Swans’ frustrations boiled over as manager Les Cleevely was banished to the stands by referee Alison Chapman after 43 minutes.

A low Thompson shot rolled across the Invicta goal and past the far post from the edge of the penalty area following a Will Jenkins ball after 49 minutes.

And the Swans equalised in the 57^th minute when they won their first corner of the game and Adam Moriarty’s ball in from the left led to a mix up between Micheal Eveirtt and goalkeeper Charlie Mitten which presented Thompson with the chance to touch the ball into the net despite James Everitt’s efforts to clear off the line.

An assistant referee’s flag confirmed that the ball had crossed the line and the game was again all square.

And everything turned in the 62^nd minute when Invicta were close at one end and Walton & Hersham then scored again at the other.

Corbett put the ball over from close range for Invicta following a Kevin Watson corner on the right.

But from the subsequent goal kick, Rob George latched onto a header from Invicta defender Friend down the right hand side and slotted the ball into the net across goal.

Home substitute Mark Peters showed good skill in the penalty area after 68 minutes and shot wide of the far post from the left hand side of the penalty area when a free kick was headed down to him.

Dan Nwanze got in before James Eveirtt in the penalty area in the 78^th minute after an Edge touch in a move also involving substitute Damian Abel, who had replaced defender Okikiolu to pep up Invicta’s attack as they chased an equaliser.

James Everitt headed wide from an 80^th minute Watson corner on the left, while at the other end Mitten saved with his feet to deny substitute Peters two minutes later when Friend got a tackle in to stop Jenkins after the striker had burst through the middle.

Invicta then missed their best chance of saving the day as James Everitt headed wide from close range in the 83^rd minute when a short corner between Watson and Abel on the right hand side caught the home defence by surprise.

Home goalkeeper Stuart Searle got across to keep out a 25-yard Abel shot after 88 minutes when a Watson corner from the left came back out.

But as Invicta threw players forward, they were caught short at the back a minute later as Mitten got up to save from Jenkins when Moriarty played the ball in from the right.

Searle parried a stoppage time James Everitt shot away for a corner after the goalkeeper had flapped at the ball when it came in from a free kick.

At the other end, striker Jenkins headed just over deep into stoppage time following a free kick on the right.

As well as manager Cleevely’s dismissal, there were bookings for Walton & Hersham’s Nwanze, Lee Richardson, Matt Elverson and Ryan Bernard and for Invicta’s Friend.

Walton & Hersham: Searle, Bernard, Nowacki (Williams 79), Richardson, Elverson, Nwanze, Moriarty, George, Jenkins, Thompson (Peters 60), Carter.
Subs: Graham, Kargbo, Boosey.

Folkestone Invicta: Mitten, Watson, Edge, Chappell, Friend, Okikiolu (Abel 73), M. Everitt, Briggs (Sly 84), J. Everitt, Corbett, Remy.
Subs: Dix, Saunders, Stonebridge.

Attendance: 118.

Chatham Town 0-3 Witham Town
By Neil Sanders

Chatham Town were dumped out of the FA Trophy by Witham Town, despite creating more chances than their opponents.

The first half hour was tight with both keepers only called upon once. Cody McDonald cut inside neatly but gave John Whitehouse no problems with a low shot, and Matt Solly’s curling effort was comfortably caught by Paul Daley.

Towards the end of the half, Chatham gained control of possession and created several presentable opportunities which should have given them a half time lead.

Daley scuffed a clearance from out wide, which Tom Davey collected and with a quick look up he launched the ball towards goal from 40 yards out. Only a brilliant diving header from underneath his own crossbar by David Morgan, prevented Chatham from taking the lead.

Gavin Schulz with a flick header, and Davey again with a well struck shot from a neatly worked free kick, both tested the Witham keeper, whilst Tom Binks first time shot was just too high from 12 yards out.

Just before the break, Nathan Sharp and Kaan Hawes for Witham and Rob Goodger for Chatham, were all cautioned following a minor altercation.

Witham came out with for the second half with a new lease of life and took the lead in the 49^th minute when Andy Hughes finished off a near post cross with a crisp first time shot.

Chatham were left stunned when it became 2-0 just four minutes later. Jamie Ricks chased in hard to charge down Whitehouse’s attempted clearance and did well to be first to the loose ball and run in to tap it home.

The visitors now looked much tighter at the back and killed the game off with a solid display.

The result was sealed by a third goal in the 77^th minute, thanks to a right foot shot from the edge of the box by Steve Joyce, which Whitehouse was unable to keep out.

Chatham did apply some pressure in the closing minutes, with Mark Brooks and Danny Larkin both going close, but it was far too late.

With Dominic Elmes and Tyran James both picking up long term injuries this week and Shane Suter suspended, Chatham will be anxious to maintain their recent momentum.

Chatham Town: Whitehouse, Binks (Groombridge 74), Davey (Finn 59), Goodger, Tedder, Best, Smith, Brooks, Schulz (Larkin 66), Ascheri, Solly.

Tuesday 16^th October 2007
East Thurrock United 2-1 Folkestone Invicta
By Richard Murrill

Folkestone Invicta’s 11-match unbeaten run came to an end when they went down to an 89^th minute goal away to East Thurrock United on Tuesday night despite creating several chances at Rookery Hill.

Substitute Gary Ansell rifled in the home side’s late winner with a low shot into the corner of the net as the rain fell after fellow substitute Akwasi Edusei had showed great skill to touch the ball back to him.

Invicta had fallen behind to a 30^th minute goal from Danny Harris despite having the better of the first half, but equalised with a great strike from Leigh Bremner after the interval.

The visitors were then left to rue chances that went away from centre forward Ellis Remy either side of Ansell’s winner.

Invicta went into the game without injured defender Samuel Kola Okikiolu, a former East Thurrock player. Kevin Watson moved across to join youngsters Liam Friend and Frankie Chappell at the heart of the defence, with James Everitt starting at right back and Ryan Briggs coming into the midfield.

And the visitors started brightly as Remy headed wide at the near post when Watson sent the game’s first corner over from the left hand side in the fourth minute.

Centre half Chappell then headed over from another Watson corner three minutes later.

Remy managed to get past his defender down the right hand side of the penalty area after 20 minutes but goalkeeper Shane Gore saved and then dived on the ball to prevent it from crossing the line.

But it was the home side who opened the scoring with their only real chance of the first half when Harris poked the ball into the net at the second attempt after his initial effort had come back off a defender.

It was the first goal Invicta had conceded in 485 minutes of football and ended their run of five successive clean sheets, with new goalkeeper Charlie Mitten beaten for the first time on his fifth appearance for the club.

Invicta continued to create chances as Chappell’s 39^th minute header hit the top of the crossbar when Watson sent over a hanging corner from the left.

Micheal Everitt then had a chance to score on his 25^th birthday four minutes later when Gore came out to save at the expense of a corner when the elder Everitt was given on-side after a ball from younger brother James.

A Briggs chip was cleared off the line when the subsequent corner was played back to him just outside the penalty area and his rebound cannoned off a defender for another corner.

James Everitt was pushed forward to support the attack for the second half.

But it was now the home side who began to create the better chances as Leli Bajada shot against the crossbar after 50 minutes when Friend lost the ball to East Thurrock captain Lee Burns and Max Cornhill side-footed the rebound over the crossbar with a great chance to increase his side’s lead.

The unmarked former Leyton danger man Bajada then headed wide at the far post after 61 minutes when Burns played the ball over from the right hand side in a move also involving right back David Collis and striker Jamie Richards.

And the home side were made to pay as Invicta went straight down the other end and equalised courtesy of a great 20-yard strike from Bremner which simply flew into the net and left Gore with no chance.

Former Gillingham and Welling United striker Edusei added a spark to the East Thurrock attack when he came on and the substitute let fly with a well-struck shot which flew over the crossbar from just outside the penalty area after 69 minutes.

The versatile James Everitt moved deeper into midfield for his third different position of the night when Damian Abel replaced the injured Mark Saunders.

It was game on for the closing stages and Bremner shot wide across goal in the 80^th minute when Micheal Everitt played him through and presented the striker which another chance to score again.

A great 85^th minute run from Remy saw him turn Bradley Stevens and go past another defender before shooting wide of the post when he seemed set to put the visitors ahead having done most of the hard work.

Ansell had replaced injured goalscorer Harris just before half time and found himself also on the scoresheet with his side’s late winner.

Both sides had chances during stoppage time as Mitten got across to make a flying save round the post to deny Burns a spectacular goal from 30 yards.

Remy then got clear of the home defence but took one touch too many and goalkeeper Gore came out to save.

A late flare up saw bookings for East Thurrock substitute John Turnbull and Invicta’s Micheal Everitt.

Invicta had won all four of their previous meetings against East Thurrock, but the Essex side is stronger this season and this victory took them up to fifth place in the table and halted Invicta’s own progress up the table.

East Thurrock United: Gore, Collis, Dumas, Stevens, Faulkner, Cornhill, Burns, Bajada (Turnbull 81), Williams, Richards (Eduesi 65), Harris (Ansell 42).
Subs West, Patterson.

Folkestone Invicta: Mitten, Watson, Edge, Chappell, Friend, Briggs, M. Everitt, Saunders (Abel 73), J. Everitt, Bremner, Remy.
Subs: Sly, Corbett, Burchell, Stonebridge.

Attendance: 122.

Chatham Town became the first side to beat Andy Hessenthaler’s highly fancied Dover Athletic in the league this season, thanks to a magnificent backs to the wall performance and some astute tactical thinking.

Mark Brooks played in a much deeper role than normal and his pace helped in containing the Dover attack.

Tom Davey also did an excellent job keeping ex-Chats and Gillingham player Frannie Collin fairly quiet, although Collin still looked the most dangerous of the Dover attackers.

The ball spent virtually the whole of the first 20 minutes in the Chats half but John Whitehouse was only troubled once when he dived low to his right to keep out a drive from James Rogers.

Chats first opportunity came in the 35^th minute when Tyran James was inches away from tucking away a Darren Smith cross as he slid in at the far post.

Two lengthy delays for injuries, the first for Dover’s Lee Browning after he collided with Whitehouse, and the second which resulted James being stretchered off with an ankle injury, meant 11 minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half.

Chatham made a much better start to the 2^nd half and went close when Davey’s flying volley narrowly cleared the bar.

However, they snatched the all important just before the hour mark. A deep cross into the Dover box enabled Craig Govey to put the keeper and defence under pressure and when the ball bounced loose, Darren Smith thumped it in from 12 yards, much to the delight of the travelling supporters.

Dover responded well and bombarded the Chatham 18 yard box with crosses, but the defence held firm.

Browning hit the bar, with the rebound hitting Whitehouse on the back of the head whilst he was still in mid air, before rolling to safety.

The only time the Chats keeper was beaten, Rob Goodger was on hand to clear off the line.

Collin also hit the bar when well placed and another ex-Chat, Byron Walker sliced his shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

The final whistle was a welcome sound to an exhausted but delighted Chatham side, after they had held out for a memorable win.

This was a great team effort and whilst Dover will be wondering how they failed to score, Chatham have given themselves a huge confidence boost in completing three wins on the trot.

Chatham Town: Whitehouse, Solly, Davey, Goodger, Tedder, Best (Binks 62), Smith, Brooks, Schulz (Elmes 80), Suter, James (Govey 45). Unused subs: Larkin, Groombridge.