Romford 1-0 Chatham Town - We're not meeting our expectations, admits Kevin Watson

Wednesday 10th October 2012

ROMFORD 1-0 CHATHAM TOWN
Ryman League Division One North
Wednesday 10^th October 2012
Mike Green reports from Ship Lane

"We've got to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and pick ourselves up!"; the frank assessment of Chatham Town boss Kevin Watson as his side suffered their second defeat in five days against a Romford side who moved into the top six with the three points at Thurrock’s Ship Lane.

But this game won’t live long in the memory of the 93 hardy soles who witnessed it except perhaps for some outrageous simulation from certain members of the home side that would have embarrassed even some of the countries top players who are currently under scrutiny for doing the same.

The bottom line is though for Watson is that his side must end find their fine early season form and end a run of just a single win in their last eight games. As the manager said, "We've got to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and pick ourselves up. We've no excuses tonight – it’s a nice pitch, nice evening and we're playing opposition that we should have a chance against.

“But for all our play we didn't threaten them enough - not enough shots on goal; not enough balls in the box. And we knew that if you get a goal you win the game, and that’s what they did!"

It was a frustrating night for the Chats who slipped to defeat courtesy of a solitary strike 10 minutes into the second half from former Dartford player Hussein Isa which ironically came sandwiched between the visitors best two chances.

But Gary Tilley’s terrific volley flew just wide, whilst Harry Smith will surely look back on his 67th minute header and wonder why it grazed the cross bar rather than hitting the back of the Romford net.

His boss though was sure about his sides main failing - he said: "It’s important to get the ball into the box, and we didn’t do it. It’s where 80 per cent of goals come from so we've got to take that into Saturday and improve on it. It’s difficult for us to pick a team at the minute for all the wrong reasons - it was always going to be a one goal game tonight. We pushed on at the end to try and get something, but footballs all about scoring goals! I know that that’s a cliche if you don’t put the ball in the back of the net, but we weren't even close to doing that.

“I said at half time that there’s only so long that you can defend for if the other teams putting you under pressure before they have a sniff. And once they scored the goal, they were better at times - they were better counter attacking team and better at what they do."

It was a first half devoid really of outstanding chances with both sides having half chances - Matt Newman powered a header inches wide from an early corner for the Chats, whilst Lee Hales couldn't keep his shot down arriving late to try and convert Tilley's fine run and cross, whilst for Romford, Paul Clayton glanced a header just past Chats keeper Tim Roberts' left post, whilst Isa will feel that he should really have given his side the lead on 35 minutes as he was left in acres of space down the left as the visitors defence struggled to deal with surging run from Clayton.

The crowd were left wonder what had been in the home teams half time refreshments as for a short time early in the second half as for a time there were two or three of those dressed in yellow and blue who kept falling over!

But fortunately common sense soon prevailed and the standard of football improved, as Tilley got onto the end of Brad Potter flick (from Roddy Ndines huge long throw into the box) to volley inches wide for the game closest effort.

Sadly for the Chats, the home side went even closer less than a minute later as they took a 55th minute lead that they weren't to lose.

Keeper Michael Gooch's long clearance was helped on by Nick Reynolds to Isa who's shot on the turn flew past Roberts and into the bottom corner of the Chatham net.

Watson then introduced himself to the fray (in place of Jamie Lawrence, who missed Saturday's defeat to Aveley with a groin problem), and it was from the player manager’s deep cross that Smith grazed the top of the bar with a thumping header when perhaps he should have scored from. The 17 year old was left ruing his luck for the second successive game as in Chatham's weekend defeat to high flying Aveley, Smith hit the woodwork in stoppage time as the Chats slipped to a 2-1 defeat.

Sadly, this Wednesday night trip into Essex went the same way, as despite their best efforts, Chatham couldn't find a way through, and it was left to keeper Roberts to pull off a stunning finger tip full length save away to his right to deny Reynolds to keep his side in touch.

But after the game, manager Watson was realistic when he conceded, "Bottom line is though that we need to beat teams like these and we're not doing that at the moment by any stretch of the imagination, nor are we meeting our expectations.

“We're going to have to look to make some changes to the squad, but it’s not about being to rash though – it’s about bringing the right players in. We knew what they were about and at the end of the day they deserved to win the game because they scored and we didn’t."

"We'll go into the weekend (and the trip to face Witham Town) looking for an improved performance again - but we've been saying that for the last few weeks but we haven’t been getting it. We've looked to play different personnel and maybe play some in different positions but it’s still not clicking. We're going to have to look to make some changes - we won’t rush into things but we'll be on the look out."

Romford: Michael Gooch, Adam Salmon, Joe Oates, Jack Barry, Matt Toms, Paul Clayton, Tom Richardson, Alfie Hilton, Nick Reynolds (Lewis Francis 86), Hussein Isa (Ryan Imbeat 82), Elliot Long.
Subs: Reece Hewitt, James Ishmail, Atu Ngoy

Goal: Hussein Isa 66

Booked: Hussein Isa 76

Chatham Town: Tim Roberts, Roddy Ndiane, Mark Lewis, Matt Solly, Brad Potter, Matt Newman, Lee Hales, Jamie Lawrence (Kevin Watson 62), Harry Smith (Jean Michel Sigere 74), Jack Pallen (Jack Jeffrey 74), Gary Tilley.
Subs: Kes Metitiri, Tony Kessell

Attendance: 94
Referee: Mr Paul Howard
Assistants: Mr Steven Perry & Mr Sikiru Idris