We must approach top-of-the-table clash with the same mentality as the other games, says Watson

Both sides are unbeaten this season, and have collected three wins and a draw from their opening four Ryman League Division One North games and Chatham also progressed into the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup after a 1-0 victory over Croydon Athletic at Maidstone Road last weekend.

“The FA Cup win was a big bonus for the club, both financially and prestige wise,” Watson told www.chathamtownfc.net in his Sunday supplement feature.

“We had no pressure on us to win the game – indeed the only pressure and expectation the boys felt was applied came from within the dressing room.”

Chatham now welcome Worthing in the First Qualifying Round on 17 September.  The West Sussex side came away from Whitstable Town (who this week have signed 25-year-old goalkeeper Scott Chalmers-Stevens from Carshalton Athletic) with a victory.

“Don’t want to look ahead too much, but to have Worthing in the next round could be a really great day for the club,” said Watson.

“Obviously it would have been nice to face Whitstable and get a Kent derby, but hopefully we’ll get a decent gate still from hosting Worthing and it could be a very good game as they’ve started very well in Ryman South.”

Watson is pleased to have striker Rob Denness back in the first team squad.

“It was also good to have Rob Denness back in the squad and playing,” he said.

“It’s always been our plan to include Rob in the squad but up to now he’s not really been available for one reason or another.

“To give him credit, he’s been getting himself match fit, and Keith (Levett) and I watched him play in the reserves a couple of weeks ago when he scored twice.”

Looking ahead to the visit from league leaders Grays Athletic, Watson said: “It could be another cracker as they are of course the only team above us in the early table.

“We won’t approach the game any differently as we’ve already played some very tough games against some good opposition and Grays will be no different! 

“We must approach the game with the same mentality as we have others, especially if you look at the league table to see how tight it still is with so many teams on seven points just three behind us.”

Influential skipper, Brad Potter, is expected to feature against the former Conference club.

Watson said: “I’m hoping Brad Potter will be back.  He’s had a scan on his toe and with a bit of luck he will be back involved.”

Watson hopes the draw of today’s top-of-the-table clash will attract a crowd of over 200 to Maidstone Road.

He said: “I’m just hoping that the extra people (that watched last week’s FA Cup tie) will come back for league games, but I know that they only will if we keep playing good football – something that at the moment I think we are.”

Article courtesy of www.chathamtownfc.net  

Chatham Town  v  Grays Athletic
Ryman League Division One North
Saturday 10^th September 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Maidstone Road Sports Ground, Bournville Avenue, Chatham, Kent ME4 6LR