We've got a lot to play for in our next three games, says Chatham Town assistant Keith Levett

CHATHAM TOWN assistant manager Keith Levett says his side have a lot to play for in their next three games.


The club were dumped out of the Kent Senior Cup Sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com by bogey side Sittingbourne on Tuesday night.

Chatham Town manager Kevin Watson made eight changes to the side that thrashed Erith & Belvedere 5-0 in The FA Cup at the weekend and they paid the price as they crashed to a 3-0 defeat to the Brickies.

It was a dramatic night at Maidstone Road because Sittingbourne’s joint-managers Jim and Danny Ward both resigned following a team meeting inside the changing room after the game.

Sittingbourne have appointed coach Matt Wyatt and club captain Nick Davis as caretaker managers, starting with Saturday’s home game against Worthing.

Chatham Town welcome Witham Town to Maidstone Road on Non League Day, before travelling to play their Kent rivals VCD Athletic next Tuesday, before welcoming lower league East Preston in The FA Cup First Qualifying Round on 14 September.

“Three big games and we’re all looking forward to them,” said Levett.

Reflecting on their County Cup defeat to Sittingbourne, Levett said: “You could say maybe we took our eye of the ball a little bit because I think we are looking ahead as well and sometimes if you look ahead you don’t deal with the first game.

“With all respect to Erith & Belvedere, they weren’t particularly a good side and maybe the fact that we won so easily over the last two games didn’t do us a favour on Tuesday night because we played a more stronger, physical side and they (Sittingbourne) caught us off our guard a little bit.”

Erith & Belvedere bounced back from their two heavy defeats to Chatham Town by knocking Gillingham out of the Kent Senior Cup at Park View Road last night.

Gillingham’s development side found themselves 2-0 up inside eleven minutes courtesy of goals from central midfielder Kane Haysman and winger Nathan Nyafazi and many of the home faithful were expecting to see a repeat that saw now released keeper Ade Adeinyi ship fifteen goals in three games.

But with former Dartford keeper Andrew Young, 33, in goal after Deres co-manager Martin Ford brought him in from Ryman Premier League side Billericay Town, Erith & Belvedere sealed a trip to Dover Athletic in the Second Round following goals from Luke Tanner, Aiden Sherlock and an extra-time winner through Jamie Miller.

Seventeenth-placed Chatham Town welcome fifth-placed Witham Town to Maidstone Road on Saturday.

As part of Non-League Day, season ticket holders of Premier League and Football League clubs can watch the action for a reduced rate of £5 for adults and their partners and kids can come in free.

“We’ve been improving so we’re happy with our overall performances recently, not Tuesday night,” said Levett.

“We’re looking forward to our next three games and we’ve very positive about our next three games coming up.”

Chatham Town then travel to Crayford to take on Tony Russell’s VCD Athletic, who were knocked out of The FA Cup by Burgess Hill Town last weekend but are in second-place in the Ryman League Division One North table.

“They went out of the Cup so as good a start they’ve had you’re only as good as you’re last game and they’ll be disappointed to go out of The FA Cup,” said Levett.

“We’re looking forward to playing them. I hear they play some decent football, which is great. Any team that play football give you a chance.”

Chatham Town then face the banana skin when East Preston visit Maidstone Road in The FA Cup First Qualifying Round.

There is £3,000 in prize money up for grabs for the winner of the tie and Levett is expecting a tough game against the Sussex County League highflyers.

He said: “We wouldn’t be naïve to say because they’re lower than us (it will be easy).

“We played Peacehaven in the Cup last year so we’ll treat them with respect. They have to be half decent because they’re top of their league so we will do our homework on them and make sure we’re ready and prepared and we won’t take them lightly and there’s a lot of money at stake so it’s an important game.”

Herne Bay and Whitstable Town – who both play in Ryman League Division One South – were dumped out of The FA Cup in midweek replays at home to lower league sides (Eastbourne United and Tunbridge Wells respectively).

Levett added: “I think on the day if you don’t match the other team with all those little bits of details you can definitely find yourself going out to what they consider as a lesser team.

“We look forward to the next few games where we’ve got a lot to play for.  We’re very optimistic of the season as a whole.”

Visit Chatham Town’s website: www.clubwebsite.co.uk/chathamtownfc

Chatham Town  v  Witham Town
Ryman League Division One North
Saturday 7^th September 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Maidstone Road Sports Ground, Bournville Avenue, Chatham, Kent ME4 6LR