We've proved we're not a bad footballing side, says O'Brien

Monday 19th April 2010

Talk about leaving the best until last! That’s what a lot of the Chatham Town supporters were thinking on their way out of the Maidstone Road Sports Ground after the Chats last home Ryman One South game of the season provided Alex O’Brien’s side with their biggest home win of the season, writes Mike Green.

A goal in each half from Ray Powell and one sandwiched in between from Rob Denness gave the Chats a 3-0 win over a Walton & Hersham side who’s play off dreams had only ended with Thursday’s draw with Folkestone Invicta.

Afterwards a delighted O’Brien told www.kentishfootball.co.uk, “It just sums up what football is – it’s a funny, funny game! I think that today we thoroughly deserved it from the start – we took our goals well; Razor’s (Powell) second one was the bit of luck that we needed that we haven’t had all year – he didn’t hit it cleanly but it found the bottom corner and that just hasn’t happened for us all season.

“The highlight really for us was the clean sheet – it’s only our second since Christmas, and we finally got one, but unfortunately its come too late, but at least we finished our home campaign how we wanted to finish with a win.”

O’Brien had promised the home fans all season that someone would be comprehensively beaten, and was glad it happened in front of his home fans finally.

He said: “Those that have come and supported us week in and week out know that we’re not a bad side, we just haven’t had the luck or have made our own individual mistakes that have cost us games.

“But it’s very rare and I think its just two or three games that I’ve come away from and said “OK we were awful today!” and I think that today proved that we are not a bad footballing side.”

After his side proved against the Division’s top two that they could compete, O’Brien admitted that, “We asked for a response today after getting so close against Folkestone and Croydon and that’s what we got!

“They worked extremely hard in a hot, hot climate on a really hard pitch – every sub we made they were coming off and kicking their boots off and there were blisters on the bottom of their feet.

“Myself and Lew expect work rate first and fore most and today for once we got what we deserved.”

Joking O’Brien added, “All we’ve got to do now is to get another win and get into the play-offs! Ah well, maybe next year…!”

With one game of the season left, the Chats boss again called for his side to respond and forget how vital the game could be for their hosts, Ashford Town.

He said: “We’re going to go to Homelands next weekend expecting what it is – a Kent derby, and we’ve addressed every single Kent derby we’ve played this year the same way – it’s a massive battle, its bragging rights with the players knowing each other and after 90 minutes whatever happens, happens.

“It could be a massive game for them if results don’t go their way in midweek, but it’s a massive game for us too! I would imagine that its going to be a hell of a day”!

Visit Chatham Town’s website: www.chathamtownfc.net

Ashford Town v Chatham Town
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 24^th April 2010
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Homelands Stadium, Ashford Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent TN26 1NJ