We want to go on an unbeaten run, says O'Brien

Wednesday 20th January 2010

CHATHAM TOWN boss Alex O’Brien warns he is expecting a backlash from Leatherhead when he takes his side to Fetcham Grove at the weekend, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Medway side climbed up to eighth place in the Ryman League Division One South table, courtesy of a 3-2 home win over Merstham at the weekend and travel to Leatherhead on Saturday knowing that they won 4-3 at Maidstone Road back in September, courtesy of a last-gasp winner.

But Saturday’s win over Merstham was the first league win at Maidstone Road since Whitstable Town were beaten 2-0 on 13th October.

“We played Saturday and had a good result,” reflected O’Brien, when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“It was nice to get points and it was nice to win a game at home, it’s been a while!

“We need to keep the wheels going. We need to be playing games. Like everyone else we’re going to be playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday for a while because of the weather that we’ve had.”

Looking ahead to the trip to Leatherhead, O’Brien said, “It will be a battle. They’re a good side on their day. Obviously in the back of their minds we beat them at home and we scored basically with the last kick of the game so they will probably still be seething about that.”

He added: “But it’s somewhere we can go and definitely get points. Like I’ve said before, I’m not intimidated by going anywhere. I think Chatham on their day do extremely well and we’ll start strong and we’ll start right and hopefully get three points on the day.”

Reflecting on their poor home form of late, O’Brien knows things must improve.

But he said: “There’s been times where I think we’ve had the majority of the game, Ramsgate springs to mind where we’ve been hit by a sucker goal. We don’t seem to equalise and push on, but it’s something that needs to be addressed, but obviously myself and Lew (Watts, my assistant manager) have done our best to address it.

“We want to go on a run of games where we stay unbeaten. I know we won on Saturday, it’s a start and everyone needs a start.”

O’Brien was speaking whilst watching his side’s reserve side play Dartford at Princes Park and with games coming thick and fast the boss will not be afraid to unearth some uncut gems.

“We’ve been hit with suspensions for the first half of the season and we’ve coped ok,” said O’Brien.

“With the second team playing on a Wednesday night, it’s a good opportunity for Lew and myself to come down and see what the boys have got to offer.”

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

Leatherhead v Chatham Town

Ryman League Division One South

Saturday 23rd January 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Fetcham Grove, Guildford Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 9AS