Chatham returned to action on Tuesday evening where they were looking to build on the momentum of their 4-0 thrashing of Walton & Hersham with another victory against play off hopefuls Herne Bay at The Maidstone Road sports ground.

You would have expected both teams to start quickly but with 25 minutes without a shot in anger for either side, and the temperature plummeting towards zero, fans of both teams were suggesting they should have stayed at home and watched the Champions league instead.

With 35 minutes gone, we finally had a shot at goal, Parkinson dribbling a shot from 25 yards into Bradshaw’s arms.

From this attempt, Chatham broke and had an effort themselves. Medley did well to feed Osei out on the left, his cross was partially cleared and Gundry following up forced Delo into a comfortable save down to his right.

Delo did well moments later to claw Gundry’s right wing cross from the head of Butler arriving at the back post.

On 44 minutes, Herne Bay won a penalty after an innocuous challenge by Vines on Turner in the area. Walder stepped up to convert the penalty.

The game was finally alive as we approached half time. A late challenge by the Chatham right back Davies on Parkinson sparked an 18 man brawl with a fair few slaps being thrown, somehow no one received their marching orders, although the Herne Bay left back Sayer and goalkeeper Delo made their opinions known as the teams came off for half time.

A minute into the second half and Chatham were reduced to 10 men, Vines was late on Parkinson and picked up a second booking and was off for an early bath after being booked for the challenge when conceding the penalty earlier.

Chatham were aggrieved with the decision with the referee originally playing the advantage after the tackle.

10 minutes into the second half and Chatham had appeals for a penalty of their own. Medley skinned the right back before attempting to pull the ball back to Humber. His cross was blocked away by Eastwood, with suspicions of a hand being used.

Herne Bay’s numerical advantage had Chatham against the cosh s Herne Bay began to show why their high up the division with pretty passing angles. It was from a corner however that they nearly made it 2.

Hasler getting on the end of it and forcing Bradshaw into a good save from point blank range. The home sides goal was living a charmed life as we entered the final 10 minutes with Parkinson inexplicably passing to no one when in space in the box before Sayer’s piledriver rebounded out for Parkinson to be denied by Bradshaw from 5 yards out as they looked to seal the game.

Chatham almost snatched a late equaliser with captain Hickey shooting inches wide from the edge of the area after forcing his way past a couple of players.

Bradshaw was forced into a late save, pushing sub Browning’s precise shot behind for a corner but there was to be a late goal for Herne Bay as Jack Parkinson got on the score sheet, tapping in after Browning squared to him unopposed to seal the points for the visitors to maintain their play off quest

 

Chatham: Bradshaw, Davies, Butler, Difford, Vines, Hickey, Gundry ( Jeffrey 85) Loft, Humber, Osei, Medley ( Oriogun 66)

Yellow cards: Vines 44, Davies 45, Loft 45, Humber 45, Vines 46, Gundry 59

Red cards: Vines 46

Subs not used: Edwards, Collins, Bray

 

Herne Bay: Delo, Turner, Sayer, Johnson, Quinn, Sanders, Walder, Eastwood ( Nelder 58), Turner ( Browning 69), Parkinson, Hasler ( Williams 77)

Subs not used: Cutts, Phillip,

Attendance: 131