Chatham Town’s run in the cup ended with a defeat against National League South side Slough Town, who showed the difference between the leagues with a comfortable victory. Chatham did their supporters proud by having a go and now can concentrate on getting up the League.

The game started quickly for Chats as in the second minute Freddie Sears on the right in the area saw his cross pushed around the corner by Charlie Horlock.

Then in the next minute Slough nearly scored when Kweku Lucan was set free and went into the area, but his shot went past the far post.

In the ninth minute Sears down the right chased down a long ball, went past the onrushing Horlock and crossed into the area where Jamie Yila was, he appeared to be pushed and as a result missed his header.

In the 18^th minute Slough took the lead via a penalty, a corner into the area saw a foul against a Slough player but at first everyone thought the referee had given a free kick to Chatham as no Slough players complained but then he eventually pointed to the spot. Then Slavi Spasov stepped up and shot into the bottom left-hand corner.

Slough now took control of the game and two minutes later Spasov received the ball in the area, on his own his shot went across the area.

Chatham suddenly got back into the game and in the 27^th minute a long ball forward found Rowan Libard who passed to Sears in the area, but he blasted his shot over the bar.

In the 39^th minute Chatham had a glorious chance to equalise when Bailey Akehurst’s free kick into the area saw Horlock and Libard go for it, the ball came down to Sears but from ten yards his shot again went over the bar.

Slough looked like going in at half time with a goal advantage but in the third minute of added on time Chatham had a corner which was cleared, and they went straight up the middle, a shot from 18 yards was pushed out by Joe Wright but straight to Lucan who tapped in from two yards. That seemed like game over then the half time whistle went.

The second half started with Chatham having a right go at Slough and in the 50th minute Sam Sene-Richardson put Liburd thro in the area, his shot was saved.

A minute later Sears in the area picked up a clearance but shot wide. In the 53^rd minute Miquel Scarlett came in from the touchline and poked the ball through to Sears who controlled it but again shot wide.

Another half chance came in the 58^th minute when Jack Evans tried his luck from 25 yards, but it went just past the post.

In the 63^rd minute Slough against the run of play scored their third when Spasov saw his snapshot come back off the crossbar and out to John Gilbert who from ten yards smashed into the net.

In the 69^th minute Chatham nearly had a consolation goal when a corner into the area was headed on for Libard who from three yards saw his header come back off the bar which summed up Chatham’s day. The rest of the game saw Slough see out the game and go through to the fourth Qualifying Round.

  Chatham Town:

1.  J.Wright  2. M.Scarlett(60)   3. B.Akehurst   7. S.O’keefe (79)  8. J.Evans  10 F.Sears (90+1)

11.  J.Yila  14. S.Sene-Richardson  15. S. Cooper  16. C.Naylor  17. L.Rowan (70)

Subs Used:  18. K.Anokye-Boadi (60)  12. K.Garlinge (70)  4. J.Robins (79)   22. J.Katonia (90+1)

Subs Not Used:  6. S.Nelson   20. J.Rowe  23. B.Bridle-Card

Bookings: K.Hake (75)  3. B.Akehurst (87)

       Slough Town:

1.  C.Horlock   4. L.Beeden  5. D.Bayliss  6. J.Prosper  9. S.Spasov (68) 10. J.Gilbert (85)

12.  L.Chambers-Parillon  14. S.Davies (78)  15. H.Ochieng  18. K.Lucan (68)  23. D.Ogbonna (75)

Subs Used: 19. S. Evans (68)  22. F.Amatey (68) 7. G.Abisogun (75)  16. D.Roth (78)  17. O.Spencer (85)

Subs Not Used:  13. B.Makumbi  24. J.Timberlake

Bookings:  None

Referee:  Mr C.Hathaway

Assistants:  Mr S.Wigington & Mr M.Elhalawany

Fourth Official: Mr R.Campbell

Att: 702

Images courtesy of Chatham Town