Chatham Town moved up to second in the table after this hard fought victory over their Sussex rivals Littlehampton Town.

The visitors were on an unbeaten run of three games & probably deserved at least a point but what is they say even if you are not playing well but picking up three points shows what a good team you are & Chatham are proving this.

The game saw Littlehampton start on the front foot & in the 7th minute Scott Faber 20 yards out tried his luck & Ben Bridle-Card tipped it over the bar & from the resulting corner which was half cleared was knocked back into the mix forcing Reece Butler to head off the line.

In the 13th minute Littlehampton nearly scored a bizarre goal when Dean Beckwith’s back pass forced Bridle-Card to kick clear but his clearance hit George Gaskin & went just past the post.

Three minutes later Jordan Clack saw his free kick from just outside the area deflect for a corner. At this moment Chatham were playing second fiddle. In the 21st minute Chatham finally had their first half chance when Jack Evans cross to the back post found Emmanual Oloyede but his header went just past the post.

Three minutes later Chatham had another chance when a free kick into the area was half cleared to Seidou Sanogo & his first time effort from 20 yards went past the post.

In the 34th minute a long ball forward saw Oloyede flick on for Dan Bradshaw who ran on into the area but just as he was about to shoot a challenge came in forcing a corner.

The last half chance of the half came in the 39th minute when Faber picking up a loose ball saw his 25 yard shot go just over the bar.

The half time whistle went & Chatham would be extremely happy to be level at half time as they had been outplayed for a lot of the half by Littlehampton.

The second half saw Littlehampton carry on where they left off & in the 52nd minute Gaskin on the right saw his shot parried away by Bridle-Card.

After a while Chatham started to get into the game & the introduction of Jordi Robbins helped this. In the 78th minute Chatham opened the scoring when Robins passed out wide to Ike Orji who then crossed to the near post for Bradshaw who side footed in from 5 yards.

Littlehampton were distraught as they had looked the more likely to score but that is football & in the 84th minute Evans saw his 30 yard pile driver parried away by James Binfield.

The final whistle went after an extra 6 minutes were played ( may be the referee thought he was at the World Cup ) all the players & supporters of Chatham were celebrating.

CHATHAM TOWN: 1. B.BRIDLE-CARD 2. I.ORJI 5. R.BUTLER 6. D.BECKWITH 7. C.PECK (32) 8. J.EVANS 9. D.BRADSHAW 10. E.OLOYEDE (49) 11. F.SARAIVE 17. S.SANOGO 18. M.BODKIN (69)

SUBS USED: 19. P.DOMAFRIYIE (32) 12. J.TAYLOR (49) 4. J.ROBINS (69)

SUBS NOT USED; 14. D.KEDWELL 20 J.GILBERT

BOOKINGS: 2. I.ORJI (43)

LITTLEHAMPTON TOWN: 1. J.BINFIELD 2. C.HEATH (87) 3. D.JARVIS 4. S.FABER (80) 5. J.CLACK 6. M.BALL 7. L.PATTENDEN 8. S.PACKER (74) 9. G.GASKIN 10. J.BENN 11. J.SHORT

SUBS USED:16. S.KIRKWOOD (74) 15. T.ROHILLA 14. L.JENKINS (87)

SUBS NOT USED: 12. L.HENDY 17. T.ANDALL-GIBBONS

BOOKINGS; 6. M.BALL (26)

REFEREE: Mr M.BUTCHER

ASSISTANTS: Mr D.BAINES & Mr L.WOOLF

ATTENDANCE: 648