This game was between the two best form teams in the Division & Chatham carried on their great form as they racked up their sixth game undefeated.

Chatham completed the double over their Essex opponents & the game started well for Chatham as in the 2^nd minute a cross into the area found Ade Yusuff but his header went over the bar, and then Maldon had their first chance in the 7^th minute when Jack Stevenson’s free kick from twenty yards curled round the wall & just past the post.

The game went into a lull as both sides cancelled each other out & then in the 22^nd minute a long throw from Junior Appiah found Leon McKenzie but his back header was saved by Jack Bradshaw, a minute later a short corner by Matt Solly to Kieron McCann who from the angle of the penalty area fired his shot just over the bar.

In the 28^th minute a long ball forward by Solly for Yusuff who controlled it in the area changed direction & was fouled & a penalty was given, Yusuff jumped up & took the penalty but his shot into the left hand corner was superbly parried away by Jack Giddens.

Three minutes later Bradshaw’s long kick was flicked on by Austin Gacheru for Yuseff & his snap shot was saved by Giddens.

Maldon had been on the defensive for quite a while so when in the 37^th minute they had a glorious chance to take the lead they fluffed their lines when a free kick into the area saw the ball bounce around before coming out to Spencer Harrison but his shot from eight yards was deflected for a corner when it looked as if he could get his shot away & on target.

The last chance of the half went Chatham’s way when in the 41^st minute Solly’s cross from the left to the back post was half cleared to Kalvin Morath-Gibbs eighteen yards out but his shot went over the bar.

Half time arrived & both managers had work to do but Kevin Watson was probably the happier of the two.

The second half took a while to get going & then in the 51^st minute Chatham nearly scored when a corner was cleared & Morath-Gibbs hooked the ball back into the area where the ball deflected to Liam Hickey six yards out onside but his stretched shot went wide, a minute later Chatham had their second penalty when a ball into the area saw Yuseff manhandled by Harrison & a penalty was given this time Solly took the responsibility & shot into the bottom left hand corner with Giddens diving the other way.

Three minutes later the lead could have doubled when another short corner by Solly to McCann who passed it back to Solly & his low cross into the area found Yuseff in space but from ten yards he blazed his shot over the bar.

In the 63^rd minute Maldon had their first chance of the half when a long throw by Appiah into the area was half cleared but only to Stevenson whose volley shot went just past the post.

Another chance came in the 70^th minute when Giddens long clearance found McKenzie who headed on for Ryan Wade but he volleyed over the bar.

Chatham took control of the game & had a few half chances to win the game, in the 71^st minute Solly to Lee Hales who got to the by-line but his low cross evaded everyone, then three minutes later Hales crossed into the area for Gacheru but from eight yards unopposed headed wide.

In the 79^th minute McKenzie was put through on goal but Bradshaw came out & blocked his shot. In the 82^nd minute Chatham thought they had gone two up when a corner to the near post found Gacheru whose header was cleared of the line, with time running out the last chance of the game came in the 87^th minute when a ball into Chatham’s area saw a couple of shots blocked & the ball came out to Ollie Berquez whose shot from eighteen yards through a crowd of players was saved by Bradshaw.

The final whistle went & Chatham’s great end of season run continues.

CHATHAM TOWN:

1. J.BRADSHAW  2. K.MORATH-GIBBS  3. G.BENBOW  4. M.SOLLY  5. L.HICKEY  6. L.KNIGHT  7. G.MONGER (63)

8. C.HOLDER  9. A.GACHERU (83)  10. A.YUSUFF  11. K.McCANN

SUBS USED: 12. L.HALES (63)  15. J.LAWRENCE (83)

SUBS NOT USED: 14. T.McDONOUGH  16. K.WATSON  17. L.KIDMAN

BOOKINGS: 8. C.HOLDER (57)  12. L.HALES (90+2)

 

MALDON & TIPTREE:

1. J.GIDDENS  2. P.SEYMOUR  3. T.SPILLANE (38)  4. D.JOHNSON  5. M.CRIPPS  6. S.HARRISON (69)  7. J.STEVENSON

8. L.DARK  9. O.BERQUEZ  10. L.McKENZIE  11. J.APPIAH

SUBS USED: 16. M.HUNTER (38)  17. R. WADE (69)

SUBS NOT USED: 12. M.FITZGIBBONS  14. D.SKINNER  15. M.SHAKLY

BOOKINGS: 3. T.SPILLANE (29) 6. S.HARRISON (53)  9. O.BERQUEZ (90+2)

 

REFEREE: Mr S.KAY

ASSISTANTS: Nr T.BURMAN & Mr V.ANEKWE

ATTENDANCE: 131