Chatham Town climbed up to third in the table with a hard-earned victory over fellow promotes Whitehawk, but the visitors can feel a little hard done by as they were the better side but as we know in football its results that count.

Whitehawk came out of the blocks the quicker and in the third minute Charlie Lambert saw his 20-yard snapshot go just wide, three minutes later Chatham had their first half chance when home debutant Chris Dickson on the edge of the area turned and shot but Mitchell Walker saved easily.

In the 13^th minute Jack Evans saw his 19-yard free kick saved by Walker at the second attempt. Whitehawk were having more possession and in the 20^th minute a long diagonal ball to the far post found Charlie Walker, his shot was saved at the foot of the post by another home debutant David Aziaya.

Chatham were now relying on breakaways and two minutes later Kris Campbell on the left saw his near post cross headed wide by Danny Kedwell.

This did not seem to faze Whitehawk as they still were the better side but unfortunately their final ball was not that good. Then in the 36^th minute Chatham scored against the run of play when a long ball forward was flicked on by Ben Allen. The ball saw Dickson latch onto it and his low cross from the by-line to the near post was swept home by Simon Cooper. 

The last chance of the first half came in the 42^nd minute when Lambert saw his shot saved by Aziaya.

The second half continued as the first with Whitehawk having more possession but again their final ball was not that good, in the 52^nd minute Jack Dixon tried his luck from 30 yards forcing Aziaya into making a save.

In the very next minute, the ball up to Evans who then passed to Dickson but his shot from 20 yards went over the bar. In the 65^th minute Dixon again tried his luck from 20 yards, but his shot went wide.

Two minutes later Hamish Morrison saw his low cross to the back post find Lambert sliding in, but Aziaya once again made the save. In the 82^nd minute Chatham nearly got their second when good inter play between Evans, Campbell and Joey Taylor enabled Evans in the area to shoot but Mitchell Walker parried the effort away.

The final whistle went, and Chatham had got the points, which shows that they are becoming a good team who can win ugly which hopefully will keep them in the promotion hunt.

       Chatham Town:

1. D.Aziaya ( Home Debut)          2. A.Brefo  3. K.Campbell  4. J.Robins  5. R.Butler  8. J.Evans

9.    D.Kedwell   10. B.Allen (60)  15. S.Cooper   19. E.Allsopp (60)  20. C.Dickson, 74, Home Debut )

Subs Used:  7. A.Nzala (60)  17. S.Sanago (60) 12. J.Taylor (74)

Subs Not Used:  14. T.Fagg  16. K.Isiaka

Bookings:  8. J.Evans (35)  15. S.Cooper (89)  3. K.Campbell (90+2)

       Whitehawk:

1.    M.Walker       2. H.Morrison  3. S.Wright  4. R.Worrall (74)  5. J.Tennent  6. L.Cocoracchio

7.      C.Lambert (84)  8. J.Dixon  9. L.Collins (74)  10. C.Walker  11. J.Daley

Subs Used: 12. D.Johnson-Fisher (74)  14. B.Pope (74)  15. T.Brewer (84)

       Subs Not Used: 16. T.Chalaye  17. S.Harman

       Bookings:  10. C.Walker (35)           

      Referee: Mr R.Murphy

      Assistants:  Mr K.Williamson & Mr W.Horsfall  

      Att: 907