The honeymoon period is over for new Chatham Manager Paul Piggott as he saw his side lose badly to Walton Casuals and he now knows if he didn’t already that this is going to be one hell of a battle to get them out of the relegation places.

The game started well for Chatham as in the second minute some nice passing down the left side put Luke Medley in and from an acute angle forced Denzel Gerrar to save at his near post.

Walton took some time to get going and in the 15^th minute they had their first half chance when Jack Sammoutis 20 yards out fired his shot just past the post. A minute later Chatham took the lead when Ryan Flack on the edge of the area twisting and turning passed into the area for Medley who controlled it, turned back and from 8 yards shot home.

Two minutes later it was nearly two when Ricky Freeman collected a cross from Austin Edwards and from 15 yards his goal bound shot was tipped over the bar for a corner. Walton suddenly flicked a switch as they dominated possession right up to half time and had a few chances to equalise.

In the 25^th minute a corner was half cleared to Sol Pinnock who from 25 yards out shot first time forcing Alex Hyde to save it conceding a corner and from the resulting corner the ball was bouncing around until it came to Roscoe D’Sane and from 6 yards Hyde save his effort. In the 33^rd minute Sammoutis tried his luck from 25 yards but Hyde was able to save easily. In a rare Chatham attack they nearly doubled their lead when a free kick 30 yards out by Freeman forced Gerrar to save at the 2^nd attempt.

The best chance of the half for Walton came in the 39^th minute when D’Sane chasing the ball beat Hyde to it and passed square to Malachi Hudson who from 10 yards blazed over an open goal. In the 42^nd minute Medley on the left crossed to the far post for Flack but his volley shot went past the post.

The last chance off the half came in the 44^th minute when Hudson went in the area and shot forcing Hyde to save it before being cleared. The half time whistle went and the Chatham Manager would have been pleased but could see the danger signs while the Casuals Manager must have been concerned why his team were not level or even in front.

The second half was only three minutes old when Casuals had their first chance when Jordan Cheadle saw his free kick from 20 yards curl round the wall but over the post, danger signs for Chatham, but two minutes later Medley in the area turned quickly saw his shot from 6 yards saved.

The rest of the game saw Casuals have most of the possession and chances. In the 62^nd minute D’Sane latched onto a long ball cut inside and shot forcing Hyde to save. Two minutes later it was level when a ball forward caught the Chatham defence out and D’Sane running forward lobbed the onrushing Hyde from 15 yards.

In the 69^th minute Hudson running forward saw his shot from 20 yards go over the bar.  A minute later Casual’s were in front when the ball in the area found Gabriel Odunaike and from 10 yards his shot found the back of the net.

Chatham were stunned by this but the difference from 4 weeks ago is they kept going even though Casual’s would score another two. In the 80^th minute Hyde’s rushed clearance went straight to Luke Holness who from 30 yards controlled it and then shot past Hyde. In the next minute it was nearly four as Holness clear in the area saw his shot saved by Hyde for a corner and from the resulting corner to the back post D’Sane saw his header cleared off the line by Abdul Lyoubi.

In the 85^th minute in a rare Chatham attack substitute Enoch Adejei on the right crossed to the back post where Freeman was and his shot was saved and cleared. In the 86^th minute it was four when the ball in the area found D’Sane and he squared the ball for Holness who from 8 yards stroked the ball home.

Casuals were fortunate to be three goals clear as in the 89^th minute Rhys Paul was sent off for a wild tackle although most people thought it could have been yellow. The final whistle went and it will be back to the drawing board for Paul Piggott whilst Casuals continued their fine run and stay in touch of the play-offs.

Chatham Town:

1. Hyde 2. F.Rogers   3. A.Lyoubi  4. O.Price (66)  5. E.Okosieme  6. J.Difford (45)  7. R.Flack  8. T.Michelson
2. R.Freeman 10. L.Medley (66)  11. A.Edwards

Subs Used: 16. J.Barnes (45)  12. E.Adejei (66)  14. J.Bray (66)

Subs Not Used:  15. K.Lightfoot  17. S.Stace

Bookings: 1. A.Hyde (45)  3. A.Lyoubi (66)  9. R.Freeman (66)

Walton Casuals:

1. Gerrar 2. D.Ogun  3. S.Pinnock (90+2)  4.  D.Coleman  5. R.Paul  6. J.Cheadle  7. G.Odunaike
2. J.Sammoutis 9. R.D’sane  10. L.Holness (90+3)  11. M.Hudson

Subs Used:  12. D.Choules (90+2)  14. S.Bello-Ballagun (90+3)

Subs Not Used: 17. J.Brace

Bookings: 6. J.Cheadle (45)  4. D.Coleman (74)

Sent Off: 5. R.Paul (89)

Referee: Mr P.Killip

Assistants: Mr C.Kissi  & Mr M.Begley

Att 102