Two first half goals were enough for Ryman League Division One North Chatham Town to comfortably defeat a poor AFC Hayes side and advance to the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy.

Brad Potter’s 22nd minute header from a well-worked corner routine gave the Chats a deserved lead, and Kalvin Morath-Gibbs’ adventurous break was rewarded with the decisive second seven minutes before half-time to seal the game.

Normally, with a massive game – next week’s FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round tie against St Albans City – on the horizon, players often have their eyes and minds on the big prize rather than the team in front of them.  But Chatham, after a poor performance in their 2-2 draw against Romford midweek, bounced back in style to dominate their Calor Southern League Division One Central opponents.

Manager Kevin Watson explained, “I didn’t think we started too well, but once we got a foothold in the game, it was a comprehensive performance. One of our faults over the last couple of seasons is that we haven’t been consistent, but defensively we were solid and I thought we showed a real desire and will to win.”

“This was a big game as I feel we have a real chance to progress further in this competition.  To a certain extent, every game is a big game at the moment; we want to do much better in the league, we’re still playing in the cups, and especially after several disappointing aspects on Wednesday I was delighted with the attitude.”

“Greg’s (Benbow) deliveries from set pieces are very good, but several set pieces were good today and this is something we’ve really worked on. Games are won and lost in both boxes and we were really on our toes today.”

Chatham were always at their most dangerous against AFC Hayes when playing with a high tempo passing game, utilising the pace of Alfie May especially to support skipper Austin Gacheru, but it took the home side 10-15 minutes to settle into this game.  AFC Hayes created the first chance that saw Lawrie Shennan execute a deft turn on the edge of the Chatham box, but the Hayes’ forward dragged his effort wide.

This was to be a story of the afternoon for the visitors as there was rarely a quality into the danger area, which meant Hayes were reduced to speculative efforts from distance.  Although things could have been different had Brad Potter not been well placed to clear off the line from Shennan.  The chance came after Lee Hales had fired wide at the other end, with Romayne Thomas finding space on the left wing.  Thomas’ deep cross was met by Shennan at the back post, whose header down beat Jack Bradshaw, but Potter somehow used his knee to divert the ball over the bar.

Potter, who was outstanding at the heart of the Chatham defence, was also key to Chatham taking the lead.  Having moved back into a central defensive position due to Corey Holder’s horrific injury on Wednesday that left Holder hospitalised after an emergency splenectomy, Potter’s movement in the Hayes area meant he was left unmarked at the back post to head Greg Benbow’s whipped corner into the net.

Chatham doubled their lead seven minutes before the break, counter-attacking from an AFC Hayes corner.  Gacheru held off his marker on the halfway line to release Alfie May on the right wing.  Right fullback Kalvin Morath-Gibbs, who had made a lung-bursting 80-yard sprint to catch up the attack, met May’s low cross, only to see Ben Goode pull off a wonderful save.  The ball rebounded to Gacheru, whose stabbed effort was also blocked by Goode, but this time the rebound fell back to Morath-Gibbs who was able to steer his shot beyond the prone goalkeeper.

With Chatham’s set pieces causing problems in a defence that collectively was taller and more physical than the home side, it seemed like a third may be on the cards, and Gacheru steered a header wide in the opening moments of the second half, after good work from Lee Hales.

Charlie McKey had a weak overhead effort saved by Bradshaw, enjoying one of his quietest games in the Chatham goal, and the keeper quickly released Gacheru on the counter attack.  Gacheru played in Kieran McCann, who found Alfie May inside the area, but May’s shot was well parried by Goode.

Hales fired a shot over from 12 yards as the game disintegrated with a series of niggly fouls from both sides, although Hayes’ tactic of throwing body after body forward seemed to disrupt their approach.  Chatham were happy to sit back on their lead and could have had a third in stoppage time as they picked the visitors off on the counter.  First, McCann blazed over after good work from Benbow, then Andy Constable’s deft clip over Goode seemed destined for the net, only to take a unfortunate bounce onto the left hand upright.

So Chatham can look forward to Monday’s draw to see who they will be playing in two week’s time, and now concentrate on their massive FA Cup match against St Albans City next Saturday.

CHATHAM TOWN: Jack Bradshaw, Kalvin Morath-Gibbs, Greg Benbow, Matt Solly, Brad Potter, Drew Crush, Lee Hales, Luke May (James Alderman 55), Austin Gacheru © (Andy Constable 71), Alfie May (Liam Hickey 66), Kieran McCann.

Subs not used: Billy Bennett, Taylor McDonagh.

Goals: Brad Potter 22, Kalvin Morath-Gibbs 38.

Bookings: Austin Gacheru 4, Luke May 51, Liam Hickey 89.

AFC HAYES: Ben Goode, Jerome Eccleston, Charlie Crane, Dan Bailey, Charlie Goode, James Walters (Paul Underwood 55), Lee McManus (Tashan Jordan 55), Jake Cass, Lawrie Shennan, Charlie McKey, Romayne Thomas (Michael Vincent 75).

Subs not used: Steve Loveridge, Jamie Watkinson.

Booking: James Walters 45.

Attendance: 109
Referee: Mr Thomas Ramsey (Chelsmford)
Assistants: Mr Richard Carter (Loughton) and Mr Dean Skipper (Rainham)