Chatham Town’s defence of the Velocity Cup continued with a comfortable 2-0 win over Burgess Hill Town as the holders won through to the competition’s last eight.
Two second half goals from Kareem Isiaka sent Kevin Hake’s much changed side into the next round as the South East division Play Off hunters offered little to challenge the passage in front of a jolly Bauvill crowd.
After an opening half that saw both much changed sides struggle to get going and as a spectacle the game wasn’t great – the home side huffed and puffed but didn’t really threaten returning keeper Slav Huk who spent a spell at the Bauvill last season, whilst the current incumbent Joe Wright was troubled just once but easily dealt with Burgess Hill’s best moment which came late in the half.
The second period began with the home scoring within five minutes of the restart as Isiaka was the right man in the right place to beat Huk after super work from John Ufuah.
Stand in skipper Stuart O’Keefe went close with a rising effort before Jordy Mongoy was denied by a terrific block as he latched onto a ball into the box as the half meandered along.
The visitors didn’t really up the tempo despite the last eight place being up for grabs as Wright continued towards possibly the most comfortable clean sheet of the season. And even when the Chats goal did look threatened on a rare occasion, Marcus Allen thumped a shot into the crowd.
Huk saved well late on from both the impressive and hard-working Sam Sene-Richardson and Mongoy before deep into stoppage time Isiaka burst through almost unopposed and cleverly beat Huk to give the scoreline a much more deservedly convincing feel to the game that won’t live too long in the memory as the Chats’ Trophy defence continued apace so comfortably it really did feel like Christmas!
CHATHAM TOWN – Wright, Romer, Aidoo, Robins (Garlinge), Nelson, O’Keefe, Richardson, Isiaka, Mongoy, Boadi, Ufuah (Burgess)
Subs – Evans, Sears, Simon Cooper
BURGESS HILL TOWN – Huk, Morrison, Price, Allen, Malins (Nathan Cooper), Lawson (Hoffman), O’Neill, Ward (Perry), Pope, Maryon (Chalaye), Davies
REFEREE – Mr Indyk