Chatham Town showed their respect to a Hastings United fan who sadly lost their life by raising funds for the Kent, Sussex and Surrey Air Ambulance at the game between the two sides on Tuesday night.
Before the game started there was a minute’s applause for Chris Taylor from Hastings who passed away four days after collapsing at the original game, this showed what Non League Football is all about as the whole crowd joined in and it was free to get in with donations to the Air Ambulance and the other services.
Chatham carried on like Saturday’s game with an easy win against Hastings and moved up the table.
The Chats started the better of the two sides as in the 3rd minute Sam Sene Richardson saw his shot rebound to Freddie Sears whose snapshot was saved by Louis Rogers then five minutes later Jordy Mongoy on the left passed to Sene Richardson on the run and his shot was saved by Rogers.
In the 10th minute a ball crossed into the area came to Sears 15 yards out but his shot went just wide. The game went into a lull for 15 minutes as both sides defended well then in the 27th minute Kasim Aidoo on the left ran into the area and his low cross found Kian Garlinge who knocked in to the net.
In the 34th and 35th minute Chatham had a couple of chances first when John Ufuah on the left cut in and his 20 yard shot went past the post and then a ball into the area saw Garlinge 10 yards out shoot wide.
The half time whistle went and like Saturday the Chatham supporters were wondering if they would draw or lose this game as they had been in total command and the team talks from both managers would be vital.
The second half started and the Chatham supporters did not need to worry as they continued in the same vein as the first, in the 53rd minute a corner into the area was met by Simon Cooper’s head but it went over the bar then 8 minutes later Chatham doubled their lead when Ufuah on the left got to the by-line and beat Rogers to it and his low cross was bundled in by Sears.
In the 74th minute it should have been three when Reece Butler and Ufuah combined and his low cross found Lewis Chambers whose shot was saved by Rogers but Ufuah pounced on it and from an acute angle Rogers blocked the shot.
With time running out could Chatham keep a clean sheet and in the 7th minute of added on time they had to thank Henry Molyneux for this as he made an amazing save when the ball was bouncing around the area and eventually fell at Davide Rodari’s feet 6 yards out on his own and his shot was saved.
The final whistle went and another three points with another very good performance.
CHATHAM TOWN:
- H.MOLYNEUX 2. H.WEBSTER 3. K.AIDOO (90) 4. J.ROBINS 5. R.BUTLER 10. F.SEARS (69) 12. K.GARLINGE (64) 14. S.SENE RICHARDSON (81) 15. S.COOPER 17. J.MOGOY (78) 20. J.UFUAH.
SUBS USED: 18. L.CHAMBERS (64) 9. R.LIBURD (69) 7. K.ISIAKA (78) 19. T.BRYAN (81, DEBUT) 16. D.ROMER (90)
SUBS NOT USED: ALL USED
BOOKINGS: 4. J.ROBINS (45+2)
HASTINGS UNITED:
1. L.ROGERS 2. A.KPAKPE 3. G.WALKER 4. T.DOGAN (45) 5. T.PERKINS 6. O.BLACK 7. D.RODARI 8. B.WELLS 9. R.GRANT 10. S.LIGENDZA 11. F.CHAPMAN (65)
SUBS USED: 12. A.LOVATT (45) 16. R.POWELL-DOWNEY (65)
SUBS NOT USED: 14. T.HOWARD 15. F.LEGG 17. J.LUBANGA
BOOKINGS: 9. R. GRANT (47) 10. S. LIGENDZA (68)
REFEREE: Mr D.DAVID
ASSISTANTS: Mr G.FARRINGTON AND Mr P.AGYEI-TABI
ATTENDANCE: 1175