Chatham extended their lead at the top of the Southern Counties East Premier division by three points after a 2-1 win over bottom of the league Punjab United on Tuesday Night.

Chatham started the evening with Chairman Kevin Hake in the Dugout after Manager James Collins had resigned on Monday Evening and inside 6 minutes Hake’s men were in front after a Pat Geddis header was guided in from a wicked corner on the right hand side.

Town were moving the ball quickly on the slick 3G surface and was creating chance after to chance with Ex Gillingham man Jack Evans testing Lee Kidman in the United goal on a couple of occasions but could not extend the league.

Chatham’s failure to put Punjab to bed cost them on 26 minutes when a Free-Kick taken by William Johnson-Cole was initially blocked but it come back out to the front man who managed to roll it into the corner and get the bottom side level on the night.

However United’s defensive frailties showed and on 33 minutes, after a one-two between Paul Vines and Matt Bodkin, the latter was tripped over inside the box and the ref had no option but to point to the spot. Jack Evans then had the job of putting Town back in front and the Ex Gillings man duly obliged.

Punjab never looked like a bottom of the league side throughout the evening and had a massive penalty shout turned down in the second half as united thought Leon Smith had handled the ball when clearing however the man in the middle was not of the same agreement as the management and the players of Punjab.

However, Chatham managed to keep Jindi Banwait’s men at bay and extended their lead at the top by three points, Punjab will take a lot of confidence from the performance on Tuesday Night and will hope to secure their first three points this coming Saturday against Canterbury City.

Chatham Town: Carey, Achuba, Sheminant, Butler (Pilbeam 52’), Smith, Roberts, Bodkin, Evans, Vines, Geddis, Hagan (Walker 70’)

Subs not used: Lee, Wells, Ellis.

Goals: Geddis (5’) , Evans (33’)

Punjab United: Kidman, S.Cuthbert (Gosal 74’), Ratcliff, Adesina, Boora, A.Cuthbert, Badbaghi (Arnold 53’), Majekodunmi, Johnson-Cole, Kasai, Akinwande (Boyd 65’).

Subs not used : Jayabrarathi, Lorraine.

Goals: Johnson-Cole(26’)

Attendance: 189

Referee: Mr Bo Wang

Assistants: Matt Sell & Keith Wenham