It was the traditional game of two halves for Chatham Town this afternoon, they could have had the game all but won at by half time, and by the end of ninety minutes, they will have been happy with a draw.
The game started well for Chatham as in the third minute they took the lead when Jamie Yila was put through into the area turned and saw his shot parried away by Luke Campbell but straight to Rowen Libard who headed into the net.
Three minutes later a corner was half cleared and was played back into the area where Yila acrobatically saw his back flick go just over the bar.
Hendon were unlucky not to equalise in the 13th minute when Kurtis Cumberbatch’s free kick was deflected by a Chatham defender and looped over Brad House, it came back of the bar and Sid Nelson headed out for a corner.
Chatham were now creating chances at will and in the 19th minute Sam Sene-Richardson was found in the area, but his weak shot went past the post.
In the 26th minute Freddie Sears tried his luck from 25 yards and Campbell saved it at the second attempt. In the 43rd minute Sears did score to double Chatham’s lead when 25 yards out he received the ball, and this time beat Campbell.
It could have been worse for Hendon as in the second minute of added on time Chatham could have trebled their lead when Sene-Richardson on the right saw his low cross into the area find Libard but under pressure he flicked it over the bar. Half time arrived & Chatham deserved their lead while Hendon needed to up their game if they were going to get anything out of this game.
The second half was noneventful for the first 17 minutes as both teams cancelled each other out then in the 68th minute Excellence Muhemba ran into the area and was fouled by Yila, a penalty was given a lifeline for Hendon, up stepped Joe White and he shot into the bottom right-hand corner the whole game changed on this.
In the 73rd minute a corner into the area found Sam Adenola on his own but he headed wide. Two minutes later and they did equalise when Hamza Bin-Semakula on the right saw his low cross bundled in from three yards by Muhemba, now could Hendon go on to win.
In the 81st minute Tarik Gidaree fouled Kasim Aidoo in the area and a penalty was given, up stepped Yila to maybe win the game but as he stuttered up to the ball his shot to the left was pushed away by Campbell.
The excitement of the game came to a boil in the 83rd minute when Stuart O’Keefe was fouled close to halfway by Niko Muir, then most of the players joined in a melee, eventually when everything had calmed down the referee Jake Woodman with consultation with his assistants sent Muir and Bradley Sach off and booked Kevin Hake the Chatham manager.
It got worse for Chatham as in the 88th minute Sid Nelson seemed to be fouled and a free kick was given in his favour, but he remonstrated with the referee, he was booked and as it was his second yellow card, he received his marching orders.
The last few minutes saw both sides try for a winner but to no avail, they both had to settle for a point apiece, Chatham are not finding life this season as easy as last, but it is early, and they could go on another winning run and climb up the table.
Chatham Town:
- B.House 3. B.Akehurst 4. J.Robins (90) 6. S.Nelson 7. S.O’keefe 8. J.Evans
11. J.Yila 14. S.Sene-Richardson 17. R.Libard (50) 18. F.Sears (50) 20. M.Statham
Subs Used: 12. K.Aidoo (45) 9. B.Sach (50) 16. C.Naylor (90)
Subs Not Used: 2. E.Anthony 19. K.Garlinge
Bookings: 1. B.House (74) 6. S.Nelson (74, 88) 4. J.Robins (78) K.Hake (88)
Sent Off: 9. B.Sach (83) S Nelson (Two Bookings)
Hendon:
- L.Campbell 2. T.Gidaree 3. S.Adenola 4. B.Riley-Snow 5. E.Light 6. F.Sole (60)
7. E.Muhemba 8. K.Cumberbatch 9. J.White 10. N.Muir 11. K.Omoko Brosnan (74)
Subs Used: 15. H.Bin-Semakula (60) 17. S.Lucien (74)
Subs Not Used: 12. R.Mfinda 14. B.Aman 16. B.Busari
Bookings: 4. B.Riley-Snow (44) 2. T.Gidaree (80) 3. S.Adenola (90+5)
Sent Off: 10 N.Muir (83)
Referee: Mr J.Woodman
Assistants: Mr J.Black & Mr F.Young
Att: 1708
Image courtesy of Chatham Town