Glebe served notice of the SCEFL title intentions with a stunning first half display that left Chatham Town’s unbeaten home record in tatters and question marks against the Medway side’s own aspirations.

Glebe scored inside the opening thirty seconds and in a sensational first half scored more than Chatham had conceded in keeper Andy Walker’s first eight games for the home side which underlined an amazing forty-five minutes for the Chislehurst side.

Much was hoped of the contest, but few would have thought we would witness the opening half that we saw at the Bauvill Stadium. The tone was set inside the opening thirty seconds as almost from kick off the visitors became the first team in four games to score against Chatham when Aaron Watson cut in from the left to fire past Walker, who appeared to be beaten by an unfortunate flick off a defender.

League top scorer Jamie Philpott very nearly doubled the lead with a fierce volley that didn’t miss by much before George Kamurasi pulled off a smart save to deny Chats skipper Jack Evans at his near post. It proved to be just a sighter for the midfielder as shortly after he arrowed a superb strike through the keeper’s hands to level the score with his eleventh goal of the season.

Shortly after, Dan Bradshaw showed why he is one of the top scorers in the SCEFL Premier as he brilliantly got on the end of Ryan Hayes’ teasing cross to bury a header past Kamurasi into the bottom corner for what proved to be Chatham’s only lead of the day – albeit a lead that lasted only eight minutes as Sol Baugh drilled a magnificent free kick beyond the keeper’s reach and into the bottom corner of the net.

Philpott then came into his own as he put Glebe in front again with just twenty-two minutes on the clock. The striker took advantage of a misplaced pass to race clear and as Walker came out, the pair collided and referee Rathe had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and booked the Chats stopper. Philpott dusted himself down and drilled home his sixteenth League goal of the season as he deposited to ball into the bottom corner.

Midway through the first half and five goals – this really was a terrific advert for SCEFL football and one that would ebb and flow superbly for the rest of the game.

Kamurasi pulled off a brilliant full length save to keep out a Hayes free kick whilst Walker came to the home side’s rescue after Philpott was again denied at the back post after the move of the half involving Ryan King and Ainsley Everett, before Glebe did get the two-goal lead that their opening first half deserved.

Defender Tommy Smith had just been treated for a head injury before play was allowed to continue as the home side made a poor clearance and Watson was allowed too much time as he curled an absolute beauty past the exposed Walker and into the bottom corner.

After a six-goal opening half, how many more goals would the 582 crowd be treated to? The answer was none, but the second half was no less entertaining as both sides had – and missed – chances.

There were early home appeals for a second penalty as Ike Orji’s great run seemed to be halted abruptly, but this time Mr Rathe waved away the appeals. At the other end, Baugh was denied his second by a brave Walker block as the Glebe man had been brilliantly played in as the visitors were happy to sit back to defend their lead using many of the tricks in the book along the way as they really did superbly well to halt wave after wave of red attacks.

Hayes switched from left to right after the substitution of Orji and almost immediately sent over a teasing cross that was only fractionally too high for Bradshaw. That was followed by an almighty scramble in the Glebe box – Hayes shot was blocked by a defender, Kamurasi then blocked Jordi Robins’ follow up before the rebound was deflected and the ball looped apologetically inches too high.

Substitute Matt Bodkin was next to test the Glebe keeper who did well to hold onto the winger’s effort before Chatham were denied the chance of the grandstand finish that the game well and truly deserved – Hayes’ latest set piece delivery was volleyed goalwards by Christian Lawal and only the frame of the goal denied the defender.

There was even still time for an unmarked Evans to head a Hayes corner straight at Kamurasi but that was to prove the home side’s final chance as shortly afterwards, referee Rathe – who it must be said handled a potentially explosive contest magnificently – ended a really absorbing and fascinating contest.

The two sides started the day in third and fourth place in the table, but these three points takes Harry Hudson’s side into outright second place in the table behind Sheppey United whilst for Chatham’s management duo of Kevin Hake and Carl Laraman it really was a Halloween horror show leaving them with more questions than answers…

CHATHAM TOWN – Walker, Ajayi, Danny Smith, Robins, Lawal, Tommy Smith, Hayes, Evans, Bradshaw, Palmby, Orji (Bodkin)

Subs – Sheminant, Pilbeam, Maher, Richards

GLEBE – Kamurasi, Olorunnisomo, Parsons, Wilson (Lawrence), Morath-Gibbs, Douglas, Baugh, Everitt, Philpott, King, Watson (Wedgeworth)

Subs – Shoderu, Cain, Rose

REFEREE – Mr Rathe

Attendance: 582

Picture supplied by Matt White.