Two goals either side of half time from top scorer Dan Bradshaw earned Chatham Town three comfortable – if unspectacular – Bank Holiday Monday points against K Sports at the Bauvill Stadium.
Bradshaw netted in the 43rd and 56th minutes to take the game away from Barry Morgan’s hard-working side and when Sports full back Greg Smith inadvertently turned Ike Orji’s cross into his own net, the points were staying in Medway as the Chats made it three wins out of four in the League and moved up to fifth in the fledgling table.
With former boss Scott Lindsey watching on from the sides on a day off from his new role as Swindon Town assistant boss, his former charges recovered from Saturday’s heartache at losing a five-goal thriller to Sheppey United with a controlled performance but really should have been behind early on as Max Morgan sprinted clear and coolly lifted the ball over the advancing Henry Newcombe, but sadly for the striker, the lob didn’t drop quickly enough, and the chance was gone.
Morgan and Newcombe then came together trying to reach Kane Butler’s cross but referee Horsford waved away penalty claims. The home side eventually got into their stride and Jordi Robins missed their first chance as he dragged a shot wide after Orji and Bradshaw combined.
The home side then enjoyed a period of pressure where they won a succession of corners without really threatening Charlie Walker’s goal – from one of them, Robins flashed an effort across the face of goal that only needed a touch from a red shirt that didn’t come.
There was though to be a twist just as the first half looked set to end goal-less as Ryan Hayes whipped a ball into the box which Bradshaw brilliantly pulled down, turning in a flash and blasting past a helpless Walker.
Ten minutes after the break, Bradshaw was on hand again – this time he was in the right place at the right time to turn home Orji’s brilliant ball as the overlapping full-back had been well found by Luke Rooney.
Rooney then was just inches too high with an audacious shot from the edge of the centre-circle as Chatham tried to secure the points, but Sports had other ideas as they rallied – Victor Aiyelabola made a surging run into the box and forced Newcombe into a fine low save before substitute Timmy Babbington just couldn’t reach Callum Thomas’ driven cross.
Aiyelabola went close twice more in the next few minutes – firing over after good work between Smith and Babbington and then connected to a Smith cross to send a flying header straight at a relieved Newcombe.
Such fine margins decide football matches and sadly for Smith his afternoon was about to go from bad to worse as Orji’s cross was heading towards Chats sub – Harvey Brown at the back post and as the full back tried to intervene, the ball ended up in the back of the Sports net.
Smith almost redeemed himself with a powerful drive that Newcombe was happy to touch over his bar but that was as close as the Sports came in attempting to reduce the arrears, and in the closing stages, the Chats had the chances to make the score-line even more convincing.
Skipper Jack Evans thumped a free kick against the right post before Rob Brown skied a great chance to mark his home debut with a goal as his shot from, yet another Orji pull back sadly disappeared into the crowd.
CHATHAM TOWN – Newcombe, Orji, Dickens, Robins (Rob Brown), Ajayi, Lawal, Hayes (Bodkin), Evans, Bradshaw, Rooney, Pilbeam (Harvey Brown)
Subs not used – Weston, Stroutts
K SPORTS – Walker, Smith (Marshall), Young, Ikudehinbu, Bray, Amoah, Thomas, Foreman (Ghali), Morgan (Babbington), Butler, Aiyelabola
Subs not used – Cheek, O’Shin
REFEREE – Mr Horsford