Chatham Town came out on top of underdogs Bearsted FC after winning 3-1 on Saturday at The Bauvill Stadium but a few mistakes at the back could have caused the game to end in a draw!  

Goals from captain Paul Vines, Pat Geddius and Jack Evans was enough to stop Bearsted but a couple of missed opportunities could’ve changed the game completely.  

Chatham got the game kicked off but Bearsted were the ones to get the first few chances and they also dominated possession for the first 10 minutes. A great run from James Bessey-Saldanha looked to open the scoring as he managed to squeeze and weave his way through the defense, but a great defensive recovery was able to cut him short on the 8^th minute. 

Bearsted’s dominance was then cut short just nine minutes later after a great ball in fell to the head of Paul Vines. Vines was able to direct the ball around keeper Toby Smith’s outstretched arm which then allowed the ball to float into the back of the net. 

Ian Draycott almost had the chance to make it two after a smart free kick. Draycott tried to bend it around the right-hand side of the wall into the bottom right corner but it just couldn’t come off for him as it smashed into the side netting on the 22^nd minute.  

However, thirteen minutes later, The Chats found the back of the net again! A great cross from the left-hand side floated into the area and found Pat Geddis who followed Vines’ technique and headed it home on the 35^th minute.  

Bearsted had the chance to pull one back just a few minutes later when they were awarded a penalty. Bessey-Saldanha stepped up but he couldn’t convert it as a heroic stop from Jordan Carey sent the ball flying away on the 39^th minute.  

Chatham were able to capitalise on this by then taking the ball up the other end. Some lovely passing displayed by Chatham fell to Jack Evans who had a crack from outside the box. This unbelievable effort found the back of the net, giving Chatham a three-goal cushion just before the break.  

Bearsted got us underway for the second half and after six minutes they found the back of the net in a bizarre fashion! There was an altercation in the box which ended up in referee Richard Joss awarding a penalty to Bearsted. Emmanuel Oluwasemo stepped up and converted it on the 51^st minute.  

The game then died out until the 84^th minute when Vines had the chance to make it 4-1 and grab himself a brace! The ball flashed across the box and left Vines with an open goal. Vines looked to smash it home, but he hit it too hard and it ended up hitting the crossbar!  

Chatham Town: Jordan Carey, Ike Orji, George Sheminant, Reece Butler, Justyn Roberts (Mikley Dalton), Pat Geddis, Byron Walker (Matt Bodkin), Jack Evans, Paul Vines (Captain), Ian Draycott and Jon Pilbeam. 

Subs not Used: Fikayo Ajayi, James Jeffrey and Dan Ellis. 

Yellow Cards: Jordan Carey (50^th Minute) and Jack Evans (83^rd Minute).  

Goal Scorers: Paul Vines (19^th Minute), Pat Geddis (35^th Minute) and Jack Evans (42^nd Minute) 

Bearsted FC: Toby Smith, Sam Flisher, Callum McCarthy (Cameron Croucher), Graeme Andrews, Lekan Majoyegbe, Jon Rogers, James Bessey-Saldanha, Ryan Croucher (Captain) (Matt Garner), Emmanuel Oluwasemo, David Baranowski, Nodirbek Bobomurodov (Peter Williams) 

Subs not Used: Josh Beadle and Chester Clothier. 

Yellow Cards: Cameron Croucher (47^th Minute), Jon Rogers (50^th Minute), Sam Flisher (52^nd Minute) and Emmanuel 

Oluwasemo (60^th Minute).  

Red Cards: N/A 

Goal Scorers: N/A  

Referee: Mr R Joss 

Assistants: Mr M Donnelly and Mr S Donnelly 

Attendance: 327