Chatham Town kept up their play-off ambitions with an emphatic victory over struggling Bowers & Pitsea without having to get out of second gear.

The Chats nearly got off to a great start in the third minute when a ball across the area found John Ufuah on the back post and his stretched shot went just past the post.

Four minutes later they did score when Miguel Scarlett won a tackle, and the ball went forward for Ufuah who latched on to it beat the defender and from 15 yards shot past David Hughes.

In the 15^th minute Bowers had their best chance to score when T Q Addy put Liam Jones in the area where Joe Wright came out and blocked his shot. In the 19^th minute they had another half chance when a ball into the area found Alex Teniola who turned and shot at the same time, but Wright saved easily.

In the 27^th minute Chatham doubled their lead when Jack Evans’ long ball forward saw Dextor Peter’s weak header back to Hughes, and Rowan Libard latched onto it and lob Wright from 18 yards.

Three minutes later it could have been three when a corner into the area was cleared but only to Vaickx Fernandes who saw his 20-yard shot which was goal wards bound but was deflected over the bar by his own player Libard.

Chatham did get their third in the first minute of added on time when Evans free kick evaded everyone except Simon Cooper on the back post and from three yards unopposed, he shot home.

The second half was only a minute old when Chatham nearly scored their fourth when a ball into the area was cleared but only to Evans and from 18 yards his volleyed shot went just past the post.

In the 56^th minute Alfie Evans nearly got a goal back when his 20-yard shot was pushed away by Wright, who gathered it at the second attempt.

Another chance came Chatham’s way in the 62^nd minute a pass into the area was half cleared to Libard but from 18 yards his shot went over the bar then against the run of play and probably Chatham relaxing Bowers scored in the 70^th minute when a corner into the area saw the ball bounce about the six-yard area before Teniola stabbed in from three yards.

Two minutes later Chatham nearly got their fourth when Ufuah on the left got to the by-line before passing into the path of Evans but again Hughes saved this time with his legs.

In the 83^rd minute Kareem Isiaka won possesion 40 yards out and raced forward into the area, but his shot went wide. The last chance of the game came in the second minute of added on time when Kasim Aidoo & Jordy Mongoy combined on the left wing, the ball ended up at Evans feet and his shot from an acute angle went just wide.

The final whistle went and the fans and players celebrated another victory but the games come thick and fast for the Chats,  Dartford are their next opponents on Wednesday which should be a cracker as both sides are in good form.

        Chatham Town:

1. J.Wright        2. M.Scarlett  3. K.Aidoo   4. J.Robins  8. J.Evans (90+2)   9. R.Libard (65)

15.  S.Cooper    16. K.Isiaka (85)  18. K. Anokye Boadi  19. V.Fernandes  20. J.Ufiah (74)

Subs Used: 14. S.Sene Richardson (65)  17. J.Mongoy (74)  10. F.Sears (85)  12. K.Garlinge (90+2)

Subs Not Used:  7. S.O’keefe

Bookings:  2. M.Scarlett (76)  4. J.Robins (88)

        Bowers & Pitsea:

1. D.Hughes     2. J.Halsey   3. A.Johnson  5. D.Peter  7. L.Jones (45)  8. R.Gordon 

9.   A.Teniola (78)   14. G.Okonkwo (45)  16. A.Evans  18. M.Toussaint (78)  20. Tq.Addy

Subs Used: 15. L.Reeve (45) 17. A.Lapacinskas (45, 89) 6. B.Prempeh (78) 19. J.Elongo (78) 4. L.Chambers (89) 

Subs Not Used: None All Used

Bookings: None

Referee: Mr K. Dempster

Assistants: Mr C. Cannon & Mr B. Beard

Att: 2011

Images courtesy of Chatham Town FC