The road to Wembley started today for another year and Chatham are still dreaming after overcoming Walton & Hersham, earning themselves £2250 in the process.

The Chats will now play Ramsgate away but at this moment in time and after three wins on the bounce confidence is sky high in the Chatham team.

The game nearly had a great start when Jason Thompson received the ball 20 yards out, his shot went just past the post. In the 10^th minute Thompson on the edge of the area beat two defenders and from 6 yards out his shot was parried away by Craig Bradshaw.

Walton finally got into the game in the 15^th minute a long free kick from Bradshaw was flicked on for Marlon Pinder who went into the area, only to flash his shot across the goal.

The game went a little quiet for a while, then in the 27^th minute Chatham nearly took the lead when Thompson in the thick of the action 12 yards out passed to the feet of Paul Vines, who from 8 yards his shot was deflected away for a corner.

Just a minute later, Walton nearly opened the scoring when a ball poked forward saw Pinder react the fastest and as Ben Nourse came out he toe poked it past him but the shot went just wide.

In the 39^th minute another glorious chance came for Chatham when Thompson’s free kick to the back post came back to Vines 8 yards out, his first time shot was saved by Bradshaw.

On the stroke of half time Chatham did take the lead when Matt Parsons on the overlap saw his cross go under the crossbar forcing Bradshaw to palm clear but only to Vines who from 8 yards hooked in. In the first minute off added on time a shot came in from 25 yards forcing Nourse to push it around the post.

The second half was only a minute old when Dennis Gorman’s cross into the area found Ross Chalke but his header unopposed went over the bar.

In the 48^th minute Walton equalised when Mark Waters on the edge of the area tried his luck, it took a wicked deflection beating Nourse all ends up.

This stunned Chatham and the majority of the crowd but this team are made of sterner stuff, in the 64^th minute they went ahead when Jon Pilbeam on the right wriggled his way to the by-line, his cross to the back post found Vines who on the stretch volleyed in from 6 yards.

Chatham were now in control but Walton did look dangerous on the break. In the 76^th minute Pilbeam passed inside to Jack Mahoney, his shot from 15 yards was deflected for a corner.

The very next minute from the corner Chatham extended their lead when the corner into the area was half cleared, Vines retrieved it and played it back into the area where Reece Butler rose highest and headed in.

In the 81^st minute Vines had the chance to score a hat trick when a corner to the back post fell to him but his shot on the volley went over the bar.

The final whistle went and Chatham deservedly go through to the next round of the FA Cup and will play Ramsgate from the Bostik League South East.

Chatham Town:

1. Nourse 2. R.Bedford  3. M.Parsons   4. B.Davisson   5. T.Mcdonagh   6.  R.Butler
2. T.Fitzgerald (56) 8. J.Thompson (73)   9. P.Vines  10. B.Walker   11. J.Pilbeam (86)

Subs Used: 16. J.Mahoney (56)  14. J.Frey (73)  17. L.Clarke (86)

Subs Not Used:  12. M.Okundalaiye  15. J.Bray  18. M.Hagan  19. B.Francis

Bookings:  3. M.Parsons (7)  6. R.Butler (72)

Walton & Hersham:

1. Bradshaw 2.  D.Gorman   3.  M.Holliday (58)  4. Dre Grobler  5. H.Wise  6. J.Battle (79)
2. M.Waters 8. R.Chalke 9. M.Pinder  10. H.Deacon (79)  11. M.Kamara

Subs Used:  16. W.Allardyce (58)  12. D.Heravi (79)  17. K.Zlocki (79)

Subs Not Used:  14. J.Comer  15. B.Tingle  18. A.Pearson Gk. D.Hill

Bookings:  1. C.Bradshaw (44)

Referee: Mr C.Cooper

Assistants:  Mr S.Nixon  & Mr S.Watson

Att 195