With games falling foul of the weather left right and centre today, Chatham Town registered their first win of 2025 and in doing so kept their play-off hopes alive with a hard-fought win over Wingate & Finchley this afternoon.

It was another memorable day of forward Freddie Sears as he netted his second hat trick of the season, with a goal in the first half and two in the second.

The game started with Wingate on the attack and in the third minute Toby Byron 20 yards out saw his effort pushed around the post by Joe Wright.

Chatham finally got into the game and in the 12^th minute a long throw into the area by Lewis Chambers saw the ball bounce around and then Jack Evans saw his shot blocked on the line and cleared.

Wingate took the lead in the 15^th minute when Jaiden Drakes-Thomas was found in the area, and he shot past Wright. Four minutes later John Ufuah’s low cross found Simon Cooper but from ten yards his shot went wide.

A minute later and Chatham were level when Jamie Yila blocked a pass that went to Sears in the area, and he coolly slotted home from ten yards.  

In the 31^st minute Chatham nearly took the lead when another long throw into the area by Lewis Chambers found Sears and his volley went just over the bar.

In the 38^th minute it was Wingate who nearly took the lead when Zac Newton five yards out saw his shot pushed away by Wright and cleared.

In the second minute of added on time Ufuah latched onto a long ball and went into the area but his shot went across the goal with no one there to knock it into the net.

The second half was only seconds old when the Chats went ahead, Sears fed Ufuah on the right and his first time cross to the near post was flicked in by Sears.

Wingate were still in the game and in the 60^th minute they nearly equalised when a corner into the area was headed goal wards by Ryan Lowe but it went just over the bar.

Chatham were hanging on to their lead but in the 73^rd minute they made sure of the points with a carbon copy of the second as Sears again fed Ufuah on the right and his first time low cross to the near post was again flicked in by Sears for his hat trick.

Four minutes later Wright saved Chatham when he pushed Ayo Tanimowo’s free kick around the post another chance came Wingate’s way in the 88^th minute when Tanimowo’s low cross to the near post saw Ben Frempan’s shot from five yards saved by Wright. 

The final whistle went and you could feel the relief of the Chatham faithful and now they have the potential to go on another long unbeaten run.

        Chatham Town:

1. J.Wright      3.  A. Jambang (Debut)  5. V.Fernandes  6. S.Nelson 8 .J.Evans  10. F.Sears (75)

11.  J.Yila (87)  12. K.Garlinge (90+2) 14. L.Chambers (60) 15. S.Cooper  20 . J.Ufuah

Subs Used:  17. J.Chambersa (60, Debut) 16. K.Isiaka (75)  18. K.Anokye-Boadi (83)  19. J.Christmas (90+2)

Subs Not Used:  4.J.Robins

Bookings: 3. A.Jambang (70)  5. V.Fernandes (75)

        Wingate & Finchley:

1. C.Grainger      2. W.Cracknell  3. T.Byron 4. A.Iontton (64)  5. B.Frempah  6. R.Lowe (76)

7.   A.Tanimowo  8. J.Drakes-Thomas  9.O.Obi (64) 10 Z.Newton  11. L.Hernandez (64)

Subs Used:  14. C.Keller (64)  16. A.Georgiou (64)  17. C.Restrepo (64)  12. B.Watt (76)

Subs Not Used: 15. R.Garrett-Douglas

Bookings:  None

Referee: Mr P.Stratton

Assistants: Mr M.Bush  And Mr D.Kempson

Att: 1287

Images courtesy of Chatham Town FC