Chatham & Sheppey served up a thriller in front of a crowd of 927. In a game that swayed from end to end Chatham just about deserved the win over the 90 minutes.
The game started with Sheppey nearly taking an early lead when in the third minute Danny Leonard cut into the area and his shot from 15 yards was saved by Dan Ellis.
In the very next minute Chatham took the lead when Jon Pilbeam crossed low to the far post where Jack Evans three yards out poked in under pressure.
Seven minutes later it was nearly two, Matt Bodkin’s short corner to Evans saw him turn and shoot but Joshua Pelling saved it at the near post. Chatham were now enjoying the lion’s share of possession and in the 15th minute a corner went across the penalty area and found Ian Draycott but his first time shot was pushed over the bar by Pelling.
Minutes later Sheppey equalised when the ball on the right eventually fell at Leonard’s feet and from 10 yards he beat Ellis.
It wasn’t long before Chatham regained the lead a long ball forward saw Paul Vines flick it on for Draycott to run onto and from 15 yards he shot past Pelling.
Chatham were pegged back again within six minutes. Sloppy play on the edge of their area saw the ball arrive at Leonard’s feet and he shot home.
The second half started with Sheppey having the best chances with some goal bound shots blocked before, in the 56th minute, Greg Benbow’s cross to the back post found Harrison Carnegie unmarked but his header went just wide of the post.
Two minutes later Carnegie tried his luck from 20 yards forcing Ellis to tip over the bar. However despite this pressure it was Chatham who once again took the lead.
On the hour mark slack defending from Sheppey saw the ball fall to Evans in the area and from 10 yards he shot past Pelling.
Sheppey were stunned by this and for the rest of the game tried to get an equaliser but it was Chatham who had a great chance to increase their lead when Evans headed a free kick just over the bar.
Sheppey thought they had got the equaliser 13 minutes from time when a cross to the near post saw prolific scorer Dan Bradshaw have his header superbly tipped over the bar. That was to be as good as it got for Sheppey as despite seven minutes of added on time the Chats held on for victory.
CHATHAM TOWN: 1. D.Ellis 2. J.Pilbeam 3. G.Sheminant 4. R.Butler (Brown 69) 5. F.Ajayi (Roberts 37) 6. P.Geddis 7. M.Bodkin 8. J.Evans 9. P.Vines (Jeffrey 82) 10. I.Draycott 11. M.Dalton
SUBS NOT USED: 16. J.Jarvis 17. J.Carey
SHEPPEY UNITED: 1. J.Pelling 2. C.Edwards (Wilkins 8) 3. G.Benbow 4. L.Mingle (Hamici 89) 5. D.Rumbol 6. R.Hamill 7. D.Leonard 8. D.Bradshaw 9. R.Dennes (Cornwall 72) 10 B.Bennett 11. H.Carnegie
SUBS NOT USED: 12. H.Akhazzan 17. J.Ralph
REFEREE: Mr R.Collumb