It was an entertaining match at The Bauvill Stadium with Chatham keeping their unbeaten streak going by taking all 3 points against Punjab United.

It was Punjab United who got us underway for the first half, but they didn’t have the ball for too long as on the 3rd minute it was in the back of their net! A lovely pass from Byron Walker set Jack Evans up perfectly for a long-ranged shot which he took and placed into the bottom left corner. However, it didn’t take long for Punjab to get back into the game.

Just 3 minutes later, Punjab equalized after a corner came into the box which met the head of George Goodwin who headed it home.

However, this didn’t rattle Chatham as Evans almost had his second after a pass from Matt Bodkin set him up for yet another long shot, but this time it goes wide on the 10th minute. Evans then created a chance for Bodkin who beat the defence but his shot hit the crossbar on the 12th minute! Punjab then had their chance to get ahead when Laurent Hamici took a turn in the box but his shot blazed high and wide on the 21st minute.

Chatham’s Paul Vines then went to sway the lead towards The Chats’ favor, but his header got deflected out for a corner which came to nothing on the 25th.

Jon Pilbeam almost made it 2 for Chatham with an audacious chance on the 34th minute. Pilbeam rose to meet the ball with a sensational over-head kick but his shot went straight into Joe Hagan’s arms. But just one minute later, Chatham were ahead, and it was captain Paul Vines who put them ahead, using his head! A cross came into the box and met Vines who headed it low and into the net.

Punjab almost equalized straight away on the 38th minute after William Johnson-Cole’s effort, but it just skimmed wide. Howard Collins then blew his whistle to end what had been quite an eventful first half.

 

HALF TIME 2-1

 

Chatham got us underway for the second half, but it was Punjab who got off to the better start. Hamici created a wonderful chance for Punjab on the 47th minute after he played a searching ball into the box, but it was easily intercepted.

Punjab then had another great chance after the ball came into the box, but it was headed straight at the crossbar. But Chatham then got their chance and took it nicely when super sub Michael Hagan made it 3-1 on the 61st minute.

Hagan managed to get one on one after a lofted pass and then took the ball into the box so he could calmly put it round Joe Hagan in goal. Chatham then got a fourth just 5 minutes later when Vines smashed the ball into the bottom left corner from a tight angle, grabbing him his second of the day.

Punjab looked to be down and out after this goal, but they still continued to create chances. Anthony Adesite created what was possibly their best chance at the time when he took a shot on his left from outside the box, but it was easily saved by Ben Nourse in goal on the 76th minute.

Michael Hagan almost grabbed a second on the 78th minute but he got unlucky as the crossbar denied him from getting a certain goal. Punjab almost had a certain goal for themselves, but Ben Nourse made an exceptional save. The ball came across goal and fooled Nourse which led to an easy header for the attacker, but Nourse recovered by making a sublime diving save which pushed the ball out of harm’s way.

Collins then blew his whistle, giving all three points to a terrific Chatham who will be looking to continue their unbeaten form when they come up against Croydon later this week.

 

Chatham Town: Ben Nourse, James Fray, Matt Parsons, Jack Mahoney, Richard Avery, Corey Walters-Wright, Jon Pilbeam, Jack Evans, Paul Vines (Captain), Byron Walker and Matt Bodkin.

 

Subs: Michael Hagan for Byron Walker (43rd Minute), Tom Fitzgerald for Jack Mahoney (58th Minute) and Ben Davisson for Paul Vines.

 

Subs not used: Danny Grant and Sam Welch.

 

Yellow Cards: Tom Fitzgerald (70th Minute).

 

Red Cards: N/A

 

Punjab United: Joe Hagan, Simon Cuthbert, Ryan Jarrett, Arun Suman, Paul Lorraine, Adam Cuthbert, Anthony Adesite, Enzo Kartita, Laurent Hamici, George Goodwin and William Johnson-Cole.

 

Subs: Enzo Kartita for Michael Power (64th Minute), Camen Bhandal for Simon Cuthbert (70th Minute) and Giannoulis Fakinos for Arun Suman (84th Minute)

 

Subs not used: Diljit Boora and Luke Adams.

 

Yellow Cards: George Goodwin (61st Minute), Laurent Hamici (70th Minute), Camen Bhandal (91st Minute).

 

Red Cards: N/A

 

Referee: Howard Collins.

 

Assistants: Chris Spalding and Ryan Cole.

 

Attendance: 191