Chatham Town booked their place in the Kent Reliance Senior Cup with a 4-1 win over Ramsgate.

This was the third meeting in 42 days with Ramsgate winning one & a draw in the other; it was also Matt Solley’s first game in charge after the surprise resignation of Kevin Watson on Saturday.

The game started quickly for Chats as in the 4^th minute they took the lead when Andrew Dalhouse on the right beat the defender & crossed low to Richard Davies & from 6 yards shot home.

Ramsgate were a little shocked by this & their first half chance arrived two minutes later when Joe Taylor saw his shot go past the post not troubling Ryan Nicholls.

Ramsgate were now getting into the game & another good chance came in the 16^th minute when a ball to the back post saw Ian Pulman ghost in but his lunging header hit the side netting.

Eleven minutes later & Ramsgate should have been level when Aaron Quain put Pulman in the clear & he went round the onrushing Nicholls but from an acute angle hit the side netting.

The game turned on 30 seconds when in the 28^th minute Taylor was found 6 yards out but his shot was smothered by Nicholls & cleared up field to Dalhouse who beat the defender to the by-line & his low cross found Charles Ofusu-Hene who slotted home from 6 yards., so it could have been one all but was two nil, it became three in the 34^th minute when Dalhouse slipped the ball through for Ofusu-Hene who ran on into the area before shooting under the despairing dive of Luke Watkins.

Half time arrived & Chatham was in Dream land but could they get the result?

The second half started with Ramsgate bringing on two substitutions in Tom Loynes & Nicky Humphries showing their intent to try & get back into this game.

With only 2 minutes of the half gone Loynes was put through but from 15 yards he shot wide. In the 49^th minute a Chatham attack was broken up & Taylor on the edge of the area ran forward before unleashing a fantastic cross field pass for Loynes who ran into the area but was fouled by Davies & a penalty was given, up stepped Pulman but his effort was straight down the middle enabling Nicholls to make an easy save.

Ramsgate were now in total control & in the 52^nd minute that man Loynes on the right cut inside & from 20 yards saw his shot pushed over the bar by Nicholls.

Ramsgate finally got the goal that their play deserved in the 70^th minute when Quain was put through on the left, he went into the area & his shot hit the back of the net before Nicholls could move.

Chatham were defending for their lives & in the 83^rd minute Ramsgate nearly got a second when a corner to the back post found Joe Kane & his header was cleared of the line by Davies.

Chatham made sure of their passage to the next round in the 87^th minute when Jack Sullivan slipped the ball through for Ofusu-Hene who went into the area went round Watkins & stroked the ball into the empty net for his hat trick.

The final whistle went & what a result not only for Chatham but for Matt Solly, after this result he will be in charge of Saturday’s League match against Corinthian Casuals.

A footnote to say that Chatham have had at least 16 applications for the job but interviews will take place when the Chairman is back, a source said they were all of high quality.

 

CHATHAM TOWN:

1. NICHOLLS 2. R.DAVIES  3. L.COLLINS (63)  4. J.BRAY (58)  5. K.OSEI  6. C.HOLDER  7. J.LOFT  8. C.OFUSU-HENE 9. J.BINGHAM 10 A.DALHOUSE (75)  11. K.McCANN

SUBS USED: 12. S.BLACKWOOD (58)  15. J.SULLIVAN (63)  16. O.HIBBERT (75)

SUBS NOT USED:  17. A.EDWARDS  18. N.TSHIE

BOOKINGS; 6. C.HOLDER (78)  12. S.BLACKWOOD (79)

 

RAMSGATE:

1. WATKINS 2. J.KANE  3. J.JACKSON  4. K.SMITH (45)  5. L.WHEATLEY  6. L.GIRT (45)  7. K.ROWLAND (68) 8. W.SCHULZ 9. I.PULMAN  10. J.TAYLOR  11. A QUAIN

SUBS USED: 14. T.LOYNES (45)  15. N.HUMPHRIES (45)  16. D.VINSON (68)

SUBS NOT USED: 12. J.MACKENZIE  17. I.COX

BOOKINGS; 15. N.HUMPHRIES (79)  5. L.WHEATLEY (86)

 

REFEREE: Miss L.SANDERS

ASSISTANTS; Mr M.CHARD  &  Mr A.CONN

ATTENDANCE: 80