Chatham Town showed their title credentials albeit in only the second game of the season as they completely dominated Punjab United from the 1st minute to the last. The ground has been spruced up and the team is looking good.
The game was played at a fast pace & in the 8th minute Matt Bodkin on the right crossed to the far post for Jack Evans & his pin point header was pushed away by Max Ovenden, in the next minute Luke Rooney saw his 25 yards shot save by Ovenden.
Chatham were in complete control having most of the possession but lacking the goals then in the 22nd minute Rooney put Bodkin clear on the right wing & his cross to the back post found Evans who volleyed in from 8 yards.
In the very next minute it nearly became two when a long ball down the left saw Moses Abioye latch onto it & from 25 yards his shot went just over the bar. Another chance came in the 25th minute when Rooney put Bodkin in on the right & he skipped past one defender & from 15 yards his curling effort was saved.
Chances were coming quickly & in the 28th minute Evans laid the ball into the path of Rooney & his chipped effort from 20 yards went over the bar.
In the 32nd minute Punjab had their first shot on target when Louis Clarke on the right cut in & saw his shot saved by Jordan Carey.
In the 41st minute Chatham went two up to the relief of the crowd when Rooney 20 yards out saw his shot hit the bottom left hand corner. A couple more chances came before half time when firstly Evans latched onto a loose ball in the area & his snapshot was saved then right on half time his shot from 20 yards was saved again.
The half time whistle went & we wondered how many Chatham would score.
The second continued like the first with Chatham again dominating possession & in the 53rd minute they scored their third when a cross into the box came to Ryan Hayes who controlled it & then shot home from 15 yards, a minute later Evans on the right passed to Rooney who from 20 yards saw his effort go just past the post.
The fourth came in the 56th minute when a long ball over the defence saw Abioye run onto it & shoot home from 15 yards.
On the hour Abioye nearly got the fifth when his downward header was cleared of the line. The only bad thing to happen to Chatham happened in the 72nd minute when a foul was conceded by Punjab which the Chatham players took exception to & a few punches were hurled & Arun Suman & Mikey Dalton were picked out by the referee & both were sent off.
The fifth goal finally came in the 79th minute when Ike Orji on the right wing received the ball & went at the defender & once in the area he was fouled & a penalty was given, up stepped Evans who shot into the top right hand corner giving the keeper no chance.
It could have been worse for Punjab as Chatham wasted two great chances, firstly in the 86th minute substitute Jon Pilbeam was put through but from 10 yards his shot was saved then Orji on the right got to the by-line & saw his shot pushed around the post for a corner.
The final whistle went & Scott Lindsey will not have to much to complain about with this performance.
CHATHAM TOWN: ( SQUAD NUMBERS ) : 1. J.CAREY 20. C.DICKENS 12. M.ABIOYE (70) 4. R.BUTLER 5. M.BODKIN (62) 6. F.AJAYI 7. R.HAYES (66) 8. J.EVANS 24. L.ROONEY 14. J.ROBINS 11.M.DALTON.
SUBS USED: 19. I.ORJI (62) 3. G.SHEMINANT (66) 2. J.PILBEAM (70)
SUBS NOT USED: 16. H.BROWN 17. C.LAWAL
BOOKINGS: 20. C.DICKENS (35)
SENT OFF: 11. M.DALTON (72)
PUNJAB UNITED: 1. M.OVENDEN 17. M.FIELD (70) 3. S. RATCLIFFE 4. D.BOORA (61) 5. A.SUMAN 6. A.CUTHBEERT 7. L.CLARKE 8. R.BADBHAGI 9. L.ADAMS 10. G.GOODWIN 11. B.FRANCIS
SUBS USED: 15. T.GOSAL (61) 14. W.BEATTIE (70)
SUBS NOT USED: 12. J.GILDEA 16. E.KADIKI
BOOKINGS: 8.R.BADBHAGI (39) 3. S.RATCLIFFE (84
SENT OFF: 5.A.SUMAN (72)
REFEREE: Mr R.CHANTRILL-SMITH
ASSISTANTS: Mr K.WENHAM & Mr J.MILLER
ATTENDANCE: 299