Chatham hosted Monday night football with a home game against Kent coast opposition Ramsgate.

The Chats have been in dire form this season, winning just one game all season and found themselves propping up the Ryman South table while the visitors themselves would be hoping to kickstart their own campaign as they looked to improve on 14^th position in the table.

The game started slowly with neither side being able to dictate the game on the uneven surface but it was Chatham who were first to threaten in the 14^th minute. Jackson’s right wing cross found Flack at the back post who cushioned a header to his strike partner Medley in front of goal but his header was blocked by a defender close to the line with the home side screaming for a penalty for hand ball.

10 minutes later and Chatham took the lead. A great break from midfield by Morley sent Jackson through the inside right position. The right winger took one touch into the box before firing low down to the keepers right to give the Chats the lead that they deserved on the balance of play. The Chats doubled their lead on the 31^st minute. Morley’s intercept put through Medley through one on one and the striker strode on and confidently slid home under the keeper without a defender in sight.

Other than the goals, there was little else to show for the match as a whole as the hosts went in at the break 2 goals to the good.

The second half was 22 seconds old when Ramsgate got a goal back. Left back Penny, now playing on the left of a front three, found himself in the centre forward position after a through ball from Gray and Penny placed it beyond the keeper into the bottom right corner. The goal had meant the second half had started at a frenetic pace and Rams keeper Watkins did well to spread himself at Jackson to stop the home side opening up their advantage again.

By the 54^th minute, Ramsgate were level, showing why the home side have been struggling this season, and this time it was their right back on target. Mckenzie picked out the top corner after being found unmarked in the box from Millbank’s cross.

Parity lasted less than 10 minutes with Chatham retaking the lead. An excellent cross field ball from Bray found Brand marauding down the right, his low centre into the area was expertly hooked home by Medley for his second of the game. Watkins kept out Morley moments later as the Chats tried to kill the game off once and for all. Chatham appeared to get that goal with 13 minutes left when Jackson got his second of the evening with a fantastic free kick from the edge of the area which was hit so ferociously, Watkins could only get a hand to it but not keep it out.

Chatham assured victory with another free kick moments later.  Substitute Youngs bent a low free kick around the wall and Watkins again could only palm it in to the bottom left corner. Ramsgate still believed and could have got a consolation but for a fantastic double save from Hyde kept out Penny and Murray from close range but in the end Chatham ran out convincing winners for their second league victory of the season.

 

Chatham:  Hyde, Brand, Lyoubi, Price, Okosieme, Hickey ©, Morley, Bray ( Kaffo 64 ), Medley ( Aboagye 80), Flack ( Youngs 58), Jackson.

Subs not used:  Radford, Youngs.

Yellow cards:   Lee 79.

 

Ramsgate: Watkins, Mckenzie, Penny, Crimmen, Smith ( Lewins 73), Girt(C), Gray, Murray ( Roberts 86), Millbank, Miller ( Salisbury 45) Paxman.

Subs not used: Wilson,  Stevens- Toomey.

Yellow cards: Salisbury 81

 

Attendance: 149

Referee:  Mr Jack Packman