Chatham Town’s preparations for their Isthmian Premier Division campaign progressed after a home weekend double header that allowed boss Kevin Hake to give vital minutes for the whole of his first team squad.
On Friday night, the Bauvill witnessed an increasingly pulsating 3-3 draw with former Southeast rivals Three Bridges in balmy conditions whilst in Saturday’s rain, Kent Senior Trophy winners Punjab United were despatched with a fair amount of ease.
On Friday, the home side comfortably bossed the opening forty-five minutes and netted twice with goals straight off the training ground. Central defender Simon Cooper headed home Jack Evans’ early corner and then full back Kristian Campbell thumped home his own header from a delightfully floated free kick.
With the home side comfortably in charge, the visitors got increasingly frustrated and there were times when temperatures boiled over and a stricter official would have surely produced red from his pocket rather than the yellows that actually appeared!
The second half began with the visitors finally getting into their stride and only an excellent full length saves from Ben Bridle Card kept Bridges out. But the home side had been warned and after bossing the first half, the home side rocked. Gayler’s deflected effort got the visitors on the board, O’Neill fabulous header levelled the scores and then almost unbelievably the visitors were in front. Chatham were denied at one end from a corner and as the visitors broke, Lawson advance into the box and drove beyond Bridle Card and in off the far-left post for a three two lead.
The Chats were “saved” by the son of a club legend as young substitute Connor Tilley did brilliantly on the edge of the box before driving the ball beyond the despairing dive of the keeper and into the net. A goal that his Dad – Chats all-time favourite Garry – would have been proud… it was just a shame that Dad was away for the weekend and didn’t see the glorious strike.
From the warmth and the balmy conditions on Friday night, Saturday afternoon was colder and wetter as a completely different Chats line up dominated throughout the ninety minutes and showed that they are now two divisions higher than their SECFL opponents.
Just as on Friday night, this Chats team dominated the first period and were ahead inside the first five minutes from yet another set-piece. This time though Ben Allen’s sensational striker into the top left-hand corner of Anibaha’s net wouldn’t have looked out of place in any game. One became two even quicker than Friday night as a deep corner was nodded back across goal and Reece Butler was on hand to make it two nil.
And before the midway point of the half, it was game over as Butler netted his second and the Chats third in a somewhat fortuitous fashion. as Sanogo powered a header from a corner goalwards and it hit Butler as it flew into the net.
The second period was more even as both keepers – youngster Regan King and Anibaha – making terrific saves as one of the Punjab trialists missed two great chances – one a header from a yard out from a corner and the second a stunning drive that flew inches wide. At the other end, only Allen will know how he didn’t make it four nil.
The final goal of the game and the Chats weekend duly arrived in the closing stages and following excellent work from Friday nights young star. Tilley and Matt Bodkin combined really well and as the ball fizzed across the box, Ashley Nzala duly stroked the ball into the net.
More minutes for the Chats squad and with now just a handful of friendlies and minutes left, the kick off for their Isthmian Premier campaign gets closer by the day.
Starting elevens (Friday)
CHATHAM TOWN – Bridle-Card, Ikebuassi, Cooper, Garlinge, Broad, Campbell, Robbins, Krabbendon, Evans, Yussuff, Oloyode
THREE BRIDGES – M Bromage, Irving, T Bromage, Difken, Euba, Griffiths, Wollard, O’Neill, Gayler, Lawson, Ainum
Starting elevens (Saturday)
CHATHAM TOWN – King, Trialist, Brefo, Butler, Taylor, Bodkin, Sanogo, Brodie, Peck, Allen, Kedwell
PUNJAB UNITED – Anibaha, Edwards, Dythe, Gilbert, Ratcliff, Suman, Trialist A, Dawson, Campbell, Trialist B, Hussain