It was a case of different month, same outcome as Chatham Town booked their place in the 3rd round of the FA Vase with victory away at Southern Combination side Horley Town.

The game began in exactly the way many would have predicted with both sides looking to make a contest of it from the off. Luke Rooney had the first chance but his curling effort was at a good height for George Hyde in goal.

The Chats’ were into the lead after 9 minutes with Dan Bradshaw once again demonstrating his poaching instincts to latch on to an excellent low cross from Matt Bodkin and tap in for 1-0 via the inside of the far post.

Not to provide their hosts with any respite the visitors doubled their lead 3 minutes later, when Bodkin’s cross was missed by Bradshaw and eventually steered home by former Dartford man Ryan Hayes at second attempt to make it 2-0 with 12 minutes gone.

At this point you really sensed that the next goal was crucial and if the home side wanted to have any chance in the tie they’d need to get it. It arrived with 17 minutes on the clock, a driving run up the right wing saw the ball cut back to Lewis Pearch who forced a good save out of Jordan Carey with his feet.

The ball then dropped back to Gavin Quintyne who took aim and found the bottom corner from 20 yards, arguably Carey was too slow in getting down to his left and will be disappointed to concede in that manner. 1-2 game on!

The game was really a good contest through the first half with both sides playing some excellent attacking football. Chats skipper Jack Evans hit a post for the visitors when well placed. Dan Bradshaw also had an effort cleared off the line by Andy Hall after he’d lobbed the keeper from close range.

Horley winger Mario Quiassaca & Chatham’s Chris Lawal were engaged in an fantastic battle of wits, with Quiassaca probably just edging the exchanges between the two. He was the stand out performer for the home side during the first period and anything positive that they did went through him.

However, Chatham did add a third before half time with an excellent passage of passing football down the right hand side being finished by Luke Rooney from the edge of the area. His shot finding its way in despite Hyde in goal getting a touch on it.

HT 1-3

The second half was a bit of a damp squib for 20 minutes in all honesty with both sides really not creating anything.

Adam Grant had the first chance of note in the second period – receiving the ball with his back to goal, he swivelled neatly and fired just wide of the near post.

This sparked the game back into life and Chatham made it 4-1 with 69 minutes gone. Substitute Andy Pugh curling into the top corner from the edge of the area after a move that involved neat interplay between Pilbeam, Evans, Rooney & Hayes. A goal that really showcased the strength and depth of Chatham’s attacking options.

The home side to their credit didn’t give up and pulled a goal back 4 minutes later. Adam Grant with a smart finish across the keeper into the far corner having being played in by substitute Tony Halsey.

Equally, Chatham didn’t take their foot off the gas and responded quickly. Luke Rooney restored the 3 goal cushion within a few minutes. He curled a great strike into the far corner to cap a superb individual performance for the former Gillingham and Swindon Town man who is really thriving under the style of football played by the SCEFL high flyers.

There was to be 1 more goal in the game with Horley’s Ryan Brackpool bundling home a 3rd for the home side after a scramble inside the six yard box at a corner as the game entered injury time at the end of the second half.

Jack Evans should have made it 6-3 to the visitors even deeper into added time, but Mario Quiassaca came out of nowhere to flick the ball over his own crossbar as Evans fired towards an empty net, having already gone round the keeper. A truly awesome piece of defending and something that really summed up the never say die spirit embodied by both teams throughout the contest.

FT 3-5

A marvellous game of football – on this performance Chatham don’t look to have lost any of their swagger over the latest lockdown. They now await the outcome of the draw, with their next game taking place on the 19th December in the same competition.

Horley: Hyde, Hall, Brackpool, Harvey (C), Poplett, Quintyne, (Smith 81) Pearce, (O’Toole 56) Quiassaca, Pingling, (Halsey 60) Grant, Moreno-Gomez
Not Used: Quartey, Pullin

Goalscorers: Quintyne (17) Grant (73) Brackpool (90)

Bookings: None

Chatham: Carey, Ajayi, (Dickens 77) Lawal, Robins, Butler, Dalton, Hayes, Evans (C), Bradshaw, (Pugh 64) Rooney, Bodkin (Pilbeam 56)
Not Used: Abioye, Orji, Brown,Palmby

Goalscorers: Bradshaw (9) Hayes (12) Rooney (40, 76) Pugh (69)

Bookings: None

Referee: Tom Ellsmore