Chatham are still on the road to Wembley with an emphatic victory over Wessex League Alresford & as the PA announcer said only 6 games to Wembley, now only 5 with the draw Monday let’s hope they get a favourable one.

Chatham started on the front foot as in the 2^nd minute Jon Pilbeam on the right crossed to the back post where Dan Bradshaw was but his header went over the bar.

In the 13^th minute Chatham took the lead they thoroughly deserved when a Jack Evans corner to the back post was headed back by Reece Butler & at the back post Matt Bodkin headed in from 1 yard. Alresford were living on scraps & in the 24^th minute Brandon Channell saw his 18 yard snap shot go just past the post.

Chatham had most of the possession & was just missing another goal when against the run of play in the 39^th minute some intricate play around the Chatham area saw Louis Russell on his own 12 yards out but Andy Walker came rushing out & saved his shot with his legs, small margins in football.

Two minutes later Evans put Andy Pugh in on the right & his cross found Bradshaw but his shot from 12 yards flew over the bar. In the 44^th minute Chatham got their second when Jack Palmby on the left passed inside to Evans who then crossed into the area where Bradshaw was & his header from 6 yards hit the net.

The second half started with Chatham on the ascendancy as in the 46^th minute a ball into the Alresford area was partially cleared to Palmby & from 12 yards his shot went over the bar.

A minute later Kristian Andonov was through on goal & his goal bound shot was tipped around the post for a corner. In the 49^th minute Evans put Bradshaw through in the area & just as he was about to shoot Sam Steel got back & nipped the ball away for a corner.

Another chance came in the 52^nd minute when Pilbeam’s cross into the area saw Callum Smart tip it away but only for Bradshaw to hit the post with an overhead kick. Alresford should have pulled a goal back a minute later when Russell in on goal went round Walker but blazed his shot wide. In the 61^st minute another rare chance for Alresford came when Jake Adams on the right tried to curl his shot round Walker but it went just past the post.

In the 67nd minute the goal of the game which also meant game over as Evans collected the ball on the edge of the area & turned & went forward before his curling effort beat Smart all ends up.

In the 70^th minute Evans got his second when Ryan Hayes only on for ten minutes crossed to the back post where Evans volleyed in from 5 yards. A minute later Jordi Robins retrieved the ball & from 25 yards saw his shot go just past the post. Five minutes later another Hayes cross just evaded Bradshaw who would have headed in.

Time was running out but Chatham kept going & in the 88^th minute Pilbeam put Bradshaw through into the area & he then went round the onrushing Smart & then slide the ball into the empty net.

In the second minute off added on time Bradshaw claimed the match ball Hayes passed forward to Evans in the area & he flicked it on for Bradshaw on the back post & from 3 yards he tapped in from three yards for his hat trick.

The referee blew his whistle for full time which was a relief for Alresford as they were comprehensively beaten.

        Chatham Town:

1.  A.Walker     2. J.Pilbeam    3. G.Sheminant    4. J.Robins  5. R.Butler (74)  6. F.Ajayi  7. M.Bodkin (60)

8.    J.Evans    9. D.Bradshaw    10. J.Palmby    11. A.Pugh (68)

Subs Used:  16. R.Hayes (60)  18. H.Maher (68)  14. D.Flemming (74)

Subs Not Used:  12. J.Watts  15. K.Garlinge  17. F.Martin  Gk H.Mills

Bookings: None

       Alresford Town:

1. C.Smart       2. L.Hibbard   3. H.Barkaway  4. B.Channell  5. S.Steel  6. A.Demira (68)  7. S.Shepherd

8.    K.Andonov (68)   9. L.Russell   10. J.Adams  11. L.Campbell (75)

Subs Used: 12. M.Neves (68)  14. I.Warshow (68)  16. I.Ebejer (75)

Subs Not Used: 15. J.Parker-Trott  17. A.Mahon  Gk K.Connell

Bookings: None

Referee: Mr D.Sotimirin

Assistants: Mr S.Goldup & Mr J.Miller