Today was the first Medway derby between these two clubs since 1889, that game was what a derby is all about as it contained goals, Chatham won 4-1, crunching tackles & the crowd arguing with each other giving a great atmosphere while today’s encounter was a drab affair with both sides huffing & puffing trying to get a goal & there seemed to be no passion out there, as no bookings occurred, it seemed like a training game, the positive for Chatham was a clean sheet & their first point of the season.

The game took a while to get going & it was Rochester who had the first half chances when in the 12^th minute Dan Nash’s free kick into the area found Andy Pierce but from 8 yards he headed over the bar, a minute later Nash’s corner found Pierce again but this time his volleyed shot from 10 yards was deflected away for a corner.

In the 17^th minute Justin Ascheri ‘s low corner to the near post found Lee Coburn but his flicked shot was saved by Tony Coxall. Two minutes later Tim Beckford latched on to a ball 25 yards out & his shot was saved by Ryan Nicholls. The game went quiet for ten minutes then in the 30^th minute an Ascheri free kick into the area found Leigh Bremner & his flicked header went just past the post.

The last chance of the half came in the 2^nd minute of added on time when Sean Hetterley’s long throw into the area found Curtis George & from 15 yards he blazed his shot over.

The second half took a while for any chances occurring as in the 53^rd minute Chris Saunders running forward from the halfway line passed into the path of Bremner who from 20 yards saw his shot saved by Coxall.

Three minutes later Alfie Foster collected the ball 40 yards out ran forward unopposed & them saw his shot from 25 yards go over the bar. Rochester had to wait until the 66^th minute for their first half chance when a long ball forward saw Beckford chase down the bouncing ball & just as he was about to shoot from 12 yards Coburn’s stretching leg put it over the bar for a corner & from the resulting corner Pierce 6 yards out on his own headed wide, from the resulting corner Pierce 6 yards out unopposed headed wide.

The game then went quiet as both teams gave the ball away but did not test either keeper then in the last three minutes of the game Chatham had three chances to score firstly in the 89^th minute a corner by Ascheri to the back post fund Euan Sahadow but his header was deflected wide of the post & in the very next minute Lee Friend got to the by-line put a low cross in to Saunders but his scuffed shot was saved easily by Coxall.

In the 2^nd minute of added on time a Friend cross to the middle of the 6 yard box found Sahadow& his downward header was pushed around the post.

The final whistle went & both sides seemed pleased with the point, Chatham with their first & a clean sheet while Rochester picked up their second point against local rivals, Lordswood on Saturday

CHATHAM TOWN:

1. NICHOLLS 2. S.WELCH (82)    3.  R.BUTLER  4. A.FOSTER (71)   5. L.COBURN  6. C.McCARTHY   7. J.ASCHERI 8. J.BRAY 9.  L.FRIEND  10. L.BREMNER (67)   11. C.SAUNDERS

SUBS USED: 16. E.SAHADOW (67)  15. A.EDWARDS (71)  17. R.GUNDRY (82)

SUBS NOT USED:  12. S.PRESCOTT  14. S.DAMPIER

BOOKINGS:  NONE

ROCHESTER UNITED:

1. COXALL 2. D.NASH   3. A.MANTE (51)    4. J.ROGERS (70)   5. A.PIERCE    6. F.ROGERS   7. V.WADE 8. A.SAUNDERS 9.  S.HETTERLEY (80) 10. C.GEORGE   11.  T.BECKFORD

SUBS USED:  14. T.BOX (51)  15. H.HUME (70)  12. J.AKANBI (80)

SUBS NOT USED:  13. A.BURRETT  16. A.FERREIRA

BOOKINGS:  NONE

REFEREE: Mr J.HOWARD

ASSISTANTS: Mr  A.BACK    &    Mr D.BARHAM

ATTENDANCE: 196