Chatham Town crashed to defeat as AFC Sudbury’s skipper Sam Clarke took advantage of a defensive mistake to crash home the game’s only goal and send the visitors back through the Dartford Tunnel deservedly with all three points.

The goals only the game effectively summed the game up for the home side. A long throw came in from the left wing which Chats keeper Lee Kidman, under pressure from his own defenders, got in a good punch which cleared the box only for Clarke to bring the ball down take aim and bury the ball into the bottom corner of the net to sink the Chats to their fourth home defeat in their last five games.

Assistant boss Peter Hawkins was a frustrated and disappointed man after the game. “We’re frustrated that we’ve come away from a game with no points again. They were the better side and deserved the points. We were short a couple of leaders out there to organise things and get us going again.”

“It’s a difficult time for the squad at the moment to pick up the points that we know that we can get. Today we defended OK at stages when they came forward, but it was disappointing that we conceded from a long throw when no one was picking up on the edge of the box. But that’s the way its going at the moment!”

“We’ve got to work within what we have to improve things. The backroom staff are always looking strengthen the side. Marlon’s side a young lad – hes only 16 for goodness sake and is brand new to mens football and the step up is massive and he will need time – the more he plays the better he will become.”

In truth on this particular Saturday afternoon, Sudbury fully deserved the three points as Chatham struggled all game to test keeper Alex Archer for any note worthy saves – yes the home side created the openings but their final shots seemed to be taken as the home players were stretching sending the ball flying in all directions except sadly for the Chats towards Archer’s goal.

Sudbury were first to threaten as Terry Rymer’s header flew into the side netting, before the Chats first chance came and went when 16 year old Mason Bloomfield dwelt too long on the ball too long as Chris Webber’s shot miscued straight to the young striker who couldn’t get a shot in as the Sudbury defenders closed into clear.

The home side even missed a chance from the resulting Matt Solly corner when Liam Hickey sent a header flying into the trees behind the goal. Then with half time approaching Rymer produced a moment of magnificence when from the inside right channel, the Sudbury number 9 released an unstoppable drive that left keeper Lee Kidman motionless as the ball smacked against the cross bar and flew to safety!

Kevin Watson made a double a change at the break with Bloomfield and Webber being replaced by Lee Hales and Jamie Lawrence and for a while the change worked as the Chats got on top, But from their first attack of the half, Sudbury again went agonisingly close to scoring and again it was the luckless Rymer who “suffered”!

Released through the inside left channel, Rymer flicked the ball past the advancing Kidman and was turning to salute the goal as somehow Hickey got back to clear the ball off the line.

The games only goal came with 18 minutes left. A long throw into the Chats box saw Kidman punching clear from three defenders without a striker within three yards of him. Whilst the keepers punch was true and cleared the box, Kidman was beaten from the edge of the box by Clarke’s driven shot that settled in the bottom corner!

Krij Newby was then denied by the sliding Kidman before substitute Payton Swatman stung Kidman’s fingers from 35 yards before with time running out the home side created two chances – one for Hales courtesy of Greg Benbow’ fine run down the left, before with the game’s last chance Knight headed Solly`s corner wide and with it went the home teams chance.

CHATHAM TOWN – Lee Kidman, Brad Potter, Greg Benbow, Matt Solly, Lewis Knight, Liam Hickey, Chris Webber (James Lawrence HT), Corey Holder (Kane Phillip 80), Austin Gacheru, Mason Bloomfield (Lee Hales HT), Joe Loft

Subs not used – Laurence Collins & Tom Wellham

AFC SUDBURY – Alex Archer, Ben Robinson, Jack Wilkinson, Lawrence Yiga (Ryan Henshaw 89), James Baker, Craig Pope, Krij Newby, Sam Clarke, Terry Rymer, Ayrton Coley (Ryan Hervel 86), Jack Guyton (Payton Swatman 70)

Subs not used – Correy Davidson & Jorden Blackwell

Referee – Mr Stuart Butler
Assistants – Mr Jason Down & Mr Josh Rudd