Chatham Town missed the chance to move into second place in what some people would say was their worst performance of the season while Aveley who seemed like they would take one point but, in the end, took all three helping them to get in the play-offs.

This was supposed to be a great game between two high flying sides but it would be a disappointment as both sides seemed to be a bit nervous and cancelled each other out, this defeat for Chatham pushed them down to fourth place but their destiny is still in their hands as Monday they play Dartford and a win there would get there season back on track.

The game took a long time to get going as both sides seemed nervous and it took 21 minutes for the first chance of the game when Kofi Anokye-Boadi on the break cut inside, and his twenty-yard shot was saved by Jonathan North. Six minutes later George Saunders had Aveley’s first chance when his twenty-five-yard shot went just past the post.

Then a minute later Jesse Nwabueze on the edge of the area saw Nathan Harvey make a tremendous save by pushing it away. The last chance of the half came in the fourth minute of added on time when a cross from the right to the back post found Nile Ranger but from five yards, he headed over the bar when it seemed easier to score.

The second half continued like the first with no one creating anything then in the 65^th Simon Cooper received the ball in the area, and his shot was saved by North. Two minutes later Aveley scored when Nwabueze on the left wing wriggled his way to the by-line and his low cross to the near post was met by Saunders who shot in from three yards.

Chatham now started to apply pressure and in the 67^th minute could have equalised when a corner into the six-yard box was met by Reece Butler, but he headed wide.

Time was now running out for Chatham and in the 90^th minute another corner into the six-yard box was half cleared to Sam-Sene-Richardson, but his volleyed shot went over the bar from eight yards.

Then in the fourth minute of added on time another corner was half cleared to Adam Leathers and his shot whistled past the post. The final whistle went and the handful of Aveley supporters were in heaven while the Chatham faithful were distraught at least they only have to wait forty eight hours for their next match a Kent derby against Dartford.

        Chatham Town:

1. N.Harvey        4. J.Robins (80)  5. R.Butler  10. S.Sene-Richardson  14. A.Leathers   15. S.Cooper (84)

       18.  S.Oldfield (61)  20. K.Anokye-Boadi (72)  26. A.Giles  39. N.Ranger  41. O.Hobden (86)

Subs Used:  38. J.Dixon (61)  35. M.Macarthur (72)  42. B.Tanner (80)  8. K.Moynes (84)  28. B.Allen (86)

Subs Not Used: All Used

Bookings:  15. S.Cooper (33)

        Aveley:

• J.North       3. H.Critchley (90+7)  5. G.Wind  6. J.Gipson  7. G.Saunders  8. O.Peters  10. J.Nwabueze (77) 

12. A.Church  15. M.Johnson  16. L.Nash (70)  23. R.Henshaw 

Subs Used: 9. T. Aromolaran (70)  18. F.Hubbard (77)  2. T.Tinubu (90+7)

Subs Not Used: 4. J.Robinson  17. L.Reynolds

Bookings: 12. A.Church (39)16. L.Nash (41)  23. R.Henshaw (44)

Referee: Mr Z.Demetriades

Assistants: Mr L.Attoh & Mra.Anastasiou

Att: 2232

Image courtesy of Chatham Town FC