Matty Macarthur was the hero for giant killing Chatham Town on Saturday afternoon as they overcame Mark Hughes’ Carlisle United side and booked their place in the fifth round of the FA Trophy for the first time.

Carlisle who was at the time of kick-off top of the National League, couldn’t find a way past the resolute defence of Kevin Hake’s side and as the final whistle went it was the The Chats who were fully deserving of their victory.

The game started with Carlisle in the ascendency and in the ninth minute they nearly took the lead when David Ajiboye was put through and from an acute angle saw his cross shot go across the area and end up as a throw for Chatham, this would be their best chance of the game.

Ten minutes later Chatham had their first chance when Tope Fadahunsi received the ball thirty yards out and he ran into the area when from an acute angle his shot was saved by Harry Lewis. Carlisle was having a lot of the ball without causing Nathan Harvey any problems then in the 35^th minute the stadium erupted when Matt Macarthur saw his twenty-five-yard free kick go over the wall and into the top left hand corner leaving Lewis grasping into thin air. 

The rest of the half saw Chatham grow in confidence and fully deserve their lead even though Carlisle dominated possession. The half time team talks would be different for both sides for Kevin Hake he would want more of the same while Mark Hughes would want his side to be far more clinical with the possession.

The second half saw Carlisle show more promise while Chatham would rely on breaks and in the 55^th minute some great work on the right saw Macarthur receive the ball and he went across the pitch before seeing his twenty-yard shot saved by Lewis.

Just after the hour substitute Chris Conn-Clarke running forward from the halfway saw his twenty-yard shot deflected just wide of the post he would start to have a major influence on Carlisle’s attacks.

In a rare attack Chatham’s Fadahunsi latched onto a long ball beating off a defender before his thirty-yard shot was saved. In the 80^th minute Conn-Clarke saw his twenty-five-yard free kick saved by Harvey.

As the clocked ticked towards the 90^th minute Carlisle were now throwing the kitchen sink at Chatham in search of an equaliser and in the last minute of normal time Cameron Harper twenty yards out saw his shot whistle past the pos.

In the third minute of added on time Harper was put through in the area and his low cross evaded everyone. The final whistle went and the majority of the crowd erupted in celebration as they could say they were here the day they beat big hitting Carlisle and look forward to the draw on Monday.

        Chatham Town:

1. N.Harvey    2. O.Evans  3. K.Aidoo  4. J.Robins  5. R.Butler  6. S.Nelson  8.K.Moynes (85)

10.  S.Sene-Richardson (79)  14. A.Leathers (68)  19. T.Fadahunsi (73)  35. M.Macarthur (64)

Subs Used: 20. K.Ankye-Boadi (64)  12. K.Garlinge (68) 18. S.Oldfield (73)  23. D.Olugbodi (79)  26. A.Giles (85)

Subs Not Used: 25. H.Molyneux  28. B.Allen

Bookings:  K. Hake (Manager) 53

 Carlisle: H.Lewis     2. A.Davies  7. D.Ajiboye (68)  8. C.Whelan  9. G.Kelly (68)  14. E.Emberton (45)

       15. S.Murray  18. J.Ellis 19. S.Hethrington (45) 26. B.Mugabi  31. H.Atkinson

Subs Used: 3. C.Harper (45)  38. C.Conn-Clarke (45)  36. S.Mason (68)  39. A.Carl-Smith (68)

Subs Not Used: 28. T. Randall  22. J.Williams  33. J.Lowes

Bookings:  None

Referee: Mr H.Blair

Assistants: Mr D.D’urso & Mr A.Tranter

4th Official: Mr J.Crosseley

Att: 1703

Image courtesy of Chatham Town FC