Chatham Town continued their push for the play-offs, but it was a hard-fought victory over relegation threatened Concord Rangers, which proved the adage it doesn’t matter how you play it is about picking up the points and that is exactly what Chatham did this afternoon.
The game started with Concord having the first half chance when Emmanuel Martin on the edge of the area tried his luck, but Mitchell Beeney saved it, after this Chatham dominated the game without causing any real problems for Concord.
In the 28th minute Kareem Isiaka on the left saw his first-time pass to the feet off Jack Evans but from ten yards he shot wide. In the 30th minute in a rare attack for Concord Joe Halsey saw his 25-yard shot punched away by Beeney.
A minute later the stadium erupted when Chatham scored, Khale Da Costa on the right crossed to the back post where the evergreen Chris Dickson controlled and fired a shot across the area for Isiaka to stab home from three yards.
Half time arrived and Chatham were in complete control but as everyone in football knows one-nil is a dangerous scoreline.
The second half started slowly but Chatham were still in control and then the sting in the tail arrived when Concord against the run of play equalised, the ball was bobbling around the area and then Chris Regis latched onto the ball and from ten yards shot past Beeney.
Three minutes later and Chatham restored their lead when a throw into Da Costa on the edge of the area by the corner flag who passed to Evans who from 15 yards saw his shot punched away but only upwards enabling Dickson to head in from three yards.
Chatham were back in control and in the 70th minute should have increased their lead when Evans put Yila in on the left and he beat the defender got to the by-line, laid the ball into the path of Da Costa but from 12 yards he blasted his shot over the bar.
Five minutes later Evans with a superb pass that split the defence, Dickson latched on to it went into the area went round Mason Terry but from an acute angle he shot into the side netting.
The last chance of the game came in the sixth minute of added on time when Evans saw his 25-yard effort pushed around the post by Terry for a corner. A few seconds later and the final whistle went and there was a little bit of relief around the stadium but with results today they have ended up nine points clear of third place Wingate & Finchley.
Chatham Town:
- M.Beeney 2. M.Scarlett 3. J.Mascott 6. D.Beckwith 8. J.Evans 9. D.Kedwell 10. K.Da Costa (80)
14. J.Dunne (66) 16. K.Isiaka 18. S.Nelson 20 C.Dickson (85)
Subs Used: 11. J.Vila (66) 17. R.Liburd (80) 4. J.Robins (85)
Subs Not Used: 12. E.Ebozoeme 15. S.Cooper
Bookings: 9. D.Kedwell (60)
Concord Rangers
- M.Terry 2. J.Halsy 3. E.Martin(69) 4. S.Mbonkwi 5. J.Burton 6. M.Apat 7. C.Regis (69)
8. B.Seward (69) 9. H.Day 10. E.Desa (45) 11. B.Knott
Subs Used: 18. A.Adamu 15. J.Bland (69) 16. J.Rusoke (69)
Subs Not Used: 12. J.Allen 17. S.Ifeanyi
Bookings: 11. B.Knott (45+3)
Referee: Mr L.Torz-Brown
Assistants: Mr T.Inaac & Mr A.Okamgba
Att: 864
Images courtesy of Chatham Town FC