Goal scoring substitutes were all the rage at the Bauvill as Chatham Town closed to within a point of second place in the Isthmian Premier with a last gasp 2-1 win over Wingate & Finchley.
After half time sub Jamie Yila had fired the Chats in front, Wingate’s own substitute levelled from twelve yards before deep into stoppage time Ashley Nzala – at the second attempt – grabbed the three points for the home side to set up Saturday’s top of the table clash with second placed Enfield Town beautifully.
That is to come, back to Tuesday night and the first half between two sides chasing Play Off berths was as even and as tight as you may have expected with clear chances at an absolute premium with the visitors perhaps having the clearest with keeper David Aziaya twice having to react well at the base of his left post to keep out efforts from Elliot Long and Ruben Carvalho, whilst at the other end Eddie Allsopp drove wide for the Chats from the edge of the box.
The half time introduction of Yila instilled a sharpness in the home side that simply was not there in the opening forty-five minutes and almost paid immediate dividends as Yila was denied by a fabulous block by Rhamar Garret-Douglas.
The home said began to grab the initiative as a Jack Evans cross went straight through the Wingate box when any touch would have opened the scoring.
The Chats though were in front on fifty-seven minutes with skipper Evans netting his seventh of the season. Yila was the provider with a short pass and Evans marked his return to the side after six games out with the goal – although Wingate keeper Ben Goode probably won’t want to see it again as the ball seemed to go straight through him.
Wingate rallied showing why they are on the edge of the Play Off places and went close with a great free kick. Two players stood over the ball, and as the first one ran off (Ahmet Biler), he touched the ball making “live” for Carvalho who advanced with the ball and shot into the chest of Aziaya.
The visitors enjoyed their best spell of the game looking for the equaliser, but it came in a strange way. Aziaya made a great save to deny Long and as the ball was recycled a shot from the edge of the box took an almighty deflection and looped over the bar only for referee Murphy to point straight to the spot presumably for handball! Whatever the reason, the giant figure of Anointed Chukwu stepped up and sent Aziaya the wrong way from the spot.
The home side were to have the last word as with the clock ticking into stoppage time, Goode made a sensational save to keep out Nzala’s first drive, but Nzala reacted superbly to thump the rebound beyond the stranded keeper and into the net.
The win could have been even greater if the normally lethal Evans had not fired over from the edge of the box in stoppage time but the job by then was well and truly done, and with second placed Enfield squandering a 3-1 and 4-2 lead against Whitehawk to drop two points, the Chats go into Saturday’s confrontation just a solitary point off second place in the table.
CHATHAM TOWN – Aziaya, Brefo, Campbell, Robins, Butler, Evans, Kedwell, Allen (Yila), Cooper, Allsopp (Nzala), Dickson (Isiaka)
Subs – Fagg, Sanogo
WINGATE & FINCHLEY – Goode, Webb (Hernandez), Cracknell, Frimpong, Frempah, Acuba, Garrett-Douglas, Carvalho (Nazor), Newton (Chukwu), Long, Biler
Subs – Siggers, Yeboah
REFEREE – Mr Murphy