Chatham Town eased to a comfortable victory over their Essex rivals Brentwood, in what was an old-fashioned tale of two halves.

The first half started with Chatham on the front foot and in the 17^th minute a counterattack saw Kolo Salami run from the halfway and then put Tolu Ladapo in and his curling shot went just past the far post.

In the 9^th minute Brentwood had a glorious chance to take the lead when a cross into the area saw Alfie Cerulli’s header go over the bar when it looked easier to hit the target this would be there last chance of the half. 

The game went quiet for a while with Chatham having most of the possession and then in the 26^th minute Jack Lyons saw his twenty-five-yard free kick saved by Jack Giddens.

Nine minutes later a bit of magic came when a long ball forward on the left saw Salami chase it down and then he turned back and then from twenty yards on the left shot home beating Giddens all ends up (goal of the season contender). Half time arrived and the only question was could Chatham score more.

The second half was only three minutes old when Chatham doubled their lead when a ball forward caused a bit of confusion and dropped down at Lyon’s feet and he ran forward before shooting past Giddens.

Five minutes later a free kick into the Chatham area saw Harry Gibbs header save by Nathan Harvey. Chatham scored their third when Giddens clearance saw Kian Garlinge nip in and then pass to Salami in the area who turned and shot past Giddens.

Chatham seemed to have secured the points and stopped playing enabling Brentwood to try and get back into the game, in the 59^th minute a ball into the area was half cleared to Read on the edge of the area and his miss hit shot was pushed around the post by Harvey.

Chatham woke up after that scare and in the 67^th minute Salami on the right running from halfway went for glory as instead of crossing into the area he went for goal but only hit the side netting.

The last chance of the game came in the 70^th minute when Kia Redgrave scampered down the right wing and his cross was met by Salami but his header went over the bar. The rest of the game saw Chatham ease to victory and go up to tenth in the table.

      Chatham Town:

1.  N.Harvey    4.J.Robins  5. R.Butler  6. S.Nelson (89)   12. K.Garlinge (74)  14. A.Leathers  19. J.Lyons (62)

23.  D.Olugbodi  24. O.Hobden  33. K.Salami (77)   36. T.Ladapo (86)

Subs Used: 34. K.Redgave (62)  26. A.Giles (74)  20. S.Folarin (77)  37. D.Dunbar-Bonnie (86, Debut)

16. J.Turner (89)

Subs Not Used: All

Bookings: 6. S.Nelson (40)  19. J.Lyons (52)  12. K.Garlinge (65)  14. A.Leathers (82)  24. O.Hobden (90+4)

        Brentwood:

13 J..Giddens    2.W.Read  6. L.Read 9. B.Sach (65)  10. G.Saunders   15. A.Freeman (55) 16. C.Edwards

17. J.Robinson (65)       22. A.Cerulli  23. R. Henshaw (81)  24. H.Gibbs

Subs Used:  25. S. Zuhdu (55)  8. N.Mardell (65)  19. M.Linton (65)

Subs Not Used:  4.T.Davis  11. B.Vaivada

Bookings: 24. H.Gibbs (40)  25. S. Zuhdu (80)

Referee: Mr P.Nixon

Assistants: Mr S.Hawkes & Mr J.Evans

Att: 1108

Images courtesy of Chatham Town FC