Chatham Town came away with a straightforward victory over relegation threatened Hashtag United on Saturday, although it took a bit longer than they would have liked.

This victory kept them well in the play-off places with thirteen games to go with two games against bottom club Canvey Island to come which if they were to win would more than likely cement their place in the play-offs.

The game started quickly for Chatham as in the seventh minute Oliver Hobden went down the right before passing to Matt MacAthur whose low cross to Junior Dixon but from five yards his scooped shot was easily saved by Jack Giddens.

Two minutes later Hashtag had their first chance when ex Chats player Chaynie Burgin saw his shot from twenty-five yards palmed away by Nathan Harvey. In the tenth minute Dixon had another chance when on the edge of the area he beat two defenders, but his weak shot was easily saved by Giddens.

Chatham were now controlling the game and in the 26^th minute Sam Sene-Richardson received the ball in the area, and he twisted and turned then shot from eight yards, but it was tipped over the bar by Giddens. Seven minutes later MacArthur received the ball twenty-five yards out and his shot was saved.

Then in the 37^th minute in a rare attack Luke Parrott in the area saw his shot parried away by Harvey. In the first minute of added on time another shot by MacArthur twenty yards out was pushed away for a corner by Gidden’s.

Half time arrived and Kevin Hake would probably have said just increase the pace of the game and you should win while Hashtag’s manager would probably have wanted a bit more out of his team.

It only took three minutes for Chatham to open the scoring when a long ball forward saw Nile Ranger cause a bit of confusion in the area and the ball came to Dixon who from four yards out tried to miss but the ball ended up in the net.

In the 60^th minute Ollie Evans ventured into the area and his shot from an acute angle was saved by Gidden’s. Six minutes later MacArthur twenty yards out saw his shot saved again by Gidden’s.

Chatham were now in total control and only complacency would stop them winning the game. In the 66^th minute Adam Leathers put Tope Fadahunsi into the area, and his shot beat Gidden’s but was cleared off the line.

In the 83^rd minute Chatham finally got their second when a corner to the back post found Reece Butler who from four yards headed in. The goal of the game came three minutes later when Sene-Richardson picked up the ball ten yards outside his own area and went on a mazy run out muscling three defenders before seeing his twenty-five-yard shot come back of the post but luckily for him it came back to him, and he stroked the ball home from ten yards.

The last few minutes saw Chatham play out the game and pick up three precious points.

        Chatham Town:

1. N.Harvey       2. O.Evans  5. R.Butler  10. S.Sene-Richardson (90)  12. K.Garlinge  14. A.Leathers (79)

26. A.Giles  35. M.Macarthur (67)  38. J.Dixon (64)  39. N.Ranger (89)  41. O.Hobden

Subs Used: 19. T.Fadahunsi (64)  20. K.Anokye-Boadi (67)  8. K.Moynes (79)  3. K.Aidoo (89)  42. B.Tanner (90 Debut)

Subs Not Used: All Used

Bookings: None

       Hashtag United:

1. J.Giddens        2. J.Ring  3. N.Smith  5. R.Royal  6. M.Cornhill (78)  8. J.Brown (88)

10. L.Parrott  15. J.Rusoke  18. C.Burgin  19. B.Wells  20. S. Park (65)

Subs Used: 7. J.Brissett (65)  11. E. Kouassi (78)  4. J.Santos (88)

Subs Not Used: 12. J.Anderson  23. P.Ogbebor

Bookings: None

Referee: Mr R.Egan

Assistants:  Mr M.Spence & Mr P.Andrews

Att: 1234

Image courtesy of Chatham Town FC