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Chatham left snookered by late Enfield Town winner

This game was a case of the one that got away for Chatham. Injuries had meant a reorganisation with skipper Steve Best slotting in to central defence, and only three substitutes making the trip, writes Neil Sanders.

The first shot on target came after 16 minutes when an interchange of passes between Steve Searle and Matt Solly gave the latter a chance to test the Towners keeper from 18 yards.

The home side had to wait another 10 minutes before calling Louis Green into action with a comfortable save.

Chatham finished the first half with a flurry, going close on three occasions through a Brendon Cass chip which almost cleared the keeper, and two far post crosses which Glen Billenness couldn’t quite convert.

Substitutions by both teams early in the second half brought the game to life and Chatham then opened the scoring after 61 minutes.

Solly showed good vision to find Cass getting behind the opposition defence on the left, and his shot beat keeper Andy Hall inside the far post.

Enfield Town pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but in truth did not look like getting one.

That was until the 74^th minute when a scramble in the Chatham area ended with Rob Denness being accused of what seemed to be a ball to hand.

However, a penalty was awarded which Rudi Hall converted despite Louis Green almost pulling off a wonder save to stop it.

With a draw on the cards and 90 minutes on the clock, the home side produced one of the best moves of the match. Hall found full back Campbell making a run into the Chats area and his shot crept inside the far post, with Green again unlucky not to have got quite enough of a touch to turn it wide.

The Enfield Town players and supporters looked just as stunned at the final whistle as their Chatham counterparts and must be wondering how they got three points from a game which the Chats had looked the more likely winners.

* Chatham's home match next Saturday, 8th October, against Rothwell Town will be kicking off at 2pm to avoid clashing with England's match, which kick's off two hours later.

The Maidstone Road club will be showing the England match in their clubhouse afterwards and the bar will be open to all.

The club will be holding a pool knock-out competition after England's match and entrance is £2, but is limited to 32 entrants.

Enfield Town: Hall, Campbell, Brotherton, Gant, Allen, Green (Ritchie 52), Hall, Nyman (Smith 52), Hammatt, Negus (Ofori 80). Subs not used: Velandia, Baldwin.

Chatham Town: Green, Binks, D.Larkin, Best, Bourne, Searle, Solly, Brooks, Billenness (Denness 64 (Finn 90), Cass, B.Walker (Amadi 52).