rothwell081005

Chats youth policy pays dividends

Saturday 8th
October 2005

Southern League
Division One East

Neil Sanders reports from Maidstone Road

Chatham Town

3

Bourne 42
Cass 49
Walker 90

Rothwell Town

1

Towers 89 (pen)

In the early stages, Chatham's teenage midfielder and man of the match Matt Solly, looked the most likely to create an opening, whilst the pace of Rothwell's Jon Mitchell kept the Chats defence alert.

In the end Chatham had to wait until two minutes before half time to take the lead. Israel Amadi turned well and brought a good save from Rothwell's St. Kitts international keeper Damien Quaily. From the resulting corner, Glenn Billinness flicked on at the near post and defender Matt Bourne tucked the ball way at the back post.

Chats came out flying after the break and had won a penalty inside two minutes when Solly was brought down. However, Quaily made an excellent save from Brendon Cass's spot kick.

Cass, however, got revenge two minutes later when he latched on to a ball over the visitors defence and flicked it over Quaily before tapping home into the open net.

Rothwell pulled one back as the game went into stoppage time when Chatham were again on the wrong end of what appeared to be a ball to hand penalty decision. Steve Towers scored from the spot.

However, Chats weren't finished and made the points safe when substitute Byron Walker scored with seconds remaining, lifting a classy lob into the roof of the net with virtually his first touch.

With two goals from teenagers and another being awarded the man of the match trophy, Chatham's youth policy certainly looks to be paying dividends.

Rothwell Town: Quaily, Rice, Capps, Boyle-Chong, Flannigan, Towers, Nash (Spencer 66), Master, Smylie (Wright 66) , Mitchell, Brookes (Dawkins 66).  Sub unused: Hackett.

Attendance 159.   
Man of the match Matt Solly.