Binks pleased with goalscoring form

CHATHAM TOWN boss Steve Binks urges fans to get themselves to Maidstone Road on Saturday for the visit of third-placed Brentwood Town, writes Stephen McCartney.

Alarm bells are ringing at the Medway club, as their last two home games have attracted low crowds of just 70 and 71 and Binks, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, says fans should watch his side against a Brentwood side that are three points off top spot.

The Chats won a hard-fought battle against eighth placed Wingate & Finchley in midweek, courtesy of goals from Brad Potter and a Lee Barnett spot kick - the seventh successive game that the former Slade Green man has found the net - taking his own personal tally to 21 for the season (11 in Chatham colours).

Chatham remain in fifteenth place in the Ryman One North table and are now eighteen points clear of relegation.

“The teams below us, the bottom two, have got to win seven or eight, six or seven now on the bounce now, and I’d like to think we can keep the run going,” said Binks.

“I mean, we’ve been win one, lose one, win one, lose one, but that’s two wins on the bounce now, four out of the last six.

“We’ve got some more home games to come, we’ve got more home games than away games (and) we’ve been playing well away to be fair and getting some good performances and some good results and now we’re starting to put it together at home.”

Now safe from the drop, Binks admitted he’s already looking at what he needs for next season.

However, the club are very concerned with the low gates that they are attracting, especially with the extra costs in travelling to away games, through the Dartford crossing, and away sides not bringing any supporters.

Crowds are down an alarming 19.5% on last season, when the club were playing Kent derbies in Ryman League Division One South.

The club have lost thousands of pounds of revenue this season and The Football Association must see sense and return the club into their correct division - Ryman League Division One South - so the club can enjoy the lucrative Kent derbies.

“We’re talking to all the players about what we’re trying to do,” said Binks. “I hope to bring one or two new faces in.”

Chatham gave nothing away at the back against a disappointing Wingate & Finchley side on Tuesday night and Binks wants more from skipper Richard Avery.

“I still think there’s more to come from Richard,” Binks said of the former Dartford central defender.

“I think he’s been solid, dependable. He’s an eight out of ten player every week, I know he’s capable of 9 out of ten.

“Ben Payne was really solid alongside him and it was the best game for Ashley Probets for a couple of weeks.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s game against Brentwood Town, Binks is desperate to collect another three points, having lost 2-0 to the Essex highflyers last November.

“I think we went up there and it was 0-0 for eighty minutes and the difference then was we weren’t taking our chances,” he said.

“We’ve started to take our chances now and I think we’re more capable of beating them.

“Just put it this way, they’re a side I’d love to beat. Why? I’m not going to go more into that. They’re a side who I’d love to beat.”

Meanwhile, the club have decided to part company with first team coach Matt Longhurst by “mutual consent.”

The club will be appointing a new first team coach to replace the former Slade Green manager and Dartford coach as soon as possible.

Visit Chatham Town’s website: www.chathamtownfc.net

Chatham Town v Brentwood Town
Ryman League Division One North
Saturday 7^th March 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Maidstone Road Sports Ground, Bourneville Avenue, Chatham, Kent ME4 6ES