Chatham Town 0-1 Ashford Town - Sodje impresses but lack of fire power concerns Miles

But the victory came at a cost as left-back, Daniel Brathwaite was stretchered off the pitch with knee ligament damage, despite playing his part in the decisive 32^nd minute winner.

His long throw from the left caused chaos inside Chatham’s six-yard box and man-of-the-match, Steve Sodje was thwarted by a stunning save from John Whitehouse.

But Charlie Glyde, whose on loan from Folkestone Invicta, was on hand to nod the ball into the net from just two-yards out, to open his, and Ashford Town’s, goalscoring account for the season.

The injury to the Hemel Hempstead based, former Dover Athletic defender, was a cause for concern to Clive Walker.

“He’s opened his knee up, so he’ll be out for sure,” the Ashford Town boss told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“Yes, we’ll miss him, the lad (Charlie) Glyde can play there though, the lad I’ve got on loan from Folkestone, he can do a job there, he did allright but we’ll miss Daniel, we’ll miss Daniel.”

Both Walker - and Chats boss Phil Miles - went into this derby missing key personnel.

Walker was without striker, Walid Matata (back), Nick Barnes (suspended), Joe Hitchings (holiday) and had already released full-back, Tom Adlington and midfielder, Gary Clarke prior to their opening day 2-0 defeat at the hands of Kingstonian.

Miles, meanwhile, was without attack minded players, Shane Suter (knee) and Gavin Schulz (ankle), as well as Sam Groombridge, whose enjoying a family holiday in America, full-back, Tom Binks (pelvis) and central defender, Rob Goodger through work commitments.

And Miles endured a “massive blow” when player-assistant, Steve Best was forced off the pitch after just sixteen minutes with concussion.

“I’ve had to play Steve centre half tonight because Rob Goodger was working, so losing him so early was a massive, massive blow to us,” Miles admitted to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“The only experienced players we had we’re obviously, John Whitehouse, who was absolutely fantastic tonight, again, Dan Larkin and Darren Smith.

“All the rest, to be fair, have a lack of experience.

“They’re good players and I’m sure they will be big plusses for us this year but it will be difficult for them and we’ve got to learn quickly.

“If you don’t perform, you get beat, simple as that.”

A better than average crowd of 254 saw former Chats favourite, Rob Denness have the first chance of the game, but the Ashford striker drilled an angled right-footed shot past the far post inside the opening four minutes.

And highly-rated, teenage, right-back, Bradley King, drilled a right-footed shot harmlessly wide from 30-yards for the home side five minutes later.

Following Best’s withdrawal, Ashford should have broke the deadlock after sixteen minutes.

Denness latched onto a through ball before gliding past the advancing Whitehouse, but his weak shot which was rolling towards the bottom far corner, was coolly dealt with by Mark Murison.

Both sides were restricted to long-range efforts, as both goalkeepers weren’t tested as they should have been.

Chatham central midfielder, Matt Solly, struck a left-footed effort, which dipped over the right-upright from distance, and at the other end, Glyde screamed his left-footed shot wide and Denness blazed over.

Ashford dominated the game throughout and Denness’ angled drive produced a smart low save by Whitehouse at his near-post.

But Whitehouse was beaten after 32 minutes, despite pulling off a stunning save to deny Sodje, but couldn’t do anything about Glyde’s close-range header that wrapped up the points.

The game was held up for around five minutes as Brathwaite, who had launched the ball into the penalty area, fell to the ground near to the half-way line before being stretchered off.

A move involving Lee Spiller and Denness carved up a chance for Sodje, but his shot smashed against the top of the crossbar before going out for a goal-kick six minutes into first-half stoppage time.

And Sodje thought he had doubled Ashford’s lead seven minutes into the second half.

Barry Gardner whipped in a cross from the right towards Sodje at the far post, whose powerful header beat Whitehouse but the offside flag had been raised.

Glyde flashed an angled left-footed drive into Whitehouse’s grateful arms before Chatham’s first real opportunity of the game arrived - after 58 minutes.

But skipper Darren Smith squandered the opportunity by blazing his right-footed free-kick high over Jake Whincup’s crossbar from thirty-yards.

Under pressure Whincup would be delighted with a rare clean-sheet, especially as Walker has brought Sam Moore in from Bromley.

Ashford had another opportunity in the 61^st minute but Glyde’s left-footed curling free-kick from 25-yards, brought another fine save from the highly-rated Whitehouse.

Sodje missed a sitter with 23 minutes left after Denness knocked down another cross from Gardner from the right, but the much-travelled striker directed his header wide of the left-post from six-yards.

Chatham brought on substitute Mark Brooks, who had recovered from his wrist injury, to play three men up top for the final fourteen minutes, but the trio didn’t one single chance between them.

Ashford should have added to the scoreline late on but Danny Lye was thwarted by Whitehouse, who saved bravely at his feet, after Denness broke free.

But Walker, who managed Chatham Town before spending two and a half years at Dover Athletic, was pleased with the win at Maidstone Road tonight.

“Chatham, my old club, at night is always a hard game,” he said. “I thought we did allright. I thought we should have scored more goals, but one was enough.”

Walker was full of praise for Sodje, adding: “He can be dynamite, Steve, he’s unbelievable.

“He’s 33, he’s quick and strong as you believe. He knocks the ball past people, you need ten yards start on Steve Sodje.

“He was a threat, he should have had four goals tonight but he was a real threat to them tonight. I thought he was a real handful.”

Miles, who goes into hospital for a back operation at the weekend, admitted that he was “disappointed” with the derby defeat - and the lack of firepower coming from his young side.

He said: “I thought our lack of experience and our youthfulness tonight didn’t sort of help us.

“A bit nervous at times, playing against an experienced side.

“Disappointing that we didn’t battle hard enough in the first half, made it too easy for them.

“Stepped up a little in the second half but just that final bit of quality in the final third we struggled with, so disappointed.”

Having been held to a goalless draw at Corinthian Casuals on Saturday, Chatham have now gone 180 minutes without scoring.

“Saturday we created chances and missed two great chances,” he said.

“A bit more quality in front of goal tonight, maybe we could have got one.

“But we’re struggling to score goals. Gavin Schulz, who was on fire in the pre-season, couldn’t play because of his ankle, I signed Shane Suter on Saturday morning but he picked up an injury Saturday and could be out for 2-3 weeks.”

But Miles believes in Dominic Elmes, his summer signing from Dartford, where he featured heavily for the reserves.

“Young Dominic will score goals,” he said. “I’m confident of that, not a problem, good player, but he’s just inexperienced at this level.”

Chatham Town: John Whitehouse, Bradley King, Danny White (Mark Brooks 76), Dan Larkin, Mark Murison (Tyran James 56), Steve Best (Adam Boots 16), Darren Smith, Matt Solly, Dominic Elmes, Patrick Bishenden, Ross Finn.
Subs: Craig Govey, Miroslav Oraviec.

Booked: Ross Finn 45, Mark Murison 56, Danny White 60

Ashford Town: Jake Whincup, Tony Browne, Daniel Brathwaite (Anthony Allman 37), Danny Lye, Rob Gillman, Nick Humphrey, Barry Gardner, Lee Spiller (Kevin Lott 69), Rob Denness, Steve Sodje (Joby Thorogood 85), Charlie Glyde.
Subs: Nick Fenwick, Lee Ealham

Booked: Lee Spiller 58, Steve Sodje 58, Danny Lye 83

Goal: Charlie Glyde 32

Attendance: 254
Referee: Mr Constantine Hatzidakis (Eltham)
Assistants: Mr Neil Baker (Dartford) & Mr Mark Lehane (Bexleyheath)