Chatham Town 3-0 Metropolitan Police

Chatham Town collected a much-needed three points, beating Metropolitan Police at Maidstone Road on Saturday, writes Neil Sanders.

Chatham made the perfect start when Darren Smith's 25 yard free kick found the top corner to give them the lead in the third minute.

They created further first half opportunities for Kevin Spriggs and Smith, but both shots finished wide of the target.

However, during most of the opening period it was the Met Police side who played the better football with winger Tony Finn giving the Chats defence plenty to think about, whilst Chatham were restricted to a number of long hopeful passes downfield.

Simon Huckley and Kevin Cooper both forced fines saves from man of the match John Whitehouse, whilst James Evans should have done better with a close range header which cleared the bar.

The visitors came close again soon after the interval when a shot from Haworth was saved by Whitehouse and the rebound effort from Cooper was well blocked by Danny Larkin.

In the final quarter Chatham started to find more time and space on the ball and play some decent passing football on the ground.

Their efforts were rewarded in the 86th minute when Rob Denness went in bravely at the near post to meet Smith's cross and produce an excellent finish on the volley between the keeper and defender. He received a painful boot on the knee and some stitches for his trouble.

In stoppage time sub Tyrone James produced a fine run, beating the first defender and being clearly held back by the second. Darren Smith stepped up to score his second of the game from the resulting penalty.

A very welcome three points for Chatham and a win which should give them confidence to play the passing game which clearly suits them better.

Chatham Town: Whitehouse, King, Douglas, Larkin, Boyle, Best, Smith, Brooks, Harvey (Pulman 80), Denness (James 86), Spriggs (Lyons 63). Sub: Winter-Nolan.