Cray Valley (PM) 1-0 Chatham Town - I've got to get a great team together, says Steve Chapman

CRAY VALLEY (PAPER MILLS)  1-0  CHATHAM TOWN
Pre-Season Friendly
Tuesday 16^th July 2013
Stephen McCartney reports from Middle Park Avenue

CRAY VALLEY (Paper Mills) manager Steve Chapman says he has to keep his 22-man squad happy if they are to finish in the top-three in the Southern Counties East Football League this season.

The Eltham-based club finished in their highest position of eighth-place in the Kent League last season and they opened their pre-season campaign with a 1-0 win over Ryman League Division One North side Chatham Town on a sultry night.

Midfielder Daryl Wheeler, who helped promoted Phoenix Sports win the Kent Invicta League last season, came off the bench to power home the winner in off the crossbar with eight minutes left.

Both sides changed their team at the interval, with Cray Valley using 23 players in total, whilst Chatham Town midfielder James Alderman clocked up 80 minutes, having come back on after Lee Hales was forced off with a headache.

Chapman, 50, said afterwards that he was really pleased with his side’s performance – after Saturday’s game away to East Grinstead was cancelled hours before the game after the unprofessional Sussex County League side couldn’t raise a team after picking up injuries against Crystal Palace on Friday night.

“Really pleased.  First game of the season, reasonable result,” said Chapman.

“Disappointed that we didn’t get the game Saturday against East Grinstead, but really pleased with the overall performance.

“East Grinstead rang us up and they said they were really disappointed (that they couldn’t play us).  We had them down here last year. I just think they were a bit mad in organising two games in two days.”

Reflecting on tonight’s game, Chapman added: “I think the strength-in-depth of the squad that we’re developing, we played two teams in two different half’s and there wasn’t a lot of difference.

“We’ve got cover in every area of the pitch now. There’s great competition for places this year.”

Chatham Town player-manager Kevin Watson, 32, was naturally disappointed after losing their opening game of their pre-season campaign.

“I certainly learnt some things from the game about individuals and about the team,” said Watson.

“In all fairness it’s our first friendly so I would’ve been shocked if the team and individually had gelled with each other to the standard we need them to.

“I was disappointed because I was optimistic about the squad. I’m not saying that I’m not optimistic.

“Ultimately we played two different elevens out there and I think we need to play together and we need to narrow things down.  We have got competition for places so I’ll go away and reflect on it. As long as we keep improving that’s the priority at this stage.”

For Watson, tonight’s result clearly mattered.

He said: “I think that the players’ I want at the club should have morals, ethics and a mentality where they want to win everything that they’re involved in so I want a winning mentality.  I know it’s not the be all and end all but I think if you can win games pre-season then it does mean and says a lot.”

Chatham Town created the opening chance of the game when striker Austin Gacheru cracked a right-footed volley towards goal from 25-yards, which forced Cray Valley’s second-choice keeper Bobby Sturgeon into making a comfortable low catch.

Cray Valley’s first chance, however, arrived in the seventeenth-minute when Lewis Wood cut the ball back to Adam Gross, whose cross was flapped at by visiting keeper Lee Kidman, who was relieved to see  the ball clip the near post and bounce behind for a goal-kick.

A good piece of defending from Ryan Sawyer prevented Chatham Town from scoring when Alderman played the ball into Kieran McCann and the former Erith & Belvedere midfielder, who won the Kent League double last season, cut inside and his right-footed shot was headed behind by Sawyer.

Cray Valley’s star summer signing, Laurent Hamici, 26, went close to breaking the deadlock, whilst playing as the lone striker during the first half.

Jamie Wood cushioned a header across to the Frenchman, who brought the ball under his spell before drilling a right-footed shot on the turn, which screamed past the near post from 30-yards with Kidman rooted to the spot.

This attempt sparked Cray Valley’s best spell of the first half and they really should have scored on the half-hour mark.

Right-back Allan Matthews took a touch before whipping in a right-footed cross into the penalty area, which Hamici flicked his header on to find Michael McKenna unmarked at the far post, but the winger drilled his right-footed angled shot past the near post from 12-yards.

Gross whipped in an inswinging corner from the left, which Hamici looped his header towards the far post, but Cory Holder was positioned on the line to nod over as his goalkeeper attempted to flick the ball off his head.

Gross whipped in the resulting corner and Hamici was denied a debut goal as his header was cleared off the line by former Dulwich Hamlet right-back Kalvin Morath-Gibbs.

Chapman has high hopes for the former Cray Wanderers and Tooting & Mitcham United goal-poacher.

He said: “He’s (Hamici) signed for us. He’s committed to us. I’m really pleased. It’s only due to work circumstances that he’s come to us. He signed for (Ryman League Division One South newcomers) Redhill but he’s got a new job in Deptford and it just suits his travel and working arrangements a lot better.  I’m very flexible as a manager and I think he will be a great asset for our team as you saw tonight.

“I understand he was Golden Boot winner in the Ryman Premier (for Cray Wanderers) two years’ ago. It is a coup. I’ve worked hard to get him and we’re going to work hard to keep him.

“I spoke to him after the game tonight and he really enjoyed it. He enjoys the way we play and that’s what he wants at this moment in time.”

Chapman added: “Laurent had a chance that was cleared off the line as well.”

Gross then turned provider to his skipper Jamie Wood, who unleashed a left-footed angled drive from distance which was caught by Kidman at his near post.

Chatham Town will need to work on their finishing in the coming weeks, but they closed the first half with a decent chance to get their pre-season campaign off to a good start.

McCann cut the ball back to right-back Morath-Gibbs, who was given oceans of space to tease Gross before whipping in a precise cross towards the far post and Harrison Carnegi’s angled left-footed drive took a deflection and flashed past the far post.

Chapman said: “Baring in mind we’re playing a team in the league above us, they probably put their better side out in the first half.

“I’m just pleased that we competed with them and we did create chances.   We didn’t look like we were going to concede either.

“It was our first 45 minutes. Players’ said afterwards with the humidity out there they were glad that they only played 45 minutes.”

With different players on the pitch after the break, Chatham Town created the first chance again.

The Medway side linked up well with Watson, Ashley Long and Sam Norton for Hales to drive his right-footed shot into Matt Bailey’s arms.

Chatham Town striker Andy Constable was left a frustrated man by man-of-the-match Steve Springett, who was playing out of position but kept the 33-year-old out of the game.

Constable was due to start the first half, but was dropped to the second half team because he was late arriving at the ground.

Chapman said: “I made a tactical switch today putting Steve Springett in at centre half to see what he was like in there and I thought he was outstanding against Andy.

“Andy troubled us in the past but I’m sure Andy will be the first to admit he’s not match fit at the moment. That was his first game of the season so I’m sure he’ll get better.”

A poor piece of goalkeeping from Chatham Town’s Luke Roberts gifted Cray Valley with a chance as the ball ran loose to Wheeler, but his shot rolled straight at covering defender Kes Metetri.

Watson played his part in his side’s best chance of the game in the 66^th minute.

Alim Sesay swung in a corner from the left which Watson did well to head back across the face of goal and Norton hooked his shot agonisingly against the crossbar from eight-yards.

Watson said: “He got something on it and he directed it towards goal.  Some days those ones go in. It didn’t today. He’s a young lad and he’ll learn and he’ll score some decent goals I’m sure throughout the season.”

Watson added: “We had a few chances in the game and we need to be more clinical because there will be games this season where chances will be few and far between but obviously players need that practice.

“We’ve been working a lot on fitness and things like that so hopefully when they’re a little bit sharp and they’re a little bit more confident in their minds.”

Chapman simply added: “Yes, that was their best chance of the game.”

Chatham Town keeper Roberts made amends for his earlier mistake when he rose his arms up to flick the ball away as it appeared that Billy Barnes’ looping header was destined to drop into the far corner.

Norton squandered another decent opening when he was played through on goal but agonisingly rolled his angled shot past the far post when well placed.

Watson said: “I think he had a little bit too long to think about that one. I know that sounds like an old cliché comment to make as well but that happens to forwards, just like defenders make mistakes.  Sometimes it’s more noticeable at that end of the pitch.”

A slick move by the home side involving Adrian Deane and Barnes didn’t produce the finish it deserved from Sam Ryan, who lashed his right-footed half-volley into the trees behind the goal.

Constable did lay the ball inside to Alderman, who unleashed a right-footed deflected shot towards goal from 30-yards, which was comfortably gathered by Bailey.

The game’s turning point came when Liam Hickey swung in a free-kick and the ball was headed away and fell straight at Spencer Sachies, who cracked a right-footed snap volley from the edge of the box which was destined for the roof of the net, but a diving Bailey struck out a strong left hand to tip the shot over the bar.

Chapman said: “Matt Bailey made a great save!  We expected them to come at us and make chances and they did.

“We played them last year and drew 1-1, so we knew it was going to be a tight game.

“I think Matt Bailey is a great goalkeeper. I think a lot of teams have overlooked him over the years.  When I was offered other goalkeeper’s at the start of the season I was quite happy to stick with Matt as our main goalkeeper and Bobby Sturgeon as our back-up because Matt’s actually on holiday in August so he misses our FA Cup game and our second league game of the season.”

The save proved decisive as Cray Valley raced up the other end of the pitch to score the only goal of the game.

Former Corinthian striker Adam Marsh picked up the ball inside Chatham’s half and released Wheeler through on goal with a clever diagonal pass.

Wheeler took a touch and composed himself and walloped a fiercely struck right-footed drive, which beat the keeper at his near post, struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced down over the line.

Chapman said: “Daryl Wheeler, another close season signing from Phoenix. Last year he scored one of the two goals for VCD that beat us in an early season league game.

“Daryl is an old Cray Valley youth team player so I’ve known him for many years. He’s come to us wanting to win something. Hopefully he’ll be a good addition to the squad.”

Watson added: “The game got a little bit stretched, that spell, probably with fifteen to go. There were chances at both ends and we probably left ourselves a little bit too open.”

Chatham Town missed the chance to grab a late equaliser when Sesay swung in another corner towards the far post for Watson to head back across and Lewis Hamill produced a defenders finish by lashing his right-footed volley high over the bar.

Both managers were asked about the positives and negatives from tonight’s warm-up.

Watson said: “Positives? It’s minutes under people’s belts for want of a better term. The negatives? We lost!”

Chapman said: “I think the positives are the all-round strength that we’ve got in depth.  It’s something that we didn’t have last year and what we’ve done on purpose is I’ve gone out and brought in a lot more experience in.

“Negatives? Not really, no!  I thought we shaped up very well for our first game so I wouldn’t say there wasn’t any negatives.”

Both managers were then asked about squad numbers for the season ahead.

Chapman revealed: “My philosophy is to sign 22 players. There were a couple of trialists’ out there tonight which did impress. I think 22 is a good number because you’re always going to have suspensions and injuries but the key for me is I think we’ve got a great squad but as a manager I’ve got to get a great team together and I need to develop that camaraderie and try to keep players’ happy, which will be the hardest thing to do.”

Watson added: “I’m looking for a squad of 17-18. We’re not having the reserves this season.  I need to invest in players and players need to be playing or having a good chance of playing so that’s the reason for those numbers certainly, but there still needs to be competition for places, which there would be with seventeen or eighteen.”

When asked when he will whittle his squad down, the Chatham Town boss replied, “In another couple of weeks. I’ll go away for a week and I’m hoping to get ideas of where we’re at, at that point.”

When asked his aspirations for the season ahead, Chapman added: “We’ve got to look for top-three.”

Watson added: “It’s always better to do better than the previous season. Several aspects of the club. I’m still optimistic with the squad we’ve got, the players’ we’ve got when they get fitter and sharper.”

Chatham Town travel to Champion Hill to play Fisher on Saturday and Watson said: “I’m looking for improvement ultimately. Whether we’ll get the desired result for that one, but I’m certainly looking for an improvement on that performance.”

Cray Valley (Paper Mills): Bobby Sturgeon (Matt Bailey 46), Allan Matthews (Harry Morgan 46), Adam Gross (Stephen Ita 46), Joe Matthews (Steve Springett 46), Ryan Sawyer (John Wilfort 46), Kiran Dingeri (Adrian Deane 46), Tunde Aderonmu (Daryl Wheeler 46, Dan Newman 83), Jamie Wood (Joe Nwoko 46), Laurent Hamici (Adam Marsh 46), Lewis Wood (Billy Barnes 46), Michael McKenna (Sam Ryan 46).

Goal: Daryl Wheeler 82

Chatham Town: Lee Kidman (Luke Roberts 46), Kalvin Morath-Gibbs (Ashley Long 46), Alan Zebie (Liam Hickey 46), Matt Solly (Alim Sesay 46), Drew Crush (Lewis Hamill 46), Cory Holder (Kes Metetri 46), Taylor McDonagh (Kevin Watson 46), James Alderman (Spencer Sachies 46), Austin Gacheru 46 (Andy Constable 46), Kieran McCann (Sam Norton 46), Harrison Carnegi (Lee Hales 46, James Alderman 55).

Attendance: 65
Referee: Mr Gerry Heron (Beckenham)
Assistants: Mr Micky Stevens (Maldon, Surrey) & Mr Rob Columb (Lee, London SE12)