Frustrated Miles calls for more consistency - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Chatham Town boss Phil Miles is rueing his side’s poor luck as they dropped into the bottom six of the Ryman League Division One South table over the Christmas period, writes Stephen McCartney.

Two home defeats to Horsham YMCA, who have one of the smallest budgets in the division, and local rivals Dartford has put the Medway side in danger as they are just three points clear of the drop.

Reflecting on their 1-0 defeat to in-form Horsham YMCA, Miles said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight: “It was the story of our season to be fair. We started really, really well against Horsham.

“I felt we were in control, didn’t really see where they were going to break us down and score.

“We were strong for twenty minutes but then to be fair they got back into the game.

“Second half was fairly even again. It had a draw written all over it but so many times this season we just got caught out with a long ball to the far post and their centre forward, whose not had a kick all game, volleyed it into the bottom corner.”

Against Dartford, meanwhile, Chatham fell to a 3-2 defeat against a side with bundles of experience.

Miles said: “Really pleased with the Dartford game, apart from losing. Performance wise I was happy with the guys.”

But not for the first time this season, Miles issues a rallying cry to his young side to believe in themselves more.

“I’ve learnt if we play to the best of our ability and with the right amount of commitment and belief we can, and we have proved it in other games, compete with the best teams,” said Miles.

“We have the drive, passion and desire but when it matters most, when you want that quality and something special, that’s where we are lacking but we’re ok with the passion, desire and commitment.

“We are not the luckiest side in the world. Some of the games we’ve lost this year we have received some blows but we have to make our own luck.”

Miles hopes more luck will fall on his side in the new year, starting with a trip to Bourne Park to play local rivals Maidstone United on Saturday.

“I can do with all the luck in the world,” said Miles. “If the lads give me the commitment as they did Boxing Day against Dartford all I can ask is to play as well as they can.

“If they do that and still get beat I will hold my hands up and say “we played well today but it wasn’t good enough” but it’s when we don’t perform and get beat because I know we can play better.

“But if we play to our potential we are capable of getting points off everyone,” he warned.

Miles wants to emulate Horsham YMCA and Hastings United by climbing up the table after poor starts to their campaigns.

Fifth placed Hastings travel to Ashford Town on Saturday with an eight match unbeaten run behind them and sixth placed side Horsham YMCA are mixing it with the big boys.

But Miles wants his side to emulate the two Sussex sides to avoid a drop into the Kent League.

He said: “I know three wins on the spin puts you well away from any relegation battle but looking at the table as it stands there are five or six teams down there that would also go down with Corinthian Casuals.

“In this league three wins can put you in the top ten and that is what I keep saying to the players.”

But Miles does not know which side of Chatham Town will turn up each week and demands more consistency.

“Consistency is the biggest problem we have,” he said. “We turn up one week and we’re fantastic, turn up the following week we’re average and then we’re fantastic again.

“In this league you can’t be sporadic you have to be consistent. Teams that are consistent are picking up points.

Chatham held Maidstone United in front to a 1-1 draw in front of their highest crowd of the season earlier in the campaign.

“We held them 1-1 at our place but then again on that day we created more than enough chances,” recalled Miles.

“If we play to the best of our ability, keep our work rate high, we’re capable of getting points but if we drop our standards we will get punished.

“Every mistake we’ve made this year we’ve been punished. But we will be spot on, up for it, looking to reverse our last two defeats.”

Long-term casualty Ross Finn (knee) is definitely ruled out as is midfielder Steve Best who sits out the derby with a one-match suspension having collected five yellow cards.

Visit club websites:

www.maidstoneunited.co.uk

www.chathamtownfc.net