arlesey031205

Thursday 01st September 2005

Chatham lose unbeaten home record

Saturday 3rd December 2005	Southern League Division One East	Neil Sanders reports from Maidstone Road
Chatham Town	0
Arlesey Town	1	Nichol 61

Chatham lost their unbeaten home record and suffered their first defeat in over a month, to a well organised Arlesey Town side, writes Neil Sanders.

Steve Binks kept faith with the same starting eleven who had achieved the excellent midweek Errea Cup win at Wivenhoe Town.

From the early exchanges it was a game that looked as though one goal may be enough, as both teams defences largely controlled their oppenents attacks.

Arlesey had the first half chance after 14 minutes when Danny Larkin was forced to hook a dangerous cross off the line at the far post.

Chatham's best chance of the half followed soon afterwards when Glenn Billenness rose above both a defender a keeper, only to see his header cleared from under the bar. Chats did create other half chances with Rob Denness twice bringing saves from Arlesey keeper Nick Bussey and Danny Larkin stinging the midriff of a defender from close range.

Chatham had more of the possession in the early stages of the second half and went close when top-scorer Cass flicked a Billenness header just over the bar.

Luke Harvey was unlucky to see his lob from out wide bounce just past the far post in the 59th minute, after he had chased hard to get to a long ball before the defence.

Arlesey then scored what was to be the only goal two minutes later. An attack down the right flank ended with a near post cross which Chatham failed to clear at the first attempt. This enabled Ryan Nicholl to provide a well stuck left foot finish from 12 yards.

Chatham tried just about every combination possible up front to get back in the game, but the Arlesey defence snubbed out everything thrown at them, with Michael Cox outstanding.

The visitors came closest to scoring again with a long range shot from Nicholl, which went through a crowd of players and brought the save of the match from Louis Green.

With Stamford winning, Chats drop one place but remain in the playoff places. They now face a month on the road as their only other scheduled home fixture in December, against Harlow, has been cancelled due to their opponents involvement in the FA Trophy.

Chatham Town: Green, Binks (Boyle 76), D.Larkin, Best, Bourne, Billenness, Solly, Harvey , Denness, Cass, B.Walker (Amadi 63). Subs: A.Larkin. Finn, Fewell.