Chats 3-2 Mersts

A late match report this is admittedly, but on Saturday 16th January, Chatham finally got the new decade under way with three points in a hard won win over a decent Merstham side featuring former Dartford and Met Police frontman Craig Carley.

It had not been a good year up until the game for Chatham. Reeling from the horrendous injury suffered by Mark Green in the last game of the old decade, and with nearly three weeks of inaction to dwell on matters, it was a delight to see that Chatham remained strong in the tackle and committed to the cause.

It was something of a testament to the hard work and spirit that's around the club these days that the game even went ahead. Photos on the official site taken on Friday morning showed the Theatre of Slapstick's hallowed turf under plenty of the white stuff. Somehow, with a sudden thaw and plenty of shovel action from hardy volunteers, the game went ahead, the pitch in miraculous condition.

The pitch even lent itself to some decent football, and Chatham started with a bold front three of Cass, Barnett and that eternal returnee Rob Denness, a man who at 22 years of age has now made three debuts for his hometown club.

Denness gave us something we've been missing since Steve Hafner and Byron Walker's mysterious departures in having someone who can run at and scare defenders, and he did this with aplomb. He really does need to know when to pass though, something his game has yet to develop, as on several occasions he took it past one player too many. But let's not dwell on the one negative in his game. Anyone who saw Denness' horror challenge in the Ryman League Cup against Harlow three years ago will know that he's a man who plays with his heart off of his sleeve. He loves the red and black of Chatham, and fitted in perfectly with his new charges. I don't have team sheet for his last first team game for us, but I'd hazard a guess that only Richard Avery remains on it from his last stint with us.

Chatham took the lead with a typical Cass header on thirteen minutes, where he ghosted in unmarked at the Luton end to place a pinpoint header past the outstretched Ian Chatfield in the Merstham goal.

The half ended one nil despite plenty of action and endeavour, and it was no surprise to see Denness subbed on 65 minutes, his lack of match fitness apparent after one run too many that had turned into nothing more than a subdued jog.

His replacement Justin Ascheri roared the Chats frontline back into life, there's nothing like the sight of someone playing for their shirt, and it was on such an attack that Tristan Frontin felled the substitute when he went through on goal. The referee missed the opportunity to play advantage as Cass picked up the loose ball with only the keeper to beat at pace, but rightly showed a red card to the Merstham player. Chatham failed to make the resulting free kick work i their favour, and were punished for a lack of finishing in the interim. A typical blinkin' Chatham bit of defending left Craig Carley to poke home amid chaos not seen since the fall of the Berlin Wall, Ruddy spilling a shot and players apparently falling over themselves and thin air. Merstham's chins up attitude to the sending off was much to their credit, and the game really came alive.

Seven minutes later, Cass was brought down outside the Merstham box, and Ashley Probets looped in free kick, which somehow evaded a final touch from both Cass and Barnett to loop past the outstretched Chatfield to restore Chatham's advantage on 78 minutes.

The lead was not to last long though, much in the style to which Chats fans have become accustomed with perhaps the finish of the game when on 81 mins, Billy Marshall looped home from an acute angle on the end of a cross that did for everyone, and a rickety Chatham looked in danger of collapse.

But step forward big Lee Barnett, who in space a man of his ability should just not be afforded found time to set up a fierce drive from the edge of the D. His shot took a wicked deflection on the way through (although it looked every bit of a goal in the nanosecond before it made contact), and looped high over the keeper before dropping over the goal line. It was nothing more than Barnett deserved having given the post a close shave in the first half with a similar driven effort, and for his superb work in holding up the ball and actually putting some tackles in.

Chatham held out edgily, and despite a great chance from both a corner and a free kick, Merstham could not find a way through.

Three points and three positives for Don Logan's men, and a trip to Leatherhead on Saturday for the Denness, Cass and Barnett Roadshow.

Chatham; Ruddy (6), Scott (7), Probets (9), Avery (8), Potter (7), Lyons (7), Solly (8) Rowe (7), Denness (7) Cass (8), Barnett (8); subs Ascheri for Denness (7), May for Rowe (6), Hollington for Lyons (unrated like a weird documentary for coming on in injury time).

Them - a good side. Should finish strongly. Need to watch out for points ahead of them if we can find any consistency to mount a play off push.

The ref: Mr Parker. Very Ryman league.

Plus points. Ashley Probets goal, Ashley Probets performance, Rob Denness's return.

MOTM: Well, the ratings say it. Ashley Probets. Always squirreling away, his passing was top notch (up until I pointed it out and he then mishit one in a dangerous position) and an excellently taken free kick that would have caused problems at any level. Finally showed the true class that had him on a contract at Arsenal not six years ago.

Quote of the day: Ian Chatfield pointing out to a Merstham fan behind his goal that he had no better idea who'd scored their first than the said fan - "How should I know - it was all the way up there!"