Burgess Hill 1 - 1 Blue Brazil (well, sort of)

Chatham came away from Leyland's Park on Saturday with the feeling that it was two points dropped as much as it was one vital point gained after a superb performance on a very sticky pitch. Hours of rain in the south of the country put the game in serious doubt, yet Burgess Hill's Leyland's Park ground stood up to the rain well, meaning the game went ahead.

Chatham started slowly, Burgess Hill dominating early proceedings, and it was no surprise that the goal came when it did, after some thirty minutes, that usual problem of a lack of concentration at the back rearing its ugly, wearisomely repetitive head once more, to leave stand in keeper Adam Molloy to pick the ball out of his net and scream a few choice words at his defence.

Chatham did threaten sporadically throughout the half, Joe Fuller's belter beating everyone including the keeper from 30 yards, only to whistle over the bar, but too often the final ball was lacking, or Chatham wandered offside.

Paul Foley must have finally found the words to rally the team at the half time interval, as Chatham came out and dominated the second half, playing a tidy pass and move game all over the pitch, which was particularly impressive given how heavy the pitch was in places. Chatham won a free kick in the 70th minute which was cleared for a corner. From this, good movement in the box allowed Joe Fuller to rifle home from 10 yards, and Chatham were level. Soon after, the lively, tricksy, yet ultimately unthreatening Francis Tshikaya made a substitute appearance and could have won it when he connected to a cross into the six yard box, but found that both his stick thin legs and the ball soon became stuck in the developing quagmire that was the six yard box.

Chatham fought for every ball, and were first to the second ball each time in the second half, which should give Paul Foley a selection headache when he has a full compliment to pick from. Uche Ibermere, Billy Shinners, Anthony Hogg and James Tedder all missed the game through injury, after Fuller and Firth paired up well at the front, with Jason Dolby having an assured performance in the middle of the park in the role that Fuller would normally take if Shinners started. Can't be easy being Foley.

The only disappointing part of the game was the amount of backchat directed at the officials by Chatham's frontline - there's really no need for it, and some of the language would have vindicated a straight red. I appreciate that the heat of the moment can kick in, but the lino in question actually had a good game. He was right on most of the calls, regardless of which, the chances are that even if he was wrong, swearing in his face isn't going to make a difference. And come to think of it, if you play at R1S, the chances are that the refs are going to be as distant in quality to Howard Webb as you are to Neil Webb. As he is now. That's possibly a bit harsh, but the fact remains that if we keep allowing officials to be subjected to abuse from players, then we'll see less and less of the good ones sticking at it. Leave them alone and let the football do the talking.

Moan aside, its good to see that Aaron Firth and Paul Foley's beard growing efforts for Max Walsh's appeal have now raised over three grand. What a great thing for the two of them, and the club to do, big hand clap needed for them on Saturday, when the presentation will take place.

Saturday sees the visit of Met Police to TOSC. Should be an encounter - they're not as good as they were when we were the first side to take a point off them in October, and we've shown how well we can play when we faced play off contenders Burgess Hill on Saturday. Let's hope for some consistency and three points - its time to go on an end of season run and finish like we did two years ago, twelve unbeaten.

Chatham: Molloy, Laker, Rice, Barton, John Hogg, Dolby, Potter, Ward, Hegley, Fuller, Firth - Subs Watson, Wilkins, Azzopardi, Hunt, Tshikaya (on for Hegley 62)