Second half goals give Chatham win

Having ended their four game losing run at Waltham Abbey during the week, the Greens named an unchanged side for their trip to Kent.

Both sides had early attacks, although chances were limited at either end until the 18th minute when Greygoose kept out Bingham’s low freekick with his legs. Soham then took the lead midway through the half when Ofori-Gyasi released Stanley down the left, from where the striker made his way into the area only for Kidman to kick his attempted clearance straight at Stanley, with the ball rebounding into the net. Just after the half hour, Soham were forced into a change after Stanley landed awkwardly twisting his ankle, with the Captain being replaced by Conor Diver. Chatham finished the half looked for an equaliser but despite putting balls into the area were constantly thwarted by the Green’s with McCann twice putting angled balls across the face of goal and wide.

Chatham introduced George Humber at the interval with the hosts pushing forward straight from the restart and within minutes Greygoose made a fine save to deny the substitute with Davies following up to head behind, before McCann fired wide of the near post. However two goals inside five minutes turned the game in Chatham’s favour, levelling in the 51st minute when Kieron McCann received a left sided ball in space to fire an angle shot wide of Greygoose. Five minutes later the hosts took the lead when Humber collected a floated ball into the area to turn and volley past Greygoose. Just before the hour, the Greens made a tactical change as Goddard replaced Hall, before Gent headed clear Bingham’s goal bound effort. As the game continued, Soham created a number of attacks but really failed to test the hosts with Simpson and Ofori-Gyasi placing at Kidman. With ten minutes remaining, Greygoose again pulled off a fine save, this time pushing away Humber’s shot from distance before French headed over from within the six-yard box. But with two minutes remaining, Chatham made sure of the points when Hickey’s freekick into the area wasn’t cleared with Connor French heading in at the back post.

Soham Town Rangers
J. Greygoose, A. Luque, J. Baker, S. Spencer, J. Gent, R. Ruddy, M. Simpson, R. Sharman, M. Hall (W. Goddard 59), L. Stanley (C. Diver 31), K. Ofori-Gyasi
Unused: I. Hart

Chatham Town
L. Kidman, R. Davies (L. Collins 71), G. Benbow, J. Loft, L. Hickey, L. Knight, J. Taylor (G. Humber 46), C. Holder, C. French (G. Tilley 88), J. Bingham, K. McCann
Unused: A. Edwards, F. McArdle

Score: (0-1) 3-1

Goals
STRFC: L. Stanley (23)
CTFC: K. McCann (51), G. Humber (56), C. French (88)

Yellow Cards
STRFC: M. Simpson (Persistent 47), K. Ofori-Gyasi (Foul 68), A. Luque (Foul 90)
CTFC: None

Attendance: 125