Chatham Town 2-4 Waltham Forest
After last weeks tepid performance away at Witham the stags made the last of their series of lengthy away trips to Chatham Town who were hovering at the mid table mark in the table.
The mid week friendly at Dagenham &Redbridge appeared to have the desired effect and Waltham Forest started brightly with some invigorating football on a soft pitch. The home side had lost their captain and centre half Brad Potter during the warm up and Forest took full advantage in totally dominating proceedings with Adewunmi with his physically presence often threatening and linking up play . Dagher had an early chance when sent clean through but dragged his effort badly wide but he soon made amends as he slipped in Rektoceri who angled his drive into the far corner for the opening goal Metritri the home sides replacement captain at times looked to be keeping the Forest attacking hordes at bay on his own soon then collided with Whitley’s boots and had to be taken to hospital with a severely cut head. Chances still continued to come and go for Forest as Adewunmi , Dagher and Clifton all tried their hands from long range keeping Kessel in goal busy whilst Ormand and the back four dealt with the intermittent raids down the flanks from the home team with their player /manager Kevin Watson pulling the strings . Clifton made it 2-0 with the goal of the game as he played a pass into the feet of Adewunmi who held then lifted the ball into the path of the Forest skipper who continued his run and he hit a sumptuous left footed volley past the static keeper. The stags were now threatening to repeat their scoreline at Need ham Market and were helped further when another Chatham centre half limped off with a dislocated shoulder after a collision with Adewunmi.
Dagher then made it 3-0 before half time after Whiteley again got to the by line and the Liberian international who had left the flank met it near post to side foot home.
To their credit Chatham came out for the second half with serious intentions and commenced to dominate possession, their passing which was long and erratic in he first half became crisper and shorter with the cross field pass especially proving effective. However they displayed a total lack of composure in front of goal as numerous chances came and went with them failing even to register an attempt on goal in many of the attempts as headers and shots were put wide and over. When they did they found Ormand in fine form. Forest always looked dangerous on the counter attack but the game still looked liked having more goals scored at either end. Ben Head limped off after an hour with a twisted back to be replaced by Waldron who soon found himself joining the rearguard action and Chatham finally got a chance to get a foothold in the game when Ormand brought down an attacker in the back as he was heading away from goal. The Forest stopper did amazingly well to save the spot kick but in their urgency to clear the ball Forest again brought down a Chats player for another penalty. Kevin Watson this time decided if he wanted a job done he should do it himself and lashed it home. Leachman and Palmer replaced Rektoceri and Adewumni and Forest straight away took control again as the game still ebbed and flowed and minutes later Whitely in the middle of a mazy run was hacked down and Sackey dispatched the spot kick with minimal fuss to put the game beyond reach. Chatham never gave up and scored a late goal to make the final score 4-2.
