Waltham Forest 3-1 Chatham Town
The Indian Summer may only last a few more days, but Forest’s good form shows no sign of fading away.
Wale Ojelabi’s side have now accumulated as many wins in 8 matches this season as they did in the entire previous campaign.
Forest were forced into making several changes from the side that beat Harlow Town at the weekend. Josh Green returned after sitting out his suspension, while Lukman Mojeed was forced to play at centre back in the absence of Antone Douglas.
The home side were sluggish to get into the game and were punished in the sixth minute. Gaz Dauti lost the ball in midfield, and Adam Marsh was played into the right hand side of the area. Josh Green attempted to clear Marsh’s poor cross, but could only look on in anguish as the ball span off his foot and into the back of the net.
Despite this mistake, Forest continued to give the ball away far too much in midfield and were almost punished again mid-way through the half, when Aaron Omand was forced into a low front-post save.
Forest’s chances were dealt a blow when Jeff Hammond limped off injured after being kicked off the ball by a Chatham defender. However, his replacement Richard Shittu more than stepped up to the plate.
Chatham had two further chances in the first half, both falling to Marsh. In the first instance he curled a shot narrowly over from around the penalty spot, while his second shot ended up closer to the corner flag than the goal.
Just before half time, Joel Palmer was given acres of room just outside the Chatham box, but he miss-kicked twice and his eventual third shot was tame and easily held by Adam Molloy in the Chatham goal.
If Forest were poor in the first half, they more than made up for it in the second, showing their attacking intent right from the whistle.
On 48 Peggy Lokando was felled just outside the box, earning his side a free kick. Elton Sackey’s pin-point cross was met by captain Dauti who flicked the ball into the top corner of the goal, leaving the ‘keeper rooted to his line.
Forest doubled their lead on 62. Just as on Saturday, a visiting defence allowed a long kick to bounce in the area, and just as on Saturday, Joel Palmer was there to pounce on the dozy defending. Palmer did well to judge a bouncing ball and unleashed a fearsome volley to give his side a well-earned lead.
The home side continued to press, and Shittu was instrumental in setting up several chances. In one break, Shittu’s deft flick put Peggy Lokando through, who continued to deliver a ball to Palmer who was advancing on goal. However, as so often seen at Cricklefields, a bobble took the ball away from Palmer and he fired over.
Forest thought they should have had a penalty when Dagher was sent flying off the ball in the six-yard box, but the referee waved play on, much to amazement of the crowd.
Moments later it was the turn of the visitors to have a penalty appeal turned down. This time Lukman Mojeed was the defender putting in a last-ditch challenge, but was adjudged to have played the ball.
With six minutes of injury time played, Forest finally made sure of the victory. A defensive clearance was helped on by Shittu to second half substitute Billy Healey who fired in a powerful effort from just inside the penalty area.
With another three points, Forest move up to second in the table, and will be full of confidence ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup clash with Eastbourne Borough.
Forest: Omand, Sackey, Nicholas, Lokando, Mojeed, Green, Dagher, Dauti, Palmer, Hammond (Shittu), Bonnett (Healey)
Unused: Melton, Campbell, Molnar
Photos from Rod Lewis.
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