PLT – Lordswood 0-3 Chatham Town
Tuesday 1st June
Post-Lockdown Tournament
Lordswood 0-3 Chatham Town
Martyn Grove
Attendance: 344
Match Report from Simon Baker and Jim Case for Non League Chronicles
Gazing across the Lordswood pitch I was reminded that I need to get the strimmer out of the shed. Whilst the grass on the playing surface at the Bill Bishop Memorial Stadium is perhaps not quite at the level of my back garden it certainly appeared not to have had a recent acquaintance with the mower, unlike the next door cricket pitch, which was looking splendid in the late Spring sunshine.
It has to be said that the game was not the best in the opening minutes. A Chats team showing several changes from Saturday’s 4-4 slobberknocker with Sheppey United struggled to get going, whilst Lordswood look very much a team in development who are using the tournament to try out new players.
Missing the talismanic Jack Evans in midfield, passing duties fell to the young Jack Parmby, who despite have a very big pair of boots to fill, was influential in the long grass.
A healthy crowd had once again assembled, proving what a worthwhile exercise the tournament has been, both in terms of generating some much needed income for the clubs, and allowing players to shed the lockdown pounds and regain some match fitness.
A tight opening period saw the scores deadlocked until the 35th minute when Chatham’s Reece Butler played the ball out to Jon Pilbeam who crossed for Dan Bradshaw to put the visitors one up.
From the restart, Lordswood were on the attack and Sam Stace broke down the right and crossed to Chandler Kasai who saw his effort cleared off the line by Freddie Cray.
The Chats doubled their lead in first half stoppage time when a cross by Ryan Hayes was converted by Pilbeam.
The visitors would extend their lead on 56 minutes when Hayes made it 3-0 when he curled an effort into the far corner.
The latter stages of the contest became stop-start as both teams made substitutions to give younger players at their respective clubs some game time. Despite chances for Andy Pugh, Matt Bodkin and Hayes, the score stayed 3-0 and Chats took the three points.
NLC Man Of The Match: Jon Pilbeam
A first start in the competition for the experienced wide man and he can be pleased with his contribution of a goal and an assist.
