Chats and Nuts and Bolts progress on a night of Kentish Velocity triumph

Chatham Town offered free mince pies and mulled wine to all comers at their Velocity Cup Fourth Round tie against Basildon United last night, but their charity was confined to the refreshment kiosk as they defeated their Pitching In Isthmian North visitors three-one.

After a goalless first half in which the Bees played a very much equal part, the Premier Division title chasers moved up a gear after the break. They went ahead from the spot on sixty four minutes, Jack Evans keeping his nerve to score his ninth goal of the season, and then substitute Kareem Isiaka took over, adding a second and a third on seventy and eighty four minutes to take his Velocity Cup tally to three goals in two matches. Right at the end the Bees got a goal back, Callum Fitzer (not Kye Jude, who is listed mistakenly on Football Web Pages) with a deserved consolation.

Not too far away, Pitching In Isthmian South East side Ashford United were hoping to end a three match losing streak as South Central Westfield made the long journey from Woking- and the Nuts and Bolts did just that.

It was the visitors who made the breakthrough eight minutes before the break, Jacob Breckon providing the joy- but the joy was short lived when Danny Parish levelled just four minutes later. The hosts went ahead on the hour, Harvey Brand making it two, but this time it was Westfield’s turn to quickly level and they did it within three minutes, Manolis Gogonas making it two-two.

With thirteen minutes to go and thoughts beginning to turn towards a penalty shootout, the Nuts and Bolts went ahead once more, Rhyle Ovenden scoring his first goal for the club on his forty sixth appearance (Image from Ian Scammell). Right at the end Westfield’s chances departed, Ben Gorham making it four-two and ensuring his side still have a cup to fight for in the New Year.

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