Chats v Tags as our Cup Final line up is confirmed

The Velocity Cup Final, to be played at Parkside, home of Aveley FC, on Wednesday 17th April, already had one finalist- Pitching In Isthmian Premier side Hashtag United, who defeated Haringey Borough on Monday. And now it has two, as Chatham Town eased through last night’s second Semi-Final against Ashford United, turning on the style in the closing stages to triumph.

The Chats have had a fine Premier season so far. For much of the campaign they’ve been the chief- or, looking at the table today, only- side to challenge Hornchurch for the title. They’d also been particularly good on their own patch, with more home wins than anyone else in the top flight, so they were strong favourites as they went into their Semi-Final fixture against South East side Ashford United.

The visiting Nuts and Bolts were rather familiar with the Bauvill Stadium, as they played some of their early-season home fixtures there due to issues with the pitch at Homelands, but they were very much the underdogs after a rather mixed campaign. That said, they had already disposed of a Premier side in the competition this season, defeating Hastings United in the last round, so they knew how to be a giantkiller.

The Chats broke the deadlock on twenty two minutes, as Jamie Yila, always a threat, delivered his nineteenth goal of the season, being quickest to react to a loose ball following a corner and managing, just, to get the ball over the line. The lead lasted for only two minutes, however, Ian Draycott restoring parity after good work from Bradley Simms.

That, for rather a long time, was that, and as we approached the last twenty minutes there surely must have been thoughts about the dreaded penalty shoot out. If there were, they were quickly banished, as the hosts showed their class. First, debutant Eze Ebozoeme (pictured) got into the act, putting Chatham ahead once more, and seven minutes later another corner found its way to Yila, and the ball- of course- found its way into the net, as he took his tally for the season to twenty. At this point a comeback looked unlikely, and the visitors chances entirely departed two minutes from time, Simon Cooper making it four-one and ensuring victory. In added time the visitors added a goal of their own, Harvey Brand heading home, but that was that, a four-two win for Chatham- and a fourth win in a row for last night’s hosts against the Nuts and Bolts.

Image from the hosts- we suspect from the lens of Max English.

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