Goal-friendly Chatham eased past fellow promotion-chasing team Billericay to consolidate second position in the Isthmian Premier table on Saturday.
A stunning free-kick by captain Jack Evans on a landmark appearance, alongside Kareem Isiaka’s first two goals of the afternoon and a header by Rowan Liburd, put Chats in control after Adam Leathers had sent them behind in the early stages.
Ricay pulled another back before the break but - with Chatham involved in a second goal-fest in the space of four days - Isiaka completed his hat-trick and top scorer Jamie Yila also got among the goals with a penalty as it finished 6-3.
Gary McCann’s men, looking to respond after successive defeats, had actually enjoyed the perfect start and went ahead in the fifth minute of a breathtaking match at the Bauvill Stadium in front of a crowd of 2,084.
Midfielder Leathers leathered beyond home goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney to find the bottom corner from debutant Sydney Ibie’s cross.
Four minutes later, Liburd poked inches over from a corner by 30-year-old Evans.
But Evans did brilliantly equalise. He blasted a free-kick beyond helpless Billericay keeper Dan Wilks from around 30 yards to spark the home fans into life with his 12th goal this season.
Soon after, the visitors thought they had been awarded a penalty, only for the linesman’s offside flag to save Chats.
The home team completed their first-half turnaround on 25 minutes. Yila crossed from the left and, while Isiaka saw his initial effort blocked by a Ricay defender, he fired into the net.
And the same combination were at it again for Chats’ third. Isiaka had plenty to do from Yila’s pass, but weaved his way through before he found the top corner.
Threatening to really turn on the style,
Read more on kentonline.co.uk
kentonline.co.uk
