CHARLTON Park’s unbeaten start to the season was brought to a shuddering halt when an inept first half of play allowed a free-running Medway side to establish control of a match which seemed to be out of the home side’s reach for long periods.

An error from the kick-off by Charlton set the tone of the first half, as at the ensuing scrum Medway put Park under considerable pressure and caused the first elements of panic that was to punctuate the home side’s play for the half.

Despite Charlton’s defence being resolute, they were unable to clear the ball out of their 22m area and Medway deservedly took the lead after five minutes when they kicked a penalty.

From the restart, another error saw the ball fail to travel 10m and once again put Charlton onto the defensive.

Sensing they were already in the ascendency, Medway increased the pressure and tempo in their play.

When Charlton had small amounts of possession, they gave glimpses of their true potential, but sloppy handling combined with ill-discipline at times meant that no real momentum was established and Medway had the best of the play.

Following a fine break by Charlton they had an opportunity to post their first points midway through the half but tantalisingly the kick by Sam Naden hit the post from long range and bounced back into a waiting Medway player’s arms.

It was during one of Charlton’s rare incursions into the Medway half when they suffered a major setback.

Medway’s fine running fly half intercepted an ill-judged pass and, following an impressive show of speed, he outstripped the desperate chasing back by Charlton to touch the down between the posts to assist his subsequent conversion.

To compound Charlton’s problems, a well rehearsed move from a lineout saw Medway score their second try with a good handling move.

Throughout the first half, Charlton had shown very little cohesion in play but the start of the second half saw an improvement in their play and they began to put several good phases of play together.

It was hooker Sam Baker’s drive which finally set up Charlton’s first score of the match when, following his fine break and a series of drives, Medway gave away a penalty.

Shunning the kick, Charlton took a quick tap and following good passing Saunderson crashed over from close range to score the try.

Putting his penalty miss in the first half behind him, Naden then kicked the conversion from close to the side line to give Charlton an element of hope.

Charlton were unlucky not to score a try through Michael Casizzi when, following good interplay between him and Barry O’Keeffe, Casizzi was adjudged to have been tackled into touch just shy of the Medway goal line.

Despite Charlton’s best endeavours, they were unable to breakdown the Medway defence to score any further points and thereby conceded their top two league position and their unbeaten record.

This weekend, Charlton Park travel to Horsham.