Chatham player-manager Kevin Watson refused to make excuses after watching his side humbled 6-2 at Kent Hurlimann League neighbours Lordswood on Tuesday night.

Watson (pictured) said: “I am not going to gloss over it. It was a poor performance and reflects badly on us.

“We had first team players, reserves and trialists in the side and they were all playing for a shirt in our first game of the season in a fortnight’s time. None of them could warrant getting one on that display.

“It certainly gives me food for thought about selection and people’s characters when it comes to these sort of games.

“I said after the Sevenoaks game that it was all about adapting to certain conditions and being accountable for that.

“People might have relaxed, thinking they had a divine right to the shirt but not one player has cemented their place yet, all are up for grabs and they need to keep performing.”

Jack Pallen and Harry Smith netted against Lordswood, the former linking up with Chatham, after previously training at AFC Hornchurch.

He had a loan spell at Maidstone Road while with Dartford. Ryan Palmer has also joined the squad after being released by Maidstone having scored for the county town side in a friendly last Saturday.

Watson added: “I have still got to narrow down the numbers and plan to do that after the Horsham game on Saturday."