Chatham missed out on an FA Cup payday last weekend but chairman Jeff Talbot hasn’t taken his eyes off the bigger picture.

He drew parallels with Championship side Brighton, following their midweek Carling cup exit to Liverpool, with the way the side are progressing in the lower reaches of semi-pro football.

Chatham sit third in Ryman League, Division 1 North but were beaten 1-0 by Worthing in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Mr Talbot (pictured) said: "It was a close game but their goalkeeper played a blinder and they held on for the win.

"After watching the Brighton versus Liverpool cup game on Wednesday, I can draw parallels with the way we are going and the way Brighton are.

"Their fans went home happy despite losing to Liverpool because they had played so well and our supporters too can recognise that something is happening here.

"Brighton have got a new ground and we have got new buildings going up and there is a real buzz around here. Despite going out of the cup, we are still looking forward and are certainly on the up."

Chatham host Waltham Abbey on Saturday aiming to maintain their impressive start to the league.

He said: "The results so far have surprised us but then at the end of last season we finished with three wins and a draw and I was thinking how great it would be to be playing like that on a regular basis. We seem to have carried that form on. The only other defeat was against Grays and on their day they are a Conference team.