Chatham Town welcomed back a popular former player for their Kent Senior Cup game on Tuesday night and enjoyed a big home win.

Dan Ellis took over in goal for the night after signing on a dual registration deal from Medway neighbours Hollands & Blair and Chatham enjoyed a goal-fest, beating Isthmian South East side Hythe Town 7-2.

Manager Kevin Hake is hungry for silverware this season and their win over Hythe puts them into the semi-finals of the county competition. They were losing finalists last season.

Chats are also into the semi-final of the Velocity Cup after beating Billericay Town on penalties last week having drawn the match 1-1. The two teams meet again this Saturday in a top-of-the-table Isthmian League Premier Division clash at the Bauvill Stadium.

Hake said: “We know we have an exciting end to the season to look forward to as we are still in three competitions and we will do our best to bring some silverware back to this great club of ours.

“Last night saw us progress through to another semi-final after beating Hythe 7-2 and it was nice to show the fans the strength in depth we have in the squad as we rotated the team to keep people fresh.

“It was great to see Dan Ellis appear for the Chats again in goal after agreeing a dual reg from Hollands & Blair. His presence is infectious and was a big part of the success at the club early days.

“He received a warm welcome from the fans which is nothing more than he deserves.”

Goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney was cup-tied on Tuesday night having played in an earlier round for Dartford. Hake has confirmed that Ben Bridle Card will be returning from loan next week after playing for Isthmian South Central side Raynes Park Vale.

Chatham were 5-2 ahead against Hythe after a thrilling opening half that had seen Jack Evans, Jordy Robins and Jamie Yila net in the first 13 minutes.

Hythe got a goal back but Kareem Isiaka and Reece Butler added another couple before the break.

Yila’s second of the night shortly after the restart put them 6-2 ahead and Ashley Nzala rounded off the scoring with a late seventh.

Also making the Semi-Finals of this year’s competition are Maidstone United and Dartford, with Ebbsfleet and Dover due to contest the remaining Quarter-Final.

Hake’s men left it late to seal the points themselves last Saturday with a 3-0 win at Lewes.

Yila scored two stoppage-time goals and he also set up the opener for Robins with 10 minutes to go, winning possession off a Lewes defender before teeing up the Chatham midfielder for the breakthrough goal.

Yila added to the scoreline with a 94th-minute penalty and another goal three minutes later when he headed home Evans’ corner past young goalkeeper Nathan Harvey, on loan from Gillingham.

Hake said: “Coming away from Lewes with all three points is never an easy thing to do. It means we have taken six points off a few teams now that you would have bitten your hand off to get at the start of the season.

“These are seasoned teams at this level and some like Dulwich and Cheshunt the levels above. The players have been brilliant and welcomed change and embraced new faces coming into the dressing room.”