Chatham Town will be hoping to get back on track when they return home this Saturday.

Chats found life tough on the road again last weekend as they failed to get going in the first half against Cray Valley and paid the price. Unable to recover from conceding twice in the opening 45 minutes, they lost 3-1.

It’s back-to-back away league defeats now for Kevin Hake’s men, while they missed out on a midweek match at Beckenham last Wednesday after the hosts called the game off because of a waterlogged pitch.

The visitors to the Bauvill Stadium this Saturday are Lancing, a team fourth from bottom in Isthmian South East.

“It was disappointing to lose ground on the league leaders on Saturday,” said Hake, as Ramsgate moved five points clear of third-placed Chatham, who still have a game in hand.

“It certainly was a game of two halves. We simply didn’t turn up in first half and, if you do that, very rarely do you win.

“A few harsh words were said at half-time and we got a reaction second half.”

Chatham had given Lateef Adaja and Elijah Simpson their debuts last weekend.

Teenage forward Adaja started from the bench after signing on a dual-registration deal from National League Bromley. He has featured for them in the league and FA Cup this season.

Simpson, who was replaced by Adaja after the hour mark, arrives from Corinthian-Casuals and prior to that, he had played in Scotland.

Denzel Gayle’s 13th-minute opener for the home side was followed by a 37th-minute penalty that Adam Coombes converted. Gayle added a second around the hour mark and Chats’ only goal came courtesy of a Cray player putting the ball into his own net in the last minute.

“We know in this league if you are not at the races then teams will punish you,” Hake said.

“I think Cray were good value for the win in the end but it may have been a different story if we took our chances.

“We need to dust ourselves down again and we have a chance to put things right against Lancing on Saturday.”

Chats further strengthened their squad with the capture of goal-scoring midfielder Billy Bennett, returning to the club following his exit from Sheppey United.

He returns to the club having previously played for them in the 2013/14 season.

Chatham’s weekend visitors Lancing have just one league win from eight away trips so far this season, while Chats have won all eight of their league fixtures at the Bauvill.

Hake said: “We know our home form has been excellent this season and we need to continue this and put pressure on the top teams in and around us.

“We won’t be underestimating them on Saturday as we know they have the ability to take points of us having already drawn with Whitehawk and Cray Valley earlier in the season.

“They tend to only be involved in games that are decided by the odd goal so it will be a good test for us.”