Chatham Town beat Cheshunt 1-0 on Tuesday with a goal from Freddie Sears and host Folkestone Invicta this Saturday in the Isthmian Premier Division

lcawdell@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 05:00, 13 December 2024 | Updated: 09:27, 13 December 2024

Chatham Town manager Kevin Hake admits he’s enjoying being part of the chasing pack this season.

A slower-than-usual start to their league campaign means the Chats have been playing catch-up but another win in midweek has moved them to within touching distance of the Isthmian Premier Division play-off places.

Chatham Town manager Kevin Hake is enjoying the challenge this season Picture: Max English @max_ePhotos

Freddie Sears’ early goal was enough for Chatham to clinch a 1-0 win at Cheshunt. The home side had the chance to level from the penalty spot in the first half but were denied by a save from goalkeeper Joe Wright.

Chats are on a 10-game unbeaten run in the league and face a big Kent derby this Saturday at home to fellow play-off chasers Folkestone Invicta - a side managed by their former player Andy Drury.

Hake said: “It was a hard-fought win against a resolute Cheshunt side and I believe their position at the moment to be a false one.

“With back-to-back credible draws against Carshalton and Dulwich we knew we would have to put a shift in to get a result.

“With the journey taking longer than usual, due to an accident, and the wind being a leveller we felt like things were against us, which also included a very soft penalty given against us. We overcome them all and thanks to a great save from Wrighty and some clinical finishing from Searsy we came away with three points.

“The recent run of form has pleased me and it’s seen us get in touching distant now of the play-offs.

“We are by no means getting carried away as the league this season means one loss, or win, can take you up or down five places. It’s important to not have the rollercoaster of emotions when you are in a position like that.

“We need to just keep knuckling down and grinding out results no matter who we face.”

Isthmian Premier Division table

Chatham are now just two points off the play-off places, with a better goal difference than all of the teams around them. Dartford sit between themselves and the top five.

Just below them are weekend visitors Folkestone.

Hake said: “We are used to the pressure but full credit must go to the lads for absorbing this every week as it’s not easy.

“As we move into the middle third of the season we need to continue this run of form and be patient, see how other teams react to the pressure of going through good and bad spells.

“It’s been a different type of season to what we are used to. We’re used to being out in front but I would be lying if said I wasn’t enjoying this season being part of the chasing pack.

“We’ve been written off already by many this season but over the years we’ve seen off these similar type of comments and come back even stronger.

“It’s sometimes easy to forget that this is only our second season at this level and we are surrounded by seasoned campaigners, who like us want to gain promotion.

“You only have to look at the top eight teams in the table as it stands to realise that only Cray Valley have managed to break into this leading pack from the division below and, like us in our debut season, would be delighted with a top-eight finish at the end of this season.

“We are now entering the Christmas period, where over the next three weeks we play in seven fixtures, so this will see the table develop even further.

“We have big home games starting on Saturday against Folkestone and then face Burgess Hill on Tuesday for place in quarter-finals of Velocity Cup so there is plenty to look forward to over forthcoming weeks.”