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Chatham Town will look to put their inconsistent league form behind them when they tackle higher-league opposition in the FA Cup this Saturday.
Manager Kevin Hake admitted there were no excuses for a 3-1 home defeat against Canvey Island last weekend in the Isthmian Premier, their third loss from their opening seven league games.
Chatham will be looking to bounce back with a home tie against National South side Slough Town in the FA Cup third qualifying round.
Last weekend’s league defeat saw Canvey score twice in the opening 10 minutes and they blazed a penalty over the bar after the hour mark before adding a third with a minute remaining.
Chats got a consolation through young striker Sam Sene-Richardson deep into added-on time but to add to Chatham’s woes, they also had substitute Reece Butler - on his 300th appearance - sent off for a second bookable offence.
“No excuses, we weren’t good enough on Saturday,” said the Chats boss.
“I don’t want to take anything away from Canvey, as they were deserved winners, but we gifted them the win.
“We conceded two early goals and once you do that you are always going to face an uphill struggle.
“We now look forward to a bumper tie against Slough in the FA Cup at home, where we find ourselves just two wins away from the first round proper.
“We know it’s going to be tough a game as Slough are doing well in the level above but we know there is a lot at stake.
“Our league form of late has not been great, but in the FA Cup we came through difficult away ties against Westfield and Welling United, so we will need to replicate that form if we are to be in hat for next round.”
Isthmian League Premier Division table
Chats handed a couple of a new signings a start in their Kent Senior Cup first round match against Cray Wanderers on Tuesday night, which ended in a 2-1 defeat.
Cray included a new signing of their own in their team, handing a start to former Chatham Town and Gillingham right-back Ike Orji.
Jordy Mongoy scored Chatham’s goal in their loss on his debut. The winger joined from Hemel Hempstead Town and netted an equaliser on 55 minutes, quickly cancelling out Cray’s opener.
Cray restored the lead from the penalty spot just after the hour mark after Chats keeper Joe Wright - another recent addition - was penalised for a foul inside the box and the visitors remained in front to take the win. All three goals came within a 10-minute spell.
Central defender Valckx Fernandes also signed before their midweek clash after time with Potters Bar Town and Bowers & Pitsea and was included in the starting line-up.
Hake said: “We looked to rest some players and give others a chance.
“The new signings were added to the squad to strengthen the team and give greater competition for places.
“It’s always more difficult at this stage of the season as the games come thick and fast, especially if you are still in FA Cup.
“Although there were some good performances, I think we were guilty of not taking our chances and sometimes you get punished for that.
“It was good to get a run out for the lads and see some players get 90 minutes under their belts for the first time this season.”
Weekend FA Cup visitors Slough sit seventh in the National South table - one level above the Chats. Kick off at the Bauvill Stadium on Saturday is 3pm.
The weekend action at the Bauvill doesn’t stop there, with a busy day on Sunday at the Maidstone Road ground.
Chatham Women are at home against Actonians in the FA Women’s National League Plate first round, with a 2.30pm kick-off.
Following that, ‘Sellebrity Soccer’ returns to Chatham, with a host of familiar faces lining up to help raise money for Step and Learn – a charity dedicated to improving the lives of children with physical disabilities through conductive education.
Danny Dyer is among those set to play, along with former The Only Way Is Essex actor and Big Brother contestant Dan Osborne, Love Island trio Ronnie Vint (also ex-Dartford FC), Munveer Jabbal and Moziah Pinder and EastEnders soap stars Dean Gaffney (Robbie Jackson), Ricky Groves (Garry Hobbs) and Matt Lapinskas (Anthony Moon).
Married At First Sight contestants Georges Berthonneau and Arthur Poremba, along with comedian ‘Man Like Haks’ are also set to line up in the match, with others to be confirmed. Kick-off is at 6.30pm, with tickets costing £12.
