Chatham Town manager Kevin Hake took pride from his team’s Velocity Cup Semi-Final defeat on Monday night.

Isthmian South East promotion chasers Chats pushed home side Aveley - a side with title aspirations in the division above - all the way, drawing 1-1 after 90 minutes before losing 4-2 on penalties.

It always promised to be a tough ask for Hake’s men against their higher-ranked Essex opponents but they rose to the challenge, taking an early lead through Jack Evans, but were then pegged back as Aveley struck with a 43rd-minute penalty. It was finally settled with a shoot-out.

“I’m incredibly proud of the way the players played,” said the Chats boss.

“We went toe-to-toe with a team challenging for the title in the league above and didn’t look out of place.

“We played some great football, particularly first half, and created a number of chances.

“They were big and strong and to be fair earlier in the season we may have struggled with a team like that. But the lads have developed a resilience as time has gone on and we more than matched them, battling and fighting as well as keeping true to our footballing beliefs.

“The lads were gutted to lose out on penalties on the night but we dust ourselves down and prepare for Haywards Heath in the league on Saturday.”

Chatham are second in Isthmian South East, two points behind leaders Ramsgate with a game in hand. It’s a promotion battle that has swung one way and another for many weeks.

Saturday’s 3-1 win at VCD, coupled with a draw for Ramsgate, left Hake’s men in a great position.

It was Evans again who scored on Saturday, after four minutes, and although Jordan Greaves got one back, Callum Peck restored the advantage and Dan Bradshaw sealed the points in the second half.

There are nine league games remaining, with a midweek trip to Whitehawk on Tuesday following on from Saturday’s home game with Haywards Heath - a side battling against relegation.

Hake has been delighted with his own team as they battle for honours.

He said: “There are some serial winners in that dressing room so this helps keeping a level head as we approach the business end.

“We only have four games left at the Bauvill in the league and this is our only home league game in March so it would be good to see as many supporters as we can help cheer us on.”

Chatham have bolstered their squad by signing versatile midfielder Che Krabbendam.

The 23-year-old midfielder has previously played for a number of clubs including Dover, Welling, Herne Bay and Dartford having moved to England after starting with Belgian giants Anderlecht