Chatham Town’s promotion hopes were ended by Enfield Town in the Isthmian Premier Division play-off final.

The opening half at Chatham ended goalless but just three minutes after the restart Bernard Tanner fired the visitors in front and Marcus Wyllie made it 2-0 for Enfield after 70 minutes. Lewis Taaffe added a stoppage-time third.

Monday’s play-off final came after promotions in each of Chatham’s previous two seasons under chairman-manager Kevin Hake but they were unable to make it three on the spin.

Just two points had separated the sides at the end of the season, with the Chats finishing above their play-off rivals following a 2-2 draw between the sides in the final game of the regular season.

Chatham’s second-place finish in the table ensured they had home advantage for Monday’s final and 2,600 supporters cheering them on at the Bauvill Stadium.

Hake named an unchanged starting line-up to the one which faced Horsham in their semi-final play-off match.

Chatham’s defence came under serious pressure that night - eventually winning on penalties - but Enfield didn’t offer the same attacking intent.

Sam Youngs nodded over the bar for Enfield and Oliver Kight forced a save from home keeper Mitchell Beeney - one of several half chances for the forward - but Chatham were in charge of the opening half.

They might have led at the break too, when Jordy Robins slipped the ball into the path of Harvey Bradbury but the striker lacked conviction with the shot, leaving Rhys Forster to make a comfortable save.

Chatham were allowed time on the ball to build from the back but Enfield were defending in numbers and it was a case of picking out a quality ball to open them up.

Yila put in inviting low cross that just needed tapping in after breaking down the left flank and just before the break a ball in from the opposite flank by Khale Da Costa was headed over by Kareem Isiaka.

Enfield took the lead early in the second half when Tanner struck through a crowded area with a low drive, finding the bottom corner from 20 yards.

The visitors thought they had a second when a deep cross was nodded down for Marcus Wyllie, who finished from close range, but the linesman’s flag was up for offside to halt the celebrations.

Yila struck goalwards for Chats as he was picked out by Jamie Mascall on the edge of the box from a corner but the shot lacked the power to trouble goalkeeper Forster.

Isiaka’s effort from the edge of the box made Forster stretch to tip the ball over as Chats looked for a way back into the game.

Enfield doubled their lead with 20 minutes left when Knight’s show was saved by Beeney but the ball ran loose and Wyllie was there to convert in front of the noisy away fans.

Knight put another chance over for Enfield after meeting a cross at the near post as Chatham continued to probe without finding a way past the visiting defence.

Yila’s direct running led to a couple of corners and he put one effort over the bar from close range while Chris Dickson went close to meeting a cross at the far post.

Mascall also shot off target and it wasn’t to be for Chatham as their surge through the leagues was put on hold.

Enfield scored a third in stoppage-time when Chatham were caught short in defence and Wyllie played in substitute Taaffe to complete the scoreline.

Chatham: Beeney, Scarlett, Butler, Beckwith, Robins (Liburd 65mins), Dunne, Evans, Da Costa (Mascall 58mins), Yila, Isiaka, Bradbury (Dickson 65mins). Subs not used: Kedwell, Cooper.

Enfield: Forster, Parcell, MacKenzie, Tanner, Adjei-Hersey, Thomas, Harvest, Payne, Youngs, Knight (Tafffe 90mins), Wyllie. Subs not used: Okotcha, Connolly, Beckles-Richards, Hippolyte.

Referee: Jake Willmore

Attendance: 3,000 (400 away)