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Chatham boss Kevin Hake would love to win the title on home soil - but he doesn’t care how they do it as long as they get over the line.
A sixth successive win for Chats against play-off chasing Cray Valley at the Bauvill Stadium would ensure they become Isthmian South East champions this Saturday with a game to spare.
A record crowd of 2,540 watched them move five points clear of second-placed Ramsgate on Easter Monday as strikes by substitute Emmanuel Oloyede and midfielder Andy Drury saw them beat their title rivals 2-0.
“It would be nice to do it in front of our home fans,” said chairman-manager Hake, whose team still need another point to ensure third-placed Whitehawk cannot catch them and two more to finish ahead of Ramsgate, although the Rams and Whitehawk meet this weekend so only one of them can take maximum from their final two fixtures.
“But if it goes to the last game, it goes to the last game. That’s football and it’s just about getting over the line now.
“We’re not there and we know they’re still chasing.
"We know that Ramsgate are an excellent team and Whitehawk are an excellent team. They’ll keep chasing for it.
“It’s been a great season but, by no means, are we thinking that it’s over.
"It’s lovely to see the fans come and celebrate - but we’re not taking anything for granted.
"There’s still a job to be done.”
Chatham’s attendance against Ramsgate was more than the 1,876 which watched them beat Sheppey at the start of last year, with both clubs earning promotion to Step 4 from the Southern Counties East Premier Division.
Hake noted: “I think the boys are getting used to it because, even last year, we were getting 1800s.
“Obviously, the town is just willing us to do well and the lads are getting used to playing under that sort of pressure.
“That’s very important if we’re going to try and progress and keep moving up through the leagues.”
But when Cray Valley and Chatham met in early December, the hosts won 3-1.
And Hake knows getting a decisive three points against them won’t be easy.
He said: “They are one of, if not the best, team we’ve played so far this season.
"So we won’t be taking them for granted.”
It’s been a fine turnaround from Chats since their last loss, a 1-0 defeat at Whitehawk in mid-March.
Hake said: “These are the championship rounds, as I’ve told the lads.
“You can win and lose at the start of the season, but you still think ‘There’s enough time and enough games to turn things around’.
"But now, we’re not taking anything for granted.”
Chats have done the business in front of goal, however they have kept successive clean sheets, too, having won 1-0 at Lancing on Saturday through skipper Jack Evans’ penalty.
Hake said: “It’s very easy to always look at the strikers in these sort of games.
“But that’s two clean sheets on the bounce now for the boys and I’ve just credited the defence for some real resolute defending, not so much on Monday, but definitely against Lancing.
"There was some really resolute defending to get the 1-0 win away.”
Chatham have moved to the brink of winning the title without some key personnel, like frontman Dan Bradshaw who has been sidelined.
“You do need a squad to win the league and the squad has played its part,” Hake said.
“Dan has scored 16 goals this season but he’s taken it like a man and that’s all you can ask for.
“All the squad have been like that - there’s just a fantastic team ethic and a fantastic team spirit here. There’s a collective which - as a team - just want to do well, which is really unheard of.
“Dan’s getting there. I’m sure he’ll feature in one of the two games remaining."
