Chatham will hope to turn their cup hurt into league success when they make the short trip to Sittingbourne this Saturday.

It’s been a tough few days for Chats, exiting the FA Cup at home to Walton & Hersham last Tuesday and following that with an FA Trophy defeat to Stowmarket Town on Saturday, once again in front of their own supporters.

An 83rd-minute goal condemned them to a 1-0 defeat in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy but manager Kevin Hake felt their play warranted more.

He said: “It was disappointing to go out of the FA Trophy as I thought we did more than enough to win the game on the day.

“The football we played, in the first half in particular, was some of the best we have played all season and their keeper did excellent to keep them in the game. Dan [Bradshaw], Josh [Ogunseye] and Jack [Evans] all went close but it wasn’t to be. Stowmarket took their chance well and defended resolutely and held on for the win.

“Even when they scored, I still believed we had enough to not take the game straight to penalties and, but for a bit of better quality, that would have been the case.

“Those who know the way we play know that we aren’t going to settle for a draw and not go for it, so it was end-to-end towards the end of the game and Ben [Bridle-Card, the goalkeeper] has done his job and kept us in the game.

“It wasn’t to be and now we turn our attentions back to the league.”

Hake has been looking forward to the chance to play local derbies at the higher level for some time.

The Brickies start the weekend sitting 10th in Isthmian South East while Chats have enjoyed a better start, leaving them sixth in the table.

Hake said: “It will be good to test ourselves against a seasoned team at this level and I expect there to be a great atmosphere as I know this is one the fans will look at and want to be there.

“It’s nice to be able to pit ourselves against a side like Sittingbourne and I’m sure the games against them home and away will be classics that you would expect from what is a derby game.”

Midfielder Jacob Gilbert has joined the Chats having previously been with Maidstone and Hythe. He was an unused substitute in Saturday’s Trophy defeat. Tobi Irefin, who progressed through the club’s youth academy, came on for his debut as a late substitute in the defeat to Stowmarket.