Chatham are beginning a run of home matches and boss Kevin Hake wants to make the Bauvill Stadium a fortress.

Chats play host this Saturday to Isthmian South East basement boys Corinthian, who only have one point so far this term.

They visit Haywards Heath next weekend but then presently are due to have four successive home fixtures after that.

“We have got great crowds and the support on Saturday was again unreal,” said chairman-manager Hake, whose side were backed by a healthy away contingent within the crowd of 382 at Woodstock.

“It’s just nice to see these sorts of derbies back, attracting nice crowds. It helps to keep clubs going.

“We are looking to make the Bauvill Stadium a bit of a fortress now, so we’ll look to kick on and see where we can get to.”

In total, Chats are set to play at least eight encounters this month and Hake admits their squad depth may well be tested.

He said: “We have got a really hectic month in October.

“We didn’t play a league game in September, which I think is unheard of, everything was in the cup and, now, we have got eight games in October. So the squad is going to be really critical for this.

“But we are pleased with the squad, pleased with how we have adjusted to the higher level so far, and the transition has been good.

"Hopefully we will surprise a few people.”

Both goalkeepers were in impressive form as Chatham and Sittingbourne drew and Hake has been impressed with Ben Bridle-Card since he joined the club.

“Ben’s been outstanding for us ever since he came in,” the Chats boss said.

“His professionalism is great and he kept us in the game on Saturday, as their keeper, Matt Cafer, did for them, so they have done their jobs. He earned his clean-sheet bonus, for sure!”

Chatham twice hit the woodwork, once in the first half through captain Jack Evans and through fellow midfielder Fabio Saraiva.

Hake, whose side have 10 points from five matches and are sixth, admits they can take lessons in how clinical they’ll need to be to compete at the top-end of the table from the game.

“Definitely,” he said. “Look, we have won three, drawn one and lost one and we know in every single game - whether we are winning, losing or drawing - that we have been in an encounter and that you have to be at your best.

“I don’t think we were quite at our best on Saturday. I feel we created enough chances to win the game, arguably we have created the better chances, I’m sure Nick [Davis, Sittingbourne’s manager] will disagree and say they have as well, but I think - when we do the analysis and look back at it - a little bit of extra quality in there and who knows?”

Chatham won on penalties at Ashford on Tuesday in the Kent Senior Cup.

After a 2-2 draw, in which new signing Malachi Hudson and Dan Bradshaw scored, they won the shoot-out 5-4 to go through and will face Dover at home in the next round. The second-round match will be played on Tuesday, November 22.