Boss Kevin Hake has described Chatham’s fixture schedule as “obscene”.

Chats suffered a second consecutive 2-0 Isthmian Premier loss as they went down at Chichester last weekend - their seventh match in a three-week period - including two games in three days after Christmas.

There is little let-up in their schedule, either. They will host Wingate & Finchley this weekend, having lost 1-0 to Hashtag United at the Bauvill Stadium on Tuesday night.

Hake said: “The schedule is obscene!

"I don’t think there is a league in the country that’s going to be playing as much as what we have.

“Even in the Premier League, where they’re full-time, they haven’t had to play back-to-back games in 48 hours.

“The league is certainly still there to play for. We now go into another run of games we have got to put up with.

"But that’s just how the league has done it this year - it’s the same for everyone.”

Chatham’s loss at Chichester saw them lose further ground on the top five. They fell behind to an early goal and lost defender Miquel Scarlett to a second yellow card in the 19th minute, with the hosts adding a late second.

It was a similar story at home to Dartford on New Year’s Day.

Defender Reece Butler put through his own net after a goalless first half before the Darts added a second.

But they are one of several clubs aiming for a top-five finish this season and, while they have had a recent downturn in form, they had been on an 11-game unbeaten league run before they went down 2-0 at Carshalton shortly before Christmas.

“If you can put four wins together, the chances are you are going to be there or thereabouts in terms of the play-off places,” said Hake, speaking after their derby against Dartford. “But that’s not an easy thing to do in any league, particularly in this one, where anyone can beat anyone.

“It’s just a case of trying to put a little bit of consistency together.”

Chatham will be hoping for good numbers to continue flocking through the gates at the Bauvill Stadium after a record crowd of more than 3,000 watched their game against Dartford.

Hake noted: “Playing them [Dartford] and having 3,000-odd people here was an unbelievable advert for football at this level.

"There will be teams in the National League that would love to get that attendance.”

Chats have signed midfielder Lewis Chambers.

The versatile 25-year-old helped previous club Bowers & Pitsea to Isthmian Premier promotion but decided to move on, making his debut in midweek as eighth-placed Chatham suffered a third straight loss after experienced defender Simon Cooper's first-half red card.

Hake's outfit have already played Wingate & Finchley at the Bauvill Stadium this season, beating them 1-0 in the FA Trophy in early October thanks to winger Jordy Mongoy’s goal.