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Two new signings were on show for Chatham Town on Saturday as manager Kevin Hake looks to keep the squad on their toes.
Chats picked up a home win after beating Cheshunt 3-2 to quickly get back to winning ways after a loss at Bognor Regis the previous week.
Goalkeeper Slavomir Huk made his debut while Khale Da Costa came off the bench for his first appearance in Chatham colours.
Hake’s used around 40 players this season so far and believes the new signings are a help as they look to maintain their promotion push.
The Chats boss – pictured this week at Manchester United’s warm-weather training camp in Dubai – said: “We’ve brought in a few new faces with Khale and Slav in to freshen things up and compete for places.
“It’s important, especially at this stage of the season, to make sure people are on top of their game so we can continue the great run we are on.”
Da Costa, a 30-year-old who can play in all areas across the front line, has arrived from Concord Rangers with previous National League experience behind him at the likes of Braintree, Chelmsford and Enfield.
Huk, also 30, took over from Ben Bridle-Card in goal at the weekend, joining initially on loan after a successful previous stint at Dorking Wanderers.
Two goals from Kareem Isiaka and another for defender Reece Butler secured the win last weekend, with Hake admitting it wasn’t as dominant as he would have liked.
Isiaka’s double put them two up but Cheshunt got back into it from the penalty spot before Butler added his third goal in three games to make it 3-1. The visitors reduced the margin again late on.
Isthmian Premier Division table
“It wasn’t a vintage performance by us on Saturday by any means,” Hake admitted.
“Sometimes you get those games over the course of the season. We’ve certainly been involved in games when we’ve played better and not taken the three points, so I won’t complain.
“To be fair, there were a few harsh words said at half-time, and the boys showed a great reaction.”
Chatham’s opener came four minutes after the restart in front of another 1,000-plus crowd at the Bauvill Stadium.
Victory keeps Hake’s men second in the Isthmian Premier Division table ahead of their trip to Wingate & Finchley this Saturday, a team also hoping to be in the promotion shake-up this season.
“We are entering the business end of the season now where three points seem like six,” Hake said.
“Teams that are fighting for their lives are just as hard to beat as teams that are challenging for promotion.
“We have 17 games to go now in the last three months of the season, so it’s poised to be another exciting end to our campaign if we continue the form we are on.”
