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Chatham boss Kevin Hake saluted the efforts of newly crowned champions Hornchurch and is keen to taste a bit of that success himself this season.
Long-time leaders Hornchurch clinched the Isthmian Premier title on Saturday with an injury-time win over Chats. Hake’s men can seal their play-off place this weekend with a point at home to Folkestone.
Chats follow up their Kent derby with a Velocity Cup Final on Wednesday night when they face Hashtag United.
Hake said: “Saturday’s game was all about moments and on this occasion Hornchurch came out on top.
“It was a similar affair when we played them at the Bauvill and, on that occasion, we took our chances and won the game.
“Full credit to Hornchurch for winning the league as they have been the standout consistent team and that is what it takes.
“Seeing them celebrate brought back memories of similar scenes when we achieved a similar feat last season.
“Although we haven’t managed to win the league at our first attempt we still have so much to play for with a Cup Final next week and three league games as we continue our battle to get in the play-offs.
“That starts Saturday against Folkestone who are in a rich vein of form of late.
“We then play Hashtag in the League Cup Final and this is the reason you get involved in football.
“Challenging for trophies and promotion is not a right you get year-on-year, it is always earned. We have got ourselves into a great position and we will be embracing these moments as we know they are rare.”
Isthmian Premier Division top-seven ahead of the weekend
Chats have had their fair share of success in recent years with back-to-back promotions. Avoiding defeat on Saturday – or results going their way elsewhere – will ensure they finish in the top five of the Isthmian Premier and contest the play-offs.
While a play-off spot is all but done and dusted, Hake’s men will be looking to retain second place to ensure they have home advantage in the Semi-Final and then the Final, should they get there.
Last Saturday’s defeat to Hornchurch came after conceding a stoppage-time goal scored by former Gillingham striker Liam Nash. Rowan Liburd’s 88th-minute effort looked to have secured a point for Chats after the Essex side took the lead shortly after the hour.
Weekend opponents Folkestone are managed by Andy Drury, who joined Chats as a player for the second half of last season, helping them clinch the Isthmian South East title.
He took charge in November and has steered Invicta clear of relegation trouble and picked up quite a few wins of late, albeit most of them coming at home. Drury’s team could include some ex-Chatham players including Cameron Brodie, Eddie Allsopp and Seidou Sanogo.
Drury is close friends with Chats’ assistant player-boss Danny Kedwell but will be putting friendships aside this weekend.
He said: “They have a lot of quality and it will be up to us to kind of spoil the party a little bit.
“If you look at the form guide over the past six games, we’re probably in and around - if not better - than them anyway. I’m sure they will be apprehensive of facing us on a good run, as well.
“It’s a well-run club and they have done a good job there. You never know what’s going to happen in the play-offs but, if they go up, I will congratulate them. We will be going there to get a win.”
*Chatham’s cup final next Wednesday (April 17th) is at Aveley FC’s Parkside ground with a 7.30pm kick-off. Adult tickets cost £10, concessions £5 and under-5s free.
