Boss Kevin Hake is optimistic Chatham’s decision to go with a more youthful squad this season will lay the foundations for long-term success at the club.

Chatham’s unbeaten Isthmian Premier start ended with a 2-1 derby defeat at home against Folkestone on Bank Holiday Monday.

Nevertheless, 10 points from five league games represents a good return.

Among their first-team squad are home-grown prospects Sam Sene-Richardson, Kian Garlinge and Stanley Oldfield.

“It’s a young team,” said Hake, also Chatham’s chairman. “It’s a work in progress but we still want to win every game that we play.

“We have gone for this route because we think it’s the best route to go down.

“There’s a 15-year-old [in Arsenal’s Max Dowman] playing in the Premier League. While we’re young, I still expect us to put in better performances than that.

Report: Chatham 1-2 Folkestone

Chats’ boss on derby defeat

“But I think it’s a decision that will lay down a foundation for many years to come.”

Overall, it’s been a decent start for Chats, 2-0 weekend winners at Aveley through goals by substitutes Ben Allen and Oldfield, but the season remains in its infancy.

Hake said: “We’re in August.

"We’re not going to celebrate any three points like we have won the league so you’ve just got to take it all in your stride.

“We won’t get overly-excited when we win - or lose - because it’s a work in progress. It probably sounds a bit cliche but it is.

“We had an average age of 21.5 on Monday. We’re going to get moments when things don’t go for us but the main thing is that we learn from these moments.

"In no uncertain terms, I think the lads know what they should have done better on Monday.

“Now, we have got to work hard on the training ground and to look to put it right.”

Chatham were below-par against Folkestone but felt they should have been awarded a first-half penalty at 1-1, with Invicta skipper Kevin Lokko having cancelled out forward Tope Fadahunsi’s goal, only for referee Deryll David to dismiss penalty protests for a foul on midfielder Lewis Chambers.

“Sometimes, you need a little bit of lady luck going your way,” said Hake.

“I don’t think we really had that on Monday but it evens itself out over the course of the season. Ten points from 15 is a decent return so we go to the FA Cup this weekend.

“It’s a nice home game so we can look to put things right.”

Chambers, who is formerly of Faversham and Sittingbourne, also caused Folkestone’s defence some problems with a number of long throws.

Hake said: “It’s a good weapon we have got.

“We do like to get the ball down and play but, if you have got a guy that can put in a decent long throw, we’re going to try and utilise it.

“It’s disappointing that we didn’t take more advantage of certain situations. But it’s a lot and, with some of these kids, they’ve not played Saturday and Monday so it’s a learning curve.

“The main thing is we do learn from this.”

Next up for Chatham is this Saturday’s visit in the FA Cup of Southern League Central side Marlow, who were edged out 3-2 at home to Beaconsfield Town on Bank Holiday Monday after last weekend’s 3-0 FA Trophy exit to Three Bridges.

“We’ve had them watched on Monday,” said Hake. “We have got footage from last weekend, as well.

"We’ll be well-observed on them but it’s the FA Cup, isn’t it?

“We know a few things about them and will be looking to put things right. I back us at the Bauvill to put a good performance in.

“But we won’t be taking things for granted.”