Chatham Town striker Freddie Sears showed his predatory instincts last Saturday - hailed by his manager as the best in the league.

Sears was well-placed to score an opportunistic equaliser against Wingate & Finchley on Saturday before completing a hat-trick with a second-half double to seal a 3-1 Isthmian Premier win for the Chats.

Chatham had lost three in a row before Sears’ hat-trick ensured they got back on track at the Bauvill Stadium.

Boss Kevin Hake said: “When you put those types of balls into the area, then he’s the best in the league without a doubt. He’s done it all his life.

“I’m really pleased for Freddie as well. It’s 17 or 18 for the season, really good. We’ve just got to keep putting the balls in the area for him.”

Hake admitted the opening half wasn’t up to scratch for Chatham, coming from a goal down to level, but within a minute of the restart they took the lead. John Ufuah provided the cross for Sears’ second goal and the wide-man’s pace and ball into the box also led to the third with 73 minutes gone.

“We’ve got some very good wingers,” said Hake.

“There was a lot of reliance on Jamie Yila to do it last season but it’s very difficult to perform at a high level every single game.

“Now we’ve got Jordy Mongoy and Kofi Anokye Boadi as well at the club, as well as Jamie and John who can produce similar performances.

“John’s done really well and Freddie’s got on the end of them. It was good to see the boys playing so well and rightly coming away with the win.”

It hadn’t started well, however, with Chatham conceding after just 15 minutes.

“It was an indifferent first half,” Hake admitted.

“I think a draw [at half-time] was probably a fair result. They got it in the ear a little bit at half-time and, to be fair to them, they’ve reacted in a positive way and really performed well.

“We’re a club who have got to play on the front foot and we didn’t feel as though we did. They went out second half and we scored within a minute.

“Sometimes it goes like that for you, it doesn’t always, but we asked for a reaction and they gave it to us.”

Chatham had new signings on display with Lewis Chambers making his first appearance in midfield. He was replaced with an hour gone by Josh Chambers, who was also making his debut. AJ Jambang started at right-back, making his debut after joining on loan from Ipswich Town.

Hake said: “You don’t want to cry about it, but we’ve got seven out, with injuries and suspensions, which is very hard.

“We’ve had to go and get ourselves a right-back in. We were working on a few others really as well, because a few of them on the bench have got pulls and that, but that’s what happens when you’ve got a schedule like that, you’re always going to pick up injuries.

“At this time of year, particularly in cold weather, it’s very difficult.

“We’ve added to the squad and hopefully a few of them will be back this week as well to bolster us even further.

“It’ll make my job even harder to pick the team then, so it’s good.”

Midfielder Josh Chambers was rated highly at Gillingham and made a handful of first-team appearances. Hake hopes he now uses the move to Chatham to rebuild his career.

“It’s good to get Josh on board,” he said.

“We’ll see if we can reignite his career. We’ve had really good conversations with him. He wants to come in and work hard and we’ll see where we can get him to.”

Chatham are on the verge of the Isthmian Premier play-offs but need to make up ground on the top five.

They play Potters Bar away this Sunday.

The game has been moved as the hosts have a fixture clash with landlords Kings Langley at the Orbital Fasteners Stadium. They are currently groundsharing while a 3G surface is being laid at their own home venue.