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Chatham Town to host Welling United at the Bauvill Stadium on Saturday – Match preview and reaction from manager Kevin Hake after a 4-0 midweek win over Dulwich Hamlet

Chatham Town face a tough test of their promotion credentials as they prepare to take on two of the Isthmian Premier Division’s top sides in the space of four days.

Chats welcome second-placed Welling United to the Bauvill Stadium on Saturday before travelling to league leaders Enfield Town on Tuesday night.

Chatham Town manager Kevin Hake. Picture: Ian Scammell
Chatham Town manager Kevin Hake. Picture: Ian Scammell

They sit 10th in the table, with games in hand over most of the teams above them and head into the weekend buoyed by a brilliant 4-0 win away to Dulwich Hamlet on Tuesday night.

Manager Kevin Hake said: “The games certainly don’t get any easier. It’s a really tough run of fixtures against two of the strongest sides in the division, but these are the games you want to be involved in.

“They’ll provide a fantastic test of where we are as a group.

“The challenge now is to build on Tuesday’s performance, maintain those standards and start putting together a consistent run of results.

“We’re looking forward to Saturday, and hopefully our supporters can get right behind us again as we look to continue moving forward.”

Hake had asked his team to respond after last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Aveley, and they did so in style with a big midweek win.

Kola Salami scored twice in the victory against Dulwich, while Dapo Olugbodi and Tolu Ladapo also netted.

Reacting to that win, Hake said: “I was absolutely delighted with the performance and result.

“Dulwich is never an easy place to go, particularly on a Tuesday evening, so to come away with a 4–0 victory and a clean sheet was extremely pleasing.

“I thought the players were excellent throughout, showed real quality in possession and were clinical when opportunities presented themselves.

“It was exactly the response we were looking for after the disappointment at Aveley.

“A special mention must go to our supporters who made what is a tricky midweek journey to Dulwich. Their support was fantastic as always, and I’m delighted we were able to reward them with such a convincing performance.

“We’re still very much a team in transition, and there’s plenty of work ahead of us, but the signs are really encouraging.

“We’re starting to see some of the things we’ve been working on come together, and performances like Tuesday give everyone confidence in the direction we’re heading.

“It was also particularly pleasing to see academy graduate Mo Gibbs make his full first-team debut. As a football club, we’re passionate about giving young players opportunities, and Mo is a great example of that pathway.

“He’s got tremendous potential, and if he continues to work hard, keeps his feet on the ground and maintains the right attitude, I genuinely believe he has a great future in the game.”

*Chatham under-18s’ FA Youth Cup first-round fixture away at Barnet takes place at The Hive on Thursday, October 29 (7.45pm kick-off).

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