Chatham Town boss Kevin Hake is hoping their “big game” experience can help them to play-off success.

Hake’s side face another huge match this Saturday in a battle for second place against Enfield Town. The runners-up spot ensures home advantage in the Isthmian Premier play-offs, which get started next week.

Enfield will need to beat Chatham on Saturday to claim second place in the table.

Enfield missed their chance to move into second place before the weekend as they lost 1-0 at Whitehawk on Tuesday night. Chats will also be looking to bounce back, following last Saturday’s 3-1 home loss against play-off chasing Horsham. That game came days after Hake’s men clinched the Velocity Cup.

Hake said: “We weren’t at our best on Saturday and at this level you cannot afford to have off days.

“There is a reason that teams have remained at this level year in, year out, and that’s because it’s a difficult league to get out of. Only one automatic promotion dictates that, so the chasing pack needs to be on top form in order to win.

“We’ve been on a great run and come off the back of a cup final win and sometimes it can seem like a bit of a case of after the Lord Mayor’s Show after winning a trophy.

“However, we don’t have time to feel sorry for ourselves as we have an important game against Enfield on Saturday where we can secure second place.

“The main thing is we have learned a few lessons and we will use that to determine how we approach future games.

“Our last league game means we go into the play-offs on the back of some big games and this experience will be vital as we go into what is a mini-tournament where nerves can play a part.

“We are used to playing in front of big crowds and being under pressure and we need to use all these emotions when we face our opponents no matter who they are, home or away.”

Chatham player-assistant boss Danny Kedwell scored a late consolation on Saturday, netting in stoppage-time after a disappointing 90 minutes on their own patch, ending an eight-game winning run for Hake’s men at the Bauvill Stadium.

Horsham struck an opener midway through the first half and scored twice more early in the second.

The Isthmian Premier play-offs get under way with second against fifth and third at home to fourth on Wednesday, May 1 (7.45pm). The Final is on Monday, May 6 at the home of the highest-placed Semi-Final winner.