Chatham Town 2 Cray Valley 1 match report: Jack Evans' penalty and effort from Matt Bodkin see Chats crowned Isthmian South East champions with sixth win in a row

A sixth successive win for Chatham saw them beat Cray Valley to win the Isthmian South East title with a game to spare on Saturday.

They led at half-time thanks to a Jack Evans penalty before Matt Bodkins struck after the restart and, despite Denzel Gayle pulling one back for the Millers, Kevin Hake’s troops held on for their all-important 2-1 triumph as they earned promotion in their first campaign at the level.

There was much at stake for both sides so a nervy start at the Bauvill Stadium ensued. But away players Thomas Chambers and returning captain Gayle did cause early problems on the left-hand side.

Ike Orji and Che Krabbendam linked-up well on Chatham’s right in the 13th minute, only for optimistic penalty protests for a foul on player-assistant manager Danny Kedwell to be dismissed.

Bodkins crossed from the left midway through the first period but Evans and striker Kedwell were unable to convert.

Cray Valley had a string of opportunities shortly after the half-hour mark which saw Ade Adeyemo drag a shot inches wide before Hassan Ibrahiym - on his 100th club appearance - saw a deflected shot also miss the target.

But Chats took the lead against the run of play in the 35th minute in front of another big crowd of 2,329.

Ashley Nzala beat Valley keeper Chris Lewington to a long ball and went to ground, with referee Mark Gidman pointing to the spot and cautioning Lewington. And Evans blasted into the roof of the net his 22nd goal this season and put Chatham another giant stride towards the title.

Just five minutes later, however, play-off chasing Cray went close to a leveller. Defender Kiki Oshilaja dragged wide from a good area inside the box and they could consider themselves unlucky to trail at the interval.

Chatha