Ramsgate manager Jamie Coyle says Chatham are worthy champions while his side bid to secure second place and home advantage in the Isthmian South East play-offs

Gracious Ramsgate boss Jamie Coyle says Chatham deserve to be Isthmian South East champions.

Chats clinched the title at the weekend, leaving Rams to fight it out with Whitehawk for second place, the sides having drawn 1-1 at Southwood on Saturday.

Rams led the table for much of the season but have been overhauled by a relentless Chatham side in recent weeks.

Six straight wins, including a 2-0 success over Ramsgate last week, propelled them to the championship, while Coyle’s side have paid the price for too many draws.

The Chatham game is Rams’ only defeat in 14 league matches since Coyle succeeded Steve Lovell in January but they’ve won just five.

“Congratulations to Chatham - they deserve to win the league,” said Coyle, whose side finish the regular season at Ashford this Saturday (3pm).

“They were better than us last week and over the course of the season they’ve been the best team.

“We’ve had too many draws. Everyone talks about one defeat in 14 but the draws have been an issue. You’re better off winning two and losing one than getting three draws. It’s been our Achilles heel.

“If we could have turned even two or three of those draws into wins, you give yourselves a real opportunity but it wasn’t to be.

“It’s frustrating but I can’t really ask any more of the players.

“They’ve been running through brick walls for me, the management team and the club.

“If we continue to work like that and we get a bit of luck, it can still be a really successful season.”

With the title out of their hands, Ramsgate knew victory over Whitehawk would guarantee second place and home advantage through the play-offs.

Leading at the break through Tom Carlse, Ashley Miller missed a second-half penalty and the visitors levelled through Rob