In-form Chatteris Town win again as boss Unwin dreams of promotion via back door

CHATTERIS Town boss Jimmy Unwin has urged his in-form side to keep winning in an ambitious bid to gain promotion via the back door.

The Lilies’ 6-1 demolition of Kershaw Premier League basement-boys Hundon on Saturday moved Chatteris to fourth place.

With Ridgeons League officials pleading with the FA to “relax” promotion rules to allow more teams to move up from Step 7 of the non-league football pyramid - where Chatteris play - Unwin is hopeful his side could still be playing Ridgeons First Division football next season.

He said: “I’m urging the lads to make sure we do our bit because we could still sneak up through the back door.

“We will be kicking ourselves if we tail off and finish say seventh and can’t go up just because we didn’t actually finish high enough. We’ve done well but if we continue this run we could even finish up in the top three which would be a great achievement.”

Richie Allen’s hat-trick and goals from Steve Turnbull, Tom Moden and Jay Hennessey stretched Chatteris’ unbeaten run to eight games. The Lilies travel to ninth-placed Whittleseford United on Saturday.

Unwin said: “At least eight of the lads owed us a performance on Saturday because we were terrible against Somersham. Maybe that performance was the kick up the backside we needed to make sure our season doesn’t just peter out.”