Chichester City’s bosses have told their players they are proud of them after a perfect bank holiday double brought six points – and put them sixth in the table.

Isaac Bello’s double before the break gave Chichester a deserved victory away to Hanwell Town on Saturday as they snapped their one-win, one-loss run of their opening four games.

Then on Monday it got better as near neighbours Havant and Waterlooville were beaten 3-2 in front of a 1,000-plus crowd at Oaklands Park.

The win over Havant – thanks to Bello’s opener and goals by Jake Lawrence and Lucas Pattenden.- was all the more remarkable when you consider it is just a few seasons since the Hawks were in National League South and City were three divisions lower in the SCFL Premier.

Chi City players and fans at the end of Monday's win over Havant | Picture by David Richardson

placeholder image — Chi City players and fans at the end of Monday's win over Havant | Picture by David Richardson

The maximum holiday haul left Miles Rutherford’s side sixth and only two points behind leaders Uxbridge, who they visit on Saturday week.

Manager Rutherford told us: “We’ve actually been up and down so far but if you’d offered us four wins from those first six, of course we’d have taken it.

"At Evesham we lost 3-0 and they probably thought we were the worst team they’d played in two years. But on other days, it’s clicked for us, like when we beat Chippenham by four.

"We’re playing at a level where we probably shouldn’t be and you do think ‘how have we got this far?’ We’re enjoying the new league so far – but we do need more people at the smaller home games.”

Coach Darin Killpartrick said: “I’m extremely proud of the squad and the staff getting through two tough games in 48 hours – and of the quality we produced.”

City take a break from league action on Saturday when they visit step five side Broadfields United in the first qualfying round of the FA Cup.