Chatham Town Women are just ninety minutes away from defending the Women’s Isthmian League Cup after a brutal dismantling of Three Bridges Women under the Bauvill lights.

The Chats who are preparing for the historic Women’s FA Cup Fifth Round tie away to WSL2 contenders Birmingham City in ten days’ time were ruthless in a first half when Bridges barely got out of their own half and saw the Chats run in nine without reply – four from Amy Russ including a seven minute hat-trick, a treble of her own from Amelia Woodgate, a tap in from Ellie Perkins and a first minute own goal.

The home side changed half their side at the break and still managed braces from debutant Anjie Arike and Lottie Sharp as it did prove unlucky thirteen for the young Bridges side who play two levels lower that the Chats but had reached this stage without conceding a goal.

However as soon as Amelia Woodgate’s cross had been steered into the Bridges net in the opening seconds, you straight away felt that it was going to be a long night for the visitors!

2-0 – Russ played Amelia Woodgate through and she buried the chance

3-0 – Russ’s piledriver from 25 yards

4-0 – lovely exchange of passes between Ellie Jeffkins and Russ saw Russ slot home

5-0 – Russ completed a nine-minute hat-trick as she walked the ball home after being played through with only twenty-two minutes gone;

6-0 – Perkins prodded home a Ciara Hynes corner;

7-0 – Amelia Woodgate in behind the defence to slot home;

8-0 – Russ hooked home at the back post from an Amelia Woodgate centre;

9-0 – Karesha Iton’s fine shot was brilliantly tipped onto the bar only for Amelia Woodgate to complete here treble with the first half’s last kick;

10-0 – Arije announced her arrival with a super strike from an acute angle;

11-0 – Sharp’s low drive went through the keeper into the net

12-0 – Arjie was brought down in the box, and she dusted herself down to score from the spot;

And finally,13-0 – Sharp’s second after a ball in from Summer Wiffen.

To their eternal credit, Bridges kept going all the way until referee Cowdrey’s final whistle on ninety minutes and received a good round of applause from an appreciative Bauvil audience.

But in the cold light of day, the Chats could have won by even more – Amelia Woodgate missed a great chance early on; Madison Woodgate drilled a shot into the side netting; Sharp was inches wide; Iton thudded a shot into the keepers chest; Sharp was even closer with a shot in the second half and then with a late shot which the overworked keeper did really well to hang onto.

And so, to the list of Herne Bay, Dartford and Sutton United add the name of Three Bridges as the Chats head back to New Lodge in Billericay on April 8th to attempt a repeat and defend the Women’s Isthmian League Cup.

Image courtesy of Allen Hollands