Chatham Town Women’s final game in the National League Southern Premier ended the same way that so many have especially in recent weeks – defeated but with so much credit…
Rugby Borough Women (who finished the season in third place) edged a terrific final game by 3-2 with a winner coming fifteen minutes from time just as the Chats were getting on top after a first half that flowed one way and then the other.
Angelina Nixon gave the visitors the early lead, Holly Turner levelled; Jess Camwell put Borough back in front, Darcy Wells levelled again!
It was a terrific performance from Keith Boanas’s side, yet heartbreak came in the form of Nixon as she scored a decisive third fifteen minutes from time, and when the whistle blew for the end of a very disappointing season, there should have been little to cheer!
But that just was not the case as the building blocks are already in place and there is genuine optimism that this is just the beginning of a journey!
The Chats went into the last game knowing that their relegation was confirmed weeks ago, and perhaps that is why they have showed a resilience that for long periods – especially before Boanas’s appointment – that was sadly lacking.
Lottie Sharp went close early on with a curling effort, but the visitors grabbed the early lead when Dixon drilled home at the back post after Simone Eligon had saved well.
Camwell almost doubled the lead curling just wide after robbing Ellie Jeffkins before the Chats rallied as Turner was well denied at the near post by keeper Erin Foley.
Turner though was not going to be denied and after a superb one-two with Wells before burying the chance into the bottom corner. Sadly, though the home side were level for less than five minutes as Dixon turned provider going down the right before her clip into the box was hooked home by Camwell.
Back though came the home side and it was Turner turning provider as a superb pass was flicked home over Foley by a late arriving Wells.
The visitors were clearly ruffled and upped a gear going into half time – Lilly Greenslade blasted over after picking up a loose defensive header before Eliogon pulled off a magnificent save to deny a Camwell piledriver.
The second period was an intriguing battle – Foley was fortunate that there was no red shirts near her as she fumbled a Jas Auguste cross whilst Nixon headed a corner wide at the other end.
Turner was denied by a wonderful Foley save as it looked like the on-loan Ipswich striker would mark her farewell (for now at least) with a terrific strike, before the visitors won the game as Camwell netted from Ebony Wiseman’s great run.
Taylor Bell came agonisingly close to levelling for a third time but could not keep her shot down whilst Nixon shot wide from the edge of the box.
The final whistle brought the end to a disappointing season for the Chats, but there certainly is light at the end of what had appeared at times during the season to be a very long dark tunnel…
CHATHAM TOWN WOMEN – EIigon, Jackson, Auguste (Colley), Priest, Coombs (Leitch), Jeffkins (Perkins), Taylor, Wells (Iton), Sharp (Hynes), Bell, Turner
RUGBY BOROUGH WOMEN – Foley, Malone, Nixon, Greenslade (Whipp), Wiseman, Walker (Mosby), Camwell (Cassidy), Wallace, Morris, Robert (Calder), Curwood-Wagner (Morris)
REFEREE – Ms. Hardstaff
After the game, the Womens end of season presentations were made
Mangers Player – Lottie Sharp
Players Player – Flo Jackson
Supporters Player – Nat Taylor
Sports Person award – Ellie Perkins
Goal of the Season – Ellie Jeffkins
There were also special awards to various members of the back-room staff and volunteers.