Chatham Town Women took their incredible Adobe Women’s FA Cup form into the Women’s National League as they ripped the London Bees to shreds at the Bauvill on Sunday afternoon. 

With boss Keith Boanas unwell and watching at home, he had called this a game that his side dare not lose, and despite missing skipper Ellie Jeffkins, the Chats produced arguably their best performance of the season to close the gap to the third placed Bees with something to spare. 

After a tight cagey opening forty-four minutes, the outstanding Ciara Hynes whipped in a free kick wide on the right that flew into the Bees net on the stroke of half-time, and when half time substitute Otesha Charles headed home Lucy Jones’ corner the Chats had a deserved advantage.

Not even Millie Isherwood’s well taken strike to half the arrears upset the Chats momentum, and Charles added a stunningly magnificent third for the home side almost immediately.

Lottie Sharp then raced through twice – from superb through balls from Charles and Parker Dunn – to score and extend the lead and when young Summer Wiffen drove home a sixth for the home side, it was really the icing on an amazing afternoon for the Chats. 

No one could have foreseen the incredible second period ahead as the first half was as close and cagey as was expected.

Hynes went close for the home side with a drive that was just too high whilst keeper Simone Eligon pulled off a remarkable recovering save after a poor clearance was driven back towards the home goal by Sandy Martins only for Eligon to save at the foot of her left post. 

On the stroke of half time, Hynes whipped in a free kick from wide on the right which flew into the bottom corner of the net. Whether the presence of Amelia Woodgate moving across keeper Tia Gunn’s eyeline was unclear, but the ball was in the net, and the Chats had the advantage! 

The second period began with the Chats pushing on the front foot with Hynes heavily involved. It was from another free kick that Dunn couldn’t convert at the near post, whilst Hynes herself thudded the ball into Ginn’s chest from 25 yards.

The Chats doubled their lead ten minutes into the half as Charles powered home a Jones corner, only for the home side to momentarily switch-off allowing Isherwood to drill the ball low past Eligon halving the Chats lead.

Not that it mattered as Charles hit an unstoppable drive that flew past a helpless Ginn to re-establish the two-goal lead. Charles then turned provider as two became three as she played a super touch into Sharp’s path, who drew a hopelessly exposed Bee’s keeper, and rolled the ball home. 

Moments later, Sharp was away again – released by Dunn – this time coolly slotting the ball past Ginn, who must have thought by this stage that she was in a second half shooting gallery. 

And when Wiffen fizzed home her first senior goal for the Chats, the result hadn’t been in doubt for some time, but it was still another amazing occasion for the youngster. 

Their League form had arguably dipped whilst reaching the last sixteen of the FA Cup, but on this Sunday afternoon, the Chats laid down notice that they are far from finished in the race for League honours. 

CHATHAM TOWN – Eliogon, Perkins, Dunn (O’Shea), Jones, Madison Woodgate, Hynes, Auguste, Russ (King), Iton (Wiffen), Amelia Woodgate (Charles), Sharp (Jestin).

Subs – Wright, Baravik 

LONDON BEES – Ginn, Heil (Larkin), Flynn (Doolan), Martins, Durn, Isherwood, Lanza, Burrows, Vigo (Davidson), Wozniak (Vyse), Hoare 

Subs – Budden, Kenny 

REFEREE – Mr. Okamgba 

Pictures supplied by Allen Hollands.