After an incredible night at the Bauvill Stadium, Chatham Town Women started their Women’s National League Cup group campaign with a six four win over the young London City Lionesses.
The Chats who won those three Cups last season were down to the bare bones defensively after their opening League win at Sudbury on Sunday and despite taking the lead through Amelia Woodgate, found themselves 1-3 behind in first half stoppage time only for Amy Russ hammered home a thirty yard free kick on the stroke of half time.
City restored their two-goal lead immediately after the break, but the Chats roared back through two more Woodgate goals before Russ’s header edged them back in front, and it was left to Woodgate to hammer home a late spot kick to end a remarkable night!
It had started so well for the Chats as Ciara Hynes’s drive came back off the bar and Woodgate was first to react to open the scoring. But full credit to the Lionesses as they roared back; Lexi Hewson raced clear of the back line to beat keeper Simone Eligon with a low shot and moments later Eligon was beaten again as Chloe Kabo drilled a low shot into the corner.
The home side had chances; Woodgate had a couple of efforts well saved by Grave Staunton getting on the end of Meg Maslak’s though balls, whilst the keeper did really well to keep out Lottie Sharp’s drive before Ellie Perkins header flew just too high.
The Lionesses though were to race away as the clock showed forty-five minutes as Lucy Hope scored but before the visitors could settle, Russ had hammered the home side back into the game with a free kick. In Sunday’s 5-1 at AFC Sudbury, Ellie Perkins had netted a screaming set-piece; this one from the Chats new signing was equally as good as it flew into Staunton’s top corner!
Yet the visitors threw any half-time team talk out of the window as in the first minute of the second half Kabo raced clear again and netted in off the far-post leaving the Chats with a mountain to climb again!
And boy did Keith Boanas’s side respond! Woodgate magnificently volleyed home her second to reduce the arrears to three-four before the Chats striker took advantage to complete another Cup hat-trick after some woeful defending allowed her to equalise.
Stanton redeemed herself to deny Woodgate with a brilliant save; Woodgate’s centre was just too far in front of both Otesha Charles and Karesha Iton, before the City keeper pulled off the save of the game to deny Iton.
The home sides pressure eventually paid off, and as soon as Russ rose highest to power home Hynes’s corner, the game was over as a contest. Iton, who’s introduction proved pivotal to the Chats revival was brought down in the box and Woodgate hammered home the spot kick to complete a really remarkable Wednesday evening!
Next the Chats face two more group games – against Billericay and AFC Sudbury – as they try to progress from the new group stages.
CHATHAM TOWN WOMEN – Eligon, Maslak, Auguste (Laverick), Hynes (Wiffen), O’Shea, Perkins, Charles, Amelia Woodgate, Russ, Sareen (Iton), Sharp (Maddy Woodgate)
Subs – Hunt, Burgess, Wright
LONDON CITY LIONESSES – Stanton, Hope (Gbajabiamila), Hewson, Esme Johnson, Kabo, Curtis, Loom, Walsh, Bullas (Narkaj), Vanard (Sockanathan), Kaluya
Subs – Powroznik, Ellie Johnson, Willock, Evans