Dartford Women avenged defeat in 2025 to win the 2026 Women’s Kent Cup as they came from behind to beat holders Chatham Town Women in front of a crowd of over a thousand at the Gallagher Stadium. 

The Darts were forced to come from behind as the Chats led at half time after dominating the opening forty-five minutes through an excellently crafted Amelia Woodgate goal.

But that was as good as it got for the holders as Dartford upped the tempo after the break and deservedly levelled when Shauni Griffiths smashed home.

And the Cup was won with a last gasp penalty after Charlotte Cunningham had been fouled, Abbie Davies stepped up and although Chats keeper Simone Eligon valiantly got both hands to the ball, the power sent the ball looping almost apologetically into the opposite corner sparking wild scenes of celebration. 

There was a big surprise when the teams were announced as Chatham skipper Grace Coombs started her first match of the season after struggling with a back injury all campaign.

And Coombs and her teammates would have been encouraged by a first half was so dominated by Chatham that those scenes of Dartford joy that were to come later were but a dream to many but the holder’s inability to convert chances would come back to haunt them. 

Early on Darts keeper Jade Charlton had to rush out of her box as Amelia Woodgate was played through. Amy Russ then found Lottie Sharp but she couldn’t get her shot away; Sharp who outpaced Cunningham continually in the first half down the left sent over teasing ball after teasing ball which eluded anyone in red – the closest the Chats came was when Woodgate got a touch at the near post which ricocheted off a relieved keeper and behind.  

The Chats kept piling forward – Ellie Jeffkins was a yard wide from a Woodgate pull back before returning the favour by playing the pass of the match which split the Dartford defence in two and Woodgate coolly slotted the ball past the advancing Charlton to give Chatham a deserved lead.

It was a lead that they nearly doubled immediately as Charlton very nearly spilled a Jeffkins corner into her own net. 

There was one big warning for the Chats before the break when Paris Smith fired an angled drive which Eligon stood up to really well at her near post as Chatham went in a goal to the good. 

The second period began slowly with Russ being denied by Charlton, but slowly and surely the momentum changed. Griffiths clipped a free kick high over the bar from a good position in what was Dartford’s clearest chance before she hammered home the equaliser taking advantage of defensive hesitation to give Eligon no chance. 

Sub Otesha Charles nearly restored the Chats lead as she forced into the side netting which heralded Chatham’s best spell of the second period – three times they released Sharp, the first ball flew across the face of goal; the second was a shot that missed the far post by inches and the third brought a save from Charlton who pushed the ball behind the onrushing Charles. 

Sharp was then seemingly brought down in the box and despite some appeals the referee waved away the appeals. The Darts when literally straight up the other end and when Cunningham went down, this time the official pointed to the spot, and Davies’s spot kick just had enough to loop home despite Eligon’s valiant efforts. 

Dartford deserved their win if only for seeming to want this game more that Chatham most notably as the game wore on, and they will hope that they can use this as a springboard to boost their promotion campaign into the National League with four must win games left. 

For Chatham meanwhile, their sensational season where they reached the Quarter Finals of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, finally appeared to catch up with them.

They now look to end their season at Luton Town on Sunday before trying to defend their Combined Counties League Cup with an upcoming Quarter Final against Sutton United on the horizon. 

DARTFORD WOMEN – Charlton, Davis, Davies, Adams, Griffiths (Smith), Alberts, Howell (Griffiths)(Lewis-Powell), Cunningham, Awan (Ejupi), Dolby, Bromfield (Franklin).

Sub not used – Caseriu.

CHATHAM TOWN WOMEN – Eligon, Auguste (King), Hynes, Coombs, Perkins, Jeffkins, Russ (Charles), Sharp (Madison Woodgate), Amelia Woodgate, Jones, Dunn (Wright).

Sub not used – Wiffen.

REFEREE – Ms. Wade