Chatham Town Women stay top of the National League South East Division One despite losing to a late goal to Norwich City Women which included the most “bizarre” offside decision you will ever see! 

It was tough for the Chats as after enjoying a bright start, the Canaries put their visitors under the cosh and led at the break courtesy of a drive from Holly Kennard that crashed against the bar and was deemed by Mr. Gribbon – the tallest assistant possibly on the circuit – to be over the line. 

After the interval though, Chats improved immeasurably and eventually got their due rewards when Jess King powered home Lucy Jones’ corner.

Perhaps on another day the Chats would have settled for a point against the side who were fourth, but the pressure to win every game as the top of the table is so tight meant that Keith Boanas’ side went for the points leaving them open to counter attacks into the strong wind in the flight path to Norwich airport.

And it was from one swift attack that, via a post, Kennard smashed home the winner for the home side. 

The home side started well with a strong wind behind them and the visitors were twice thankful to Lucy Jones for crucial interventions, before home keeper Sarah Quantrell was forced into a really smart save to deny Amelia Woodgate’s flick from Lottie Sharp’s super ball in from the left. 

The home side took the lead when following a half cleared corner, Kennard thundered a shot over keeper Simone Eligon – who may have got the slightest of touches on the shot – and it crashed against the underside of the bar and bounced on the line – over the line according to the officials; maybe not according to some home fans – but whatever the goal was given by referee Karkoska – who, if her male colleague is one of the tallest officials around, then she must be the smallest! 

Eligon then added to her growing catalogue of top draw saves by magnificently turning aside a sensational dipping volley from Natasha Snelliing just before a “TUI” aircraft (other airlines are available) flew over the ground en route to land at nearby Norwich airport. 

On the stroke half time came, a Chats corner was repelled leaving a home defender down in the six-yard box. The home side broke and Eligon saved well from Olivia Cook, and the Chats themselves were able to break.

The ball was played to Darcy Wells who was on the edge of the centre circle in the Norwich half when the offside flag went up. Thing is that the home defender who was down, had got up and was trying to rejoin play but whilst Wells was in the centre circle, the defender had barely cleared the “D” at the edge of the box – therefore playing the Chats midfielder “onside” by at least TEN yards!

A bizarre decision that had everyone in the very creditable crowd of over 250 scratching their collective heads! 

After the break, the visitors showed why they topped the table at kick-off as the performance improved markedly! Wells just couldn’t bring an awkward ball in from wide down to get a shot off, Ciara Hynes looped an effort a yard wide, substitute-Oti Charles clearly beat Quantrell to a Megan Maslak centre only for the official to rule in the home side’s favour and give a foul before Sharp cut in from the left and forced the home keeper into a wonderful save to her left. 

The equaliser finally came and came off the training ground as Jones taking one of the Chats’ first corners from the right, flighted the ball into the box on the wind superbly for King to power home a header past the motionless keeper. 

Perhaps the visitors should have shut up shop there and then, but they didn’t and ultimately paid the price. Millie Daviss blazed over from a free kick when well-placed and in their next attack, the home side won the game as Kennard hammered a low drive beyond Eligon and into the net via the left post. 

NORWICH CITY WOMEN – Quantrell, Flur, Morran, Daviss, Snelling, Simmonds (Todd), Tomlinson (Bishop), Cook (Shaw), Strauss, Booth (Medd-Gill), Kennard (Smith).

CHATHAM TOWN WOMEN – Eligon, Maslak, Auguste (Jeffkins), Hynes, Cooms, Perkins, King (Maddy Woodgate), Wells, Sharp (Laverick), Amelia Woodgate (Charles), Wells.

Sub not used – Dunn. 

REFEREE – Ms. Karkoska