Ciara Hynes’ late crashing free-kick earned Chatham Town Women a point in a 2-2 draw away to Queens Park Rangers Women as Keith Boanas’s side climbed to third place in the table.
Behind at the break, the Chats were indebted to Lottie Sharp’s piledriver to get them level and after a controversial second for the home side, Hynes levelled the scores again with a scintillating strike.
There was even time for the midfielder to have another effort which was magnificently saved by Rangers keeper Caitlin Crierie.
Games between these two are usually close and this one was no exception as the home side started on the front foot and Annie Dzyadyk had an early chance that Abby Baravik in the Chats goal did well to block.
Both defences were on top and space was at a premium and it took the graft of Lottie Sharp for the visitors to create a chance that Sharp created for herself that bobbled wide.
Hynes went close with a drive from a Lucy Jones corner before the home side grabbed the lead. The visitors were caught on a swift break and the ball fell to Jess Leach who curled a stunner into Baravik’s top corner with the keeper grasping for air!
The home side nearly doubled their lead moments later as Dzyadyk crashed a shot off the inside of the right post and straight into Baravik’s grateful arms!
Otesha Charles battled through at the other end but couldn’t get a shot away before Baravik made a fine save to keep out another drive from Dzyadyk as the home side looked to double the advantage.
After the break and kicking with the wind, the Chats finally got going as Ellie Jeffkins’ free kick was flicked onto the roof of the net by Hope Thompson.
Sharp was then played in by Jeffkins and hammered a drive into the top corner with the keeper nowhere. That came just before the hour, but the score wasn’t level long as a long ball forward by the home side caused chaos and ended up with Baravik handling outside the box and “only” receiving a yellow card.
But from the free kick there were loud shouts for a handball against a Rangers striker in the box before skipper Emily Hill blasted home.
The visitors feeling aggrieved rallied and when Amelia Woodgate was upended thirty yards out and Hynes struck almost the perfect set piece and the scores were level again.
QPR substitute Deja Bass was then denied bravely by Baravik before Woodgate was stopped in full flow by a flying Crierie, who saved her very best in stoppage time, plunging to her left to superbly touch the late drive round the post to safety.
QUEENS PARK RANGERS WOMEN – Crierie, Owen, Carn, Breen, Hill, Lee-Walsh, Jackman, Dzyadyk, Leach (Stanley), Amerena (Bass).
Subs – Smith, Simpson, Ray, Sibbick.
CHATHAM TOWN WOMEN – Baravik, Auguste (Thompson), Hynes, Perkins, Charles (Amelia Woodgate), Jeffkins, Russ (King), Sharp, O’Shea (Madison Woodgate), Hargest (Dunn), Jones.
REFEREE – Mr. Gulham