Chatham Town Women maintained their unbeaten start to the new season but were left frustrated to have dropped points away to Stevenage Women on a blustery Sunday afternoon.
The Chats started brightly and boss Keith Boanas later claimed it was his sides best start of the season, and after going close three times Amelia Woodgate used her pace to slide the visitors into the lead. It was lead that the Chats were to hold until just before the break as a fine Gemma Croucher drive brought Stevenage level.
After the break with the swirling wind coming into play for both sides, both sides struggled to come to terms with the ball although Ellie Perkins held the heart of the Chats rearguard together and with Holly Turner’s return from long term injury continuing apace, the Chats were the more creative side and could have easily been awarded a late spot kick after Otesha Charles was battered to the ground with the referee somehow waving play on.
The Chats started really brightly, and Turner was inches away from converting an Amelia Woodgate centre in the opening ninety seconds. Ellie Jeffkins then hit the outside of a post before the Chats took the lead – Amelia Woodgate being played onto a through ball and being able to hold off a defender before beating keeper Faye Hazelton.
The keeper then fortunately kept out a Turner effort off balance with her boot whilst the home side came to life only for Perkins to brilliantly head away a dangerous cross that seemed destined for the head of Olivia Oshodi.
Lottie Sharp continued here good recent form by getting the better of a defender but not the keeper with a run and shot before just before the break Croucher beat Evie Thorne-Ford with a curling effort from the edge of the box. It was tough for the new Chats keeper to take after what had been a really assured forty-five minutes.
Both keepers were tested with some really dangerous swirling balls into the respective boxes early in the second period but both ladies more than met the challenges.
The Chats began again to create the clearest chances – Jeffkins couldn’t get a clean enough strike after a good run from Sharp; Turners angled drive missed the top corner by inches and then sub–Hope Thompson almost scored immediately after coming on for the second time this season. Sadly, for the young midfielder she didn’t catch the shot as cleanly as she would have liked and Hazelton was able to scramble the ball away.
The home side’s best chance in the second period came ten minutes from time when sub-Sarah Wiltshire got beyond the Chats defence and her hopeful header goalwards caught on the wind, looping out of Thorne-Ford’s full-length dive before dipping a yard past the far post.
The Chats had a clear penalty shout five minutes from time when substitute Charles cut inside and was clearly taken down by Rebecca Edge but referee Matour who was very lenient throughout on some tackles theatrically waved the protests away and the points were shared!
STEVENAGE WOMEN – Hazelton, Joseph, Edge, Makewell, Croucher, Tani Charles (Wiltshire), Oshodi (Deane), Savage, Wodhams, Delaney, Carr
Subs – Oliver, Telford, Schults, Robb, Rouse
CHATHAM TOWN WOMEN – Thorne-Ford, O’Shea, Auguste (Thompson), Perkins, Jeffkins, Turner, Sharp (Iton), Amelia Woodgate (Otesha Charles), Jones, Keogh (Maddy Woodgate), Wellington
Subs – Baker, Bramwell, Russ
REFEREE – Mr Matour