Three goals either side of half-time secured Chatham Town Women just the result they needed after the midweek triumph in the Isthmian League Cup as they won 3-0 on the road at AFC Sudbury.
After struggling to get out of the county as one of the Dartford Tunnels was closed, boss Keith Boanas who openly admitted the Sunday performance didn’t match the Cup win at Billericay on Wednesday (which comfortably is his side’s best of the season), the boss was more than happy with the way his side dismantled a side who had held Champions elect Real Bedford to a goal-less draw seven days previously.
Just as it looked that the Chats total dominance of the first half was going unrewarded, Amelia Woodgate got on the end of Meg Maslak’s terrific through ball and was able to roll the ball home.
Woodgate then turned provider with an exquisite ball for Millie Raynor to side foot home with some aplomb and when Lucy Jones drilled home a cross-shot that flew into the net (think of Sandro Tonali’s against Brentford for Newcastle in midweek but from the opposite flank) and the points were secure.
The Chats will be first to admit that the performance levels were not the same as the midweek Cup win, but in all truth, it didn’t have to be as the visitors were as dominant, if not more so, than they had been in midweek.
Maslak had the first chance with a volley that flew wide before Amelia Woodgate (the side’s top scorer) shot straight at the keeper when well placed. Her next chance came shortly afterwards and was inches away from the opener – Woodgate seized on defensive hesitation to prod the ball past the keeper but the home defence hacked clear. From the corner, Raynor reacted fastest and prodded the ball inches wide.
Jas Auguste, who was terrific in the middle of the park all afternoon, was then “taken out” by the match referee as she charged forwards, but fortunately after treatment, Auguste and official Barker were able to continue.
Oti Charles hammered a header just too high from a corner and just as it looked like it would be a frustrating 45 minutes for the visitors, Maslak’s ball released Amelia Woodgate who coolly advanced and buried the ball into the bottom corner.
The second period followed a very similar pattern. Jones’s free kick was met by birthday-girl Ellie Perkins, but her header whistled over, before the visitors sealed the win with two quick-fire goals.
Amelia Woodgate, who gave home full-back Jeffrey a torrid afternoon – sprinted away down the right and her pin-point ball in was side footed home by Raynor. The win was then secured by Jones’s exocet from the touchline and the game was over as a contest!
It could easily have been more as Amelia Woodgate’s corner hit the bar; from the move of the match, sub-Lottis Sharp laid the ball in to Wednesday’s hat-trick hero Jess King drilled inches wide arriving late in the box; King was then denied her fourth goal of the week by a very late flag after another great Auguste run which really deserved a goal.
The home side’s only effort was a header from Drake, but in truth, keeper Simone Eligon had one of her quietest away trips of the season as the Chats brought the three points back to Kent.
The win lifts the Chats to second and whilst they cannot catch Bedford, second placed Norwich are now just two points ahead with two games left, and of the two sides, on paper at least, the Chats have the “easier” with the Goal differences almost the same.
Next up for Chatham is their final home game of the season next Sunday when they host Chesham United at the Bauvill with a 2.30pm kick off, when you will be able to vote for the Kent Sports News Supporters Player of the Year…
AFC SUDBURY WOMEN – Carter, Rossiter (Harrison), Jeffrey, Penny (Carpenter), Goodwin (K. Edwards), Drake, M, Edwards (Hilton), Barrett, Nagib (Newcomb), Slater.
CHATHAM TOWN WOMEN – Eligon, Maslak (Sareena), Perkins, Coombs (Dunn), Hynes, Auguste, Charles (Maddy Woodgate), Amelia Woodgate (Sharp), King, Raynor (Laverick).
REFEREE – Ms. Barker