Norwich City Women come to Kent this weekend with Otesha Charles keen to see her Chatham Town Women side keep their title ambitions alive.

It’s International Women’s Day this Sunday and Chatham Town Women face arguably their most important League game of the season as they bid to regain their place in the Southern Section of the Women’s National League. 

Currently, they welcome Norwich City Women to the Bauvill on Sunday knowing that following their 2-1 reverse in Norfolk just a few weeks ago, there now is little room for maneuver, with the pressure on their challenge mounting and anything but a win on Sunday could prove to be fatal in their promotion bid. 

League top scorer Otesha Charles knows only full well how tough it’s going to be for the Chats as she admitted to us recently saying, “We want to be top and it is where we should be, but there have been times this year when it has been tough, but we look forward to every game, the next game and getting the job done!” 

Last season’s relegation to Division One South East of the National League was tough. Ote admitted, “This year really is very positive. Everyone is pulling together, fighting (for the team) and working hard on and off the pitch.”

“There is a lot of togetherness – we are working hard for each other and it’s brilliant to be a part of at the moment. Some seasons go like last year, but it’s how you bounce back – there’s a desire about the place that wasn’t there last year.”

“Considering where we are now and being a tier three team, there is a desire to keep that standard and work back to that level and having the right mentality.” 

“It really is difficult to gauge sometimes at this level – it is who “shows up” on the day and if it’s your best self, you have the better chance of getting the result that you want, so really and truly you have to be switched on all the time and stay hungry.” 

“One thing that has been good even when I haven’t been in the starting side, regardless of if you are in the squad, on the pitch or on the bench, we are fighting for each other and we are one team, so regardless of the fact that if I am not starting for instance, I know that in that moment whoever is on the pitch is doing the job and I am happy with that.” 

“We are already in two Cup Finals (against Billericay in the Women’s Isthmian League Cup and Dartford in the DFDS Kent Cup), and it’s always important to get silverware for the Club, and we are looking forward to both finals and playing our game and who knows, we might even have a third one too.”

The Chats are also away to Margate in the Quarter Final of the Combined Counties League Cup later this month. 

Sunday is International Women’s Day, and the Chats have announced free entry into the Bauvill, and in a contest that sees third host second in the table – with both teams trying to catch leaders Real Bedford – Ote appealed to the Chats fans to turn up in their numbers.

“It’s always nice having an audience and having people coming to support us. It gives us an extra push especially here at home where we are unbeaten in the League. The fans are very important to us and we aim to go and win every game we play.” 

Pictures supplied by Allen Hollands.