Chatham Town Women won their first game of pre-season with a come from behind win over Moneyfields at the Bauvill. 

The Chats, who are still preparing for their new season which starts on August 18th, had to come from behind as their visitors from Hampshire were gifted the half time lead after a poor defensive back pass.

But the Chats have a different air about them this season already and they recovered well after the break and drew level almost immediately when Ellie Jeffkins slotted home a penalty.

The home side then went in front through Lottie Sharp’s header from a corner and when Jas Auguste rammed home the third, the Chats had secured their first triumph of pre-season. 

It’s been a tough run in for the home side as they had to this game played opponents from Leagues above, but built on the previous weekends draw with National League Watford but after a very even opening, a poor back pass allowed the visitors a chance, and whilst keeper Simone Eligon made a wonderfully brave block, the ball rebounded to edge of the box and it was slotted home. 

Otesha Charles was well denied by the Moneyfields keeper when she raced through and as the ball ran loose, Jeffkins was inches away from levelling the scores. 

Chatham thought they should have had a penalty just before the break when their trialist forward was clearly pulled down as she was about to shoot – the referee though was not interested. And on the stroke of half time, Charles fired over from a good through ball. 

Whatever Keith Boanas said to his charges seemed to work and after Amelia Woodgates pull back found Charles, her shot hit a hand, and the penalty was coolly slotted home by Perkins. 

Woodgate then almost netted one of the most fortunate goals of her young career as she did well to charge down a keeper’s clearance only for the ball to rebound just past the right post. 

The home side deservedly went ahead when through an unlikely source as Sharp did really well to get in front of the keeper to head home Jeffkins corner, and shortly afterwards it was 3-1.

Again, Woodgate caused mayhem at the back for Moneyfields and as a keeper’s clearance fell to Auguste, she gloriously hammered returned the ball goalwards from fully forty yards and the ball flew into the net. 

Both sides had further chances – Maddy Woodgate whistled a ball across the box that only needed a touch from anyone to go in whilst Megan Maslak’s rampaging run into the box was only stopped by a fine keepers block; at the other end, Eligon made a wonderful two handed tip over and the visitors had one last chance which flew over the bar which really summed up their afternoon. 

The Ladies continue their pre-season on Wednesday when Ebbsfleet United visit the Bauvill and finish it with a trip to Homelands on Sunday to face Ashford United. 

CHATHAM TOWN LADIES – Eligon, Maslak, Coombs, Perkins, Jones, Auguste, Jeffkins, Hynes, Charles, Trialist A, Sharp 

Subs – Maddy Woodgate, Amelia Woodgate, King, Trialist B, Trialist C, Trialist D, Trialist E, Trialist F, Trialist G.

Picture supplied by Allen Hollands.