A four-star performance from Chatham Town Women saw them run out comfortable winners against the London Bees on Sunday at the Bauvill Stadium.

The Bees were relegated along with the Chats at the end of last season and the two contests between the sides were close, tight affairs both of which finished goal-less.

But as soon as the Chats outstanding skipper Grace Coombs powered home from close range after a corner had been really well saved, there was only going to be one winner, although it took the half time introduction of Otesha Charles to kick start the home side as the sub headed home twice from corners with Maddy Woodgate adding the fourth.

The home side started well out of the blocks and Lottie Sharp had a shot well saved by keeper Tia Ginn. Coombs then aimed an angled ball for Jess King and although the Chats striker got their first, she couldn’t divert the ball goalwards.

The Bees threatened rarely from open play but from dead balls their height caused a few scares none more so when giant defender Cheyenne Flynn really should have done better from a right-wing corner that saw her attempt drift wide.

Coombs put her side in front just past the midway point of the half. Ellie Jeffkins’ corner was powered goalwards only for Ginn to pull off a really good save. Sadly, for the keeper, the ball fell to the Chats skipper who hammered the ball over the line.

Jas Auguste powered a shot at Ginn as the Chats went looking for a second and King was only inches away as she rolled the ball past the advancing keeper.

Simone Eligon’s first real test came in the half’s closing stages as the keeper showed really good hands to keep out Millie Isherwood’s effort, before Cheyenne had another header from a corner go wide.

The second half saw Charles’ introduction and within ten minutes she was on the scoresheet with a cracking header from a corner that at one point appeared as though Ellie Perkins had got her head on another fine Jeffkins corner.

Eligon had to be alert to keep out Millie Constantine’s drive with a super two-handed save before the Bees goal had a lucky escape. Coombs brilliantly angled ball released Maddy Woodgate, and her centre crashed off the bar with Ginn nowhere and from the corner that followed, the keeper missed Jeffkins super ball in and was relieved to see the ball bounce wide.

The third goal wasn’t long in coming though and Sharp and King combined brilliantly to see Woodgate tap home at the far post and the game was wrapped up moments later when Charles powered home from another corner.

The visitors were shell shocked and only a great Ginn block denied Charles her hat-trick late on as the Chats ran out comfortable winners.

CHATHAM TOWN WOMEN – Eligon, Coombs, Perkins, Jones (Gilson), Jeffkins, Wells (Maddy Woodgate), Sharp (McGregor), Jones, King (Raynor), Auguste, Amelia Woodgate (Charles)

LONDON BEES – Ginn, Hoitet, Flynn, Lee (Heil). Dunn. Isherwood, Burrows, Constantine (McDermott). Charles, Bartlett (Parrs)

REFEREE – Mr Corderoy

Images courtesy of Allen Hollands