The holders were literally blown out of the Women’s Kent Cup as holders Chatham Town were upset in the last four by Dartford. 

In a contest that was completely spoiled by a raging gale blowing straight down the middle of the pitch which was a real shame for a good crowd as despite the conditions, the teams tried to get the ball down and play football that deserved better conditions. 

The visitors struck first just past the half hour when with the winds at their backs, Chie Madamombe poked home a Jas Auguste corner.

Indeed, Auguste was desperately unfortunate not to double the lead from the next flag stick kick as her wonderful delivery swerved viciously in the gale and the ball smacked off the inside of the back post and somehow stayed out. 

The home side took advantage of their large slice of luck and levelled before half time when Emily Vaughan nodded home a cross and then with home keeper Jade Charlton in outstanding form to literally deny everything that the Chats could throw at her, the home side won their way through with a thunderous 30 yard wind assisted free kick from Jo Woodgates that swerved and dipped and flew like an Exocet missile into the roof of the Chatham net.

The visitors rallied and but for Charlton’s heroics would have surely got the equaliser they deserved but when referee Daley finally blew the final whistle the upset was complete. 

Both sides struggled early on, and it was the home side who had the first real chance when Lizzie Adams hooked a ball from Nicha Dyett into the side netting when well placed. Indeed, the battle between Dyett and Lennie Priest was one of the highlights of the contest with neither lady giving an inch! 

The Chats finally took the lead when Auguste’s corner was headed down and Madamombe reacted quickest to poke the ball home. Moments later it could easily have been two-nil as another Auguste corner flew across the box and crashed out off the post and Charlton was extremely grateful to see the ball into her arms.

It was a let off the home side took full advantage of as just before the break, they were level as a free kick was played into the box and Vaughan was on hand to comfortably net. 

The visitors knew they’d be up against it after the break now kicking into the gale, but they deserve so much credit for as the home side rightly tried to use the conditions to their advantage, the Chats got the ball down and played some super football which time and again sliced through the home defence only for Charlton to perform heroics time and again. 

Madamombe had the first chance as she drove narrowly wide from Nic Taylor’s ball before the Chats scorer was denied by a good keeper’s block and a second defensive block. 

Lottie Sharp was getting more and more space down the Chats left and she was next to be denied as Charlton went full length to magnificently tip a drive round her left post.

Sharp then turned provider for Anaisa Harvey (whose introduction for Madamombe gave the visitors an extra dimension) and the substitute was next to be denied by Charlton’s heroics with another brilliant save. 

The home side kept pushing the visitors back with towering balls forward which for most of the time Priest and Grace Coombes dealt with brilliantly, but then came the moment that was to prove crucial.

Dyett went down under a challenge 30 yards out in front of goal. Woodgates took aim and sent an unstoppable rising shot into the top corner that sparked scenes of great home joy, whilst Davies sank to her knees, but in all fairness to the keeper, the strike was unstoppable. 

The holders threw everything they could to try and save the game but the closest they came was another Taylor drive that was again really well saved by a diving Charlton. 

Not even eleven frantic minutes of stoppage time was going to deny the Darts and the jubilation of the home fans were in stark contrast to the frustration of the visitors when referee Daley finally blew for time. 

The Chats will take away another really encouraging battling performance and on another day the outcome would quite possibly have been different.

But for the National League side now, their attention can fully turn to their next League contest when Cardiff City come to Medway for a real six pointer at the foot of the table. 

The Darts can now look forward to a Cup Final against Aylesford at the Gallagher Stadium in April… 

DARTFORD WOMEN – Charlton, Howell, Hinds, Woodgates, McKeag, Griffiths, Powell (Smith), Adams, Read (Cleary), Vaughan, Dyett (Davis) 

Subs – Woodhouse, Torry 

CHATHAM TOWN WOMEN – Davies, Coombes, Auguste, Jeffkins, Jackson, Grant, Priest, Taylor (Hynes), Madamombe (Harney), Sharp, Perkins 

Subs – Poole, Leitch, Espinosa 

REFEREE – Mr Daley 

Pictures supplied by Allen Hollands.