Jess King scored a superb hat-trick last Wednesday evening as Chatham Town Women won the Isthmian League Cup for the very first time and she was delighted for her side.

And after the game, a delighted King spoke to KSN and admitted, “I’m absolutely buzzing! To win a Cup Final is amazing but to score a hat-trick, with a free-kick like that is pretty special!” 

King’s treble was sublime, the first a quick reaction after her initial shot was blocked; the second a stunning volley after her own header was beaten out before as the lady herself said, the pick of the three, a simply stunning free-kick to sew up the 5-0 win over the “hosts” and holders Billericay Town. 

“We knew it was going to be a hard game as they play against tougher opponents each week in the division above. But the warm-up before the game was the best that we have had all season, so everyone knew that we had to be switched on from the get-go and thankfully we were!” 

Kings own season has been dogged by injuries which made this night so rewarding, “Sometimes football is like that,” Jess admitted.

“This is the least amount of goals that I have scored in any season I have played but there are times in the game where you have to keep going and sometimes you have good days and sometimes you have bad days and you just have to keep working hard.” 

“It’s something that I have always had to be able to get up in the crowd for the big games but you have to be consistent in the other games as well too!” 

“We won’t finish in the League where we want to; it’s now all about finishing strong and taking this performance into the end of the season. We’re already in the Kent Cup Final and the last four of the Combined Counties – one Cup final down potentially two to go, and although we all wanted to win the League, we will keep taking one game at a time and as much as it’s a cliche, it is all we can do and let’s see where it takes us!” 

“I am going to try and get the match-ball but haven’t yet,” Jess added smiling and as you can see from our exclusive picture she did get the ball, a ball that will no doubt provide some very happy memories of a cold April evening in Essex in 2025!