Chatham Town Women leave their League campaign behind this weekend as they head to face London Bees in the Third Round of the Women’s FA Cup with Ellie Perkins up for the challenge.

The Chats will be looking for a place in Round Four and a possible outing against a WSL side in the New Year. 

October’s Player of the Month, Ellie Perkins, has played a huge part in the Chats’ impressive start to the season after relegation in May, and ahead of the trip to Barnet has been speaking to KSN… 

“It was great to be recognised as Player of the Month and a big thanks to everyone who voted,” Ellie told us.

“Then to be joint manager’s player with the captain (Grace Coombs) as well, so I am really pleased and will keep trying to work on and improve myself and build on that as well.” 

“We are a relatively new team still – there are a lot of fresh faces this year and ultimately, I think we have really gelled well!”

“Off the pitch, there was a great connection from everyone from the start. On the pitch, it does take a bit longer, but I think that because we are so close that it just works and things can click.”

“We have had to work on increasing communication working together, but I think we have improved so much that it is good to see.” 

“Sunday was a battle, but I think we put our bodies on the line and came away with the win,” Ellie told us reflecting on Sunday’s 1-0 League win over Cambridge at the Bauvill.

“We saw from the off that they were sitting deep and that’s a huge compliment to the way that we are playing at home, and I think a lot of teams are going to do that and make us work for it, but ultimately that can only be a testament to how far we have come as a team this season and what we are proving week in and week out that we can do!” 

Ellie started the season playing alongside her skipper at the heart of the defence, but in recent games has switched to a holding midfield role – “Really I am happy just to be on the pitch ultimately,” Ellie confessed.

“I really don’t mind where the manager sees me best. I have played centre back the majority of my career so I think I have a confidence there. Midfield is a little bit different, but I do like the energy and the intensity as well as I have been described as a bit aggressive in the best way, so I think that I can bring that to the middle of the park. I like both and will play wherever the Gaffer sees me!” 

Looking ahead to the weekend, Ellie told us, “We will travel with confidence after beating them here in the League early on. We had two tough games with them last year and will show them plenty of respect as their results have improved since we played them earlier in the season, so we cannot take anything for granted.”

“We just have to focus on what we are doing and if we do our basics right and work together then we can win the game – they are a decent side so we have to respect them.” 

“We are in a lot of Cups this year and want to go for as many as we can – we are not going to take it easy on any of them and go for everything that we possibly can.”

“The League is very important as promotion has to be our aim, but we will just take it game by game, building on that and creating momentum going to every game fighting whether it’s Cup or League building from the last game.”