Chatham Town Women defender Lenny Priest has been talking to KSN about her side’s relegation fight in the Women’s National League South. 

Talking to us after last weekend’s 3-2 defeat against an Oxford United side who have been beaten just once in their last eleven games, the Chats defender was naturally frustrated, but there was a determination that just was not there until coach Keith Boanas took over before Christmas. 

“Every loss hurts,” the defender admitted, “But the way that they equalised with the penalty just after half time, which for me was very, very soft! From there, you just think that you have got to go again, and everything goes against us when they score again!”

“Great response then from the girls when we get level – cannot fault the effort from anyone – and then once again it slipped away from us!” 

“It’s so, so frustrating!” 

The Chats find themselves five points from safety and without a League win thus far. Currently occupying the final relegation place in the table with Cardiff City being the side that are currently in the Medway side’s safety sights, there is a growing belief that the “Great Escape” could still be possible! 

“We’re doing well now against all the teams in the League,” Priest told us, “But we have had a very up and down first half of the season going through two different managers and a third now settling in, but we have played everyone in the League at least once now and need to get points now.”

“But there are positives to take from every game now, even last Sunday – Oxford are a good side and beat us 4-0 at their place; they almost won this division last season, and we pushed them all the way at the weekend,” 

“There’s a great togetherness in the group,” Priest went on, “I know it’s a cliche, but the girls are so close knit and want to battle for each other!” 

“We have got to keep going as there’s nothing else that we can do about it – the results are the results, and we cannot change them, we just have to focus on the games that are coming up!”

“Every game is a battle, every game is a fight as we know that we are in a dogfight at the wrong end of the table.” 

“We are not looking any further than the next game which is Dartford in the Kent Cup on Sunday.”

“It is crucial for us to get the win and get back to the Cup Final after winning the competition again to really lift the spirits before we have our next League game against Cardiff in a couple of weeks time. That’s our next target and hopefully we can get a good win there!”  

Pictures supplied by Allen Hollands.