Chatham Town Women’s manager Keith Boanas reacts to win over Actonians as they chase leaders Fulham in the league table – Dulwich Hamlet cup trip awaits this Sunday

Chatham Town produced a top rearguard display to see off last season’s bogey team - and their crucial opening goal came when down to nine players.

Chats played Actonians three times last season in league and cup action without managing a goal, only taking a point from their home game after a goalless draw.

They won 2-1 on Sunday but it was 0-0 at the halfway stage. In the second half Chats lost defender Romany Wellington for 10 minutes to the sin-bin and shortly after briefly had Otesha Charles receiving treatment, so things weren’t going in their favour.

But a free-kick taken by Ellie Jeffkins led to a goal, headed into the net by a home defender. Four minutes later, Wellington rejoined the action and scored after a corner.

Boss Keith Boanas was delighted to have secured a crucial three points.

“The celebrations were quite boisterous (after the second goal),” he said.

“Romany had only been back on the pitch for a minute, and when the corner was only half-cleared, she smashed it in from the edge of the box to make it 2-0.

“There were lots of very positive performances for me, defensively, although we conceded right near the end, and the last couple of minutes were a little bit nervy, but we went away happy.

“It was massive to get those three points. I'd already identified that all the teams above us were playing on paper, weaker sides. They all looked like they'd get maximum points, and if we hadn't have won, the gap would have been increased to a not-nice-looking gap. At the moment, it's stayed the same.”

Chatham’s defence had been asked plenty of questions from an Actonians side who launched balls forward at every opportunity.

Centre-half Ellie Perkins picked up the player-of-the-match award and there was a positive