Chatham Town Women’s boss Keith Boanas praises impact of Grace Coombs as captain gets only goal in 1-0 away FA Cup first-round win against Tooting Bec

Captain Grace Coombs has been praised by Chatham Town Women’s boss Keith Boanas after her winner at the weekend.

Coombs got the only goal as Chats battled to a 1-0 victory at Tooting Bec in the FA Cup first round.

While the defender missed most of last season through injury, she appears to be back towards her best and converted a corner by player-of-the-match Lucy Jones.

Boanas said: “I would love to be a forward in that team.

“Every game, we put in good deliveries from our set-pieces. I think she, cleverly, just kind of placed herself at the back post.

“They kind of almost ignored her. It was weird but a clever goal from her point of view.

“She’s only come back recently from nearly a full season out. She’s not fully-fit yet but her presence and her experience makes a difference to us.

“It’s great to have her back.”

Coombs’ strike was enough as Boanas’ National League Division 1 South East side got the better of Luis Emanuel’s team - ironically, someone Boanas has coached.

“Full credit to our opponents,” said Boanas.

“Although the pitch was a 3G, it wasn’t the best. It was maybe more suitable for hockey or things like that. But we just didn’t adapt as well as we would have liked.

“Looking at the stats, we had 27 shots and they had zero, and we had 70 per cent possession. I’m just more disappointed with our end product.

“That will have to be better against stronger opponents. They were, ironically, coached by a manager that I’ve coached.

“Cut a long story short, I did a session and he said ‘Is that how you play at Chatham?’.

“I said ‘Why’s that?’. He replied ‘Well, we’re playing you in a few weeks!’.

“As the chairman [Kevin Hake] said, we’re through and it’s job done.

“I think it was just one of those.”

Chatham’s reward