Chatham Town booked a place in the fifth round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup for the first time with a 3-0 victory over York City on Sunday.

Amelia Woodgate was the star of the show scoring a well taken brace while Ellie Jeffkins found the net inside ten minutes direct from a corner kick. The match was played in front of a record crowd for Chatham Town women of 1,671 spectators.

Chatham Town were playing their fifth match in the competition this term and only their first at home in this Adobe Women’s FA Cup campaign. This was also the Chats first home match of 2026. Their head coach Keith Boanas is something of a legend of the FA Cup, Boanas reached the final of the competition four times as head coach of Charlton Athletic including winning the trophy in 2005. Chatham Town currently sit fourth in the fourth tier of the pyramid: the FA Women’s National League Division One South-East behind Fulham, Norwich and London Bees.

Their opponents, York City came into this one sitting 10th in the league, they play in the same tier as their Chatham however in the Northern section. The two sides were the lowest ranked still remaining in the competition. This is the first time York City have reached this stage of the competition. Their star striker, Katie Astle won the player of the round award for the third round would be key if the Minister Belles were to stand any chance.

The Lineups

CHA: Eligon; Perkins, Feffkins, Jones, M. Woodgate; Hynes, Auguste, Iton, A. Woodgate, Sharp; Russ

YOR: Sidwell; Varley, Waldron, Buckle, Trickett; Shaw, Duce, Bell, Doody, Bentley; Astle

The Action

The first action from a competitive opening five minutes came as Amelia Woodgate found Jas Auguste on the edge of the York City box. Auguste laid the ball off to Ciara Hynes who pulled her effort wide of the post. That was a sign of things to come. Chatham were looking to find Amelia Woodgate in space in behind again and again while York threatened on the counter to varying effect. Daniella Trickett was a willing runner from right back whenever called upon for the visitors but that left space in behind. The Chats should have been ahead just before the tenth minute after a long ball from Lucy Jones found Amy Russ in the box, Russ did everything right, controlling the ball before toe poking it goalward. The ball seemed destined for the net but rattled the crossbar instead.

Chatham Town did take the lead shortly after though, a wicked corner into the box from Ellie Jeffkins went directly into the far corner of the goal. A slice of FA Cup magic gave Chatham a deserved lead. York were looking to calm the pace of the match, Sophie Bentley and Niamh Doody were doing well to keep the ball on the edge of the Chatham box. Bentley looked especially threatening with a couple of impressive early touches in the Chatham half. Bentley would help carve out the Minister Belles’ first chance of the match, her ball to the feet of Katie Astle in the box was well controlled by the forward. Astle, taking stock of her surroundings rolled the ball into the path of the onrushing Doody whose effort was well stopped by Simone Elgin in the net for the home side.

Chatham, who had allowed York City to gain some control in proceedings reminded their opponents of their threat with 20 minutes gone. A long ball over the top from Elgin found Amelia Woodgate running in behind. Woodgate did well to shrug off the challenge of Ruby Waldron but her effort was straight at Rebecca Sidwell. Shortly after Woodgate found her way through again, it was clearly an area Chatham had targeted. This time her delicate lobbed finish could only bounce off the crossbar and away but she was getting closer.

Woodgate would double the Chatham lead after excellent play to cut the visitors open. On either wing the Chats were causing issues and this time it was Lottie Sharp finding space in behind. Sharp cut the ball across the box for Amelia Woodgate to finish with consummate ease. York almost had an immediate response as Rosie Bell struck a corner directly off the inside of the far post, agonizingly for the visitors it bounced out and nobody in white could find the net from the rebound. An inventive set piece almost came off for York shortly after with the ball knocked down to Doody who couldn’t make a significant contact on the ball to direct it goal wards. On the counter Chatham again went from front to back down the wings with pace. Sharp, running in behind again found the boot of Amelia Woodgate who this time directed her effort just wide of the post.

Woodgate would not be denied her second of the afternoon shortly after. In the midfield York were dispossessed by a tackle on the edge of the rules. The ball was played in behind and it was Woodgate again sprinting in with glee. Sidwell rushed out to close down the angle but Woodgate rounded the keeper and fired the ball home. That made it 3-0 to Chatham Town as the half time whistle blew.

In the second half York City switched to a two up front with Ruby Watt introduced off the bench in search of a more direct approach. The Chats should have had their fourth when an inch perfect cross from Lucy Jones found Amy Russ in space in the box, but Russ could only slice the ball wide. York City seemed to be fighting a losing cause but they demonstrated the heart that got them to the fourth round in the first place. Rosie Bell put on the afterburners and sprinted down the line to deliver a dangerous ball into the box but there were only defenders waiting in Chatham red.

Katie Astle almost found a way through with just over twenty minutes remaining but Ellie Perkins made an exceptional interception to snuff out the danger. Karesha Iton almost had her side’s fourth with the clock ticking down but her controlled effort whistled just past the post. Substitute Otesha Charles also threatened to find the net, her shot lifted just over the bar. Chatham threatened to score again as the minutes dwindled down but they were unable to find a way through. By that stage though the script was written and Chatham had made history.

Chatham Town history makers

For the first time in their history Chatham Town will be in the hat for the fifth round of the FA Cup. Tomorrow’s draw will see Chatham as ball number 5 with the possibility of facing anyone of Arsenal, Manchester United or Chelsea. Even Keith Bonanas’ old club Charlton Athletic, now managed by his former captain Karen Hills remain an option.  The possibilities feel endless for the side that, in knocking out the lowest ranked side in the competition become it themselves. Undoubtedly the next round will be a challenge but they’ve shown their quality.

Minister Belles fall short

York City may be out of the competition but they demonstrated why they’d come so far today. Perhaps underperforming in the league, the cup provided an outlet for the team who despite not winning today, still secured the club’s best ever run in the FA Cup. Some individual performances stood out, Sophie Bentley impressed, her close control, dribbling and end product looked dangerous. While Niamh Doody was another standout, the diminutive midfielder showed composure and presence on the ball, she marshalled the troops from the midfield.

Rebecca Sidwell between the sticks also looked confident under the high ball into the box too and was not helped in her search for a clean sheet by York’s first half high line. Sidwell made a string of excellent saves late in the second half to keep a second period clean sheet. Katie Astle never stopped running, going deep in her own half to win the ball back late in the match too. This York side dug in even after conceding an early goal, they should hold their heads high.

The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Amelia Woodgate

A clear tactic from Chatham was to attack the wide areas in behind York City. Woodgate was instrumental in that game plan succeeding. She came close to nabbing a hat-trick but was denied by the bar. An excellent performance.