Chatham's FA Cup run feels 'as good as winning it'

Chatham Town's manager has said getting to the Women's FA Cup fifth round feels "as good as it did when I won it" 20 years ago.

The Kent club beat York City 3-0 on Sunday to become the lowest ranking side left in the last 16 of the competition, the first time they have even made it to the fourth round.

Manager Keith Boanas, who previously won with Charlton, said: "To reach this stage now, at this level of the game, with this club, genuinely feels as good as it did in 2005."

Ellie Jeffkins, who has scored some key goals in the cup run so far, scored first, swinging in a corner that hit the keeper on its way in.

On the left wing, Madison Woodgate put a pass into the box that gave her identical twin sister Amelia an easy goal to put Chatham two ahead.

Combining well again, Madison's ball forward forced the keeper out as Amelia ran onto it, getting there first.

She then rounded the keeper and struck it into an open goal to make it 3-0 before half-time.

There were no goals in the second half, giving Chatham a convincing win and a place in the last 16, with the draw taking place on Monday evening.

Madison Woodgate said: "She's [Amelia} just there every time I look up and she's always making the right runs."

Amelia Woodgate added: "I just appreciate everyone that turned up, I didn't expect this many people…walking out today and seeing everyone was incredible."

In the next round, the winning team gets £80,000, with £20,000 for the loser, and both sides share the gate money.

There could be more if the game is televised, and the combined revenue could mean a huge windfall for fourth-tier Chatham.

Boanas added: "That money is an absolute lifesaver for this club, a club that's non-league but with professional ambitions for the men's and women's sides."

He said he wanted to face Manchester United in the next round, followed by Arsenal, then Manchester City, all clubs managed by people he knows well.

Failing that, he'd like to face Charlton, who he took to four FA Cup finals.

Top of the table in WS2, the second tier of women's football, they beat Swindon 10-0 to progress to the next round

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