Chatham Town Women will turn their attention back to pursuing league honours this Sunday after a successful few days of cup football.

Keith Boanas’ side have won their last three games in three separate cups, most recently beating Dartford 3-1 to book their place in the Isthmian League Cup final.

Prior to that, they’d clinched a Kent Women’s Cup semi-final spot with a win over London City Lionesses under-21s and reached the third round of the Combined Counties Cup, too.

The big one’s the league, however, and Chatham head into the weekend sitting second in the table after Real Bedford’s win on Sunday saw them return to the top. Chats are a place and a point behind.

Chatham are at home to relegation-threatened London Seaward this Sunday, a side they recently beat 8-0 in the Combined Counties Cup - not that Boanas will be using that as a yardstick.

He said: “They were definitely They were understrength that night, and they only had a couple of subs. Who knows if they had access to all of their players.

“The coach is new, still trying to work things out, but he’s not stupid. We will be confident, we’d be stupid not to be, but we won’t be complacent.”

In last Wednesday’s cup win over Dartford, Chats took the lead through Jess King and added a second before the visitors got one back. Otesha Charles’ headed effort restored their two-goal lead.

Boanas said: “It was not the prettiest to watch, I wouldn't have thought, but we got a well-worked first goal.

“They were chucking stuff down our throat and changed formation in midfield a little bit, which disrupted us, and we couldn’t get a flow through but we got the 1-0 lead.

“It didn’t look like they would score too many times but we had a chat at half-time, reminding people what to do in the situation and went out and did better in the second half and got a couple of goals.

“The one they scored in the end was disappointing and it was only 2-0 then. That made it a bit squeaky because of the timing of it and gave them a bit of momentum. They had scored with a long ball down the throat, misjudged by our defenders and well taken by their striker.

“We weathered it, went back up the other end and scored a great goal, a cross from Megan Maslak and a brilliant header from Otesha.

“She should get more with the crosses we put in, she either gets one spectacular or misses it altogether! She is unpredictable but that is what makes he awkward for teams to play against. You can never get the same things out of her twice!

“The goals we’ve been scoring have helped the confidence. We had the 0-0 game (at home to Real Bedford in the league) and that was disappointing, but to put the ball in the back of the net is always pleasing and it has been pretty shared around the team as well.”

Chatham weren’t in action at the weekend, allowing Real Bedford to win their game in hand and reclaim top spot in the Division 1 South East table.

Boanas said: “Hopefully the break will have done our players some good, get some aches and pains out of the way and they can come back firing at the weekend.

“It is a massive challenge now, every game. Bedford won their game in hand and we know they are confident. They have signed Breon Grant from Billericay who was with us last year to strengthen their attacking options. They are in the driving seat now.

“We have to make sure we keep maximum pressure up and make sure we’re not overly distracted by being in the three cups. It is a bit of a juggling act for me, we have to see how things go but it is each game as it comes, focusing on one game at a time.”

Chatham have to play third-placed Norwich City home and away yet, a team who could also still force their way into the promotion picture.

They are three points behind Chatham and have played a game more. Real Bedford host Norwich this Sunday while Chats take on London Seaward.

Boanas said: “Norwich were up there last year finishing second, they had a blip and seem to be back firing and they won at the weekend 4-0 as well.

“They are not to be taken lightly and they are attached to a pro club, slightly different resource and access than we have, so it is certainly something we can’t be complacent about.

“But we just have to concentrate on Sunday first, get three points on the board, keep the pressure on and then plan the next one after that.”