Chatham Town Women clinched their first piece of silverware on Wednesday night, winning the Isthmian Cup final in some style.

Keith Boanas’ Chatham side were up against cup holders Billericay Town, a side fighting relegation from the higher division and hosting the final at The New Lodge in Essex.

Jess King opened the scoring on 18 minutes and it wasn’t long before Lucy Jones doubled the lead.

King’s second of the night against her former team, just before the break, put Chatham into a great position heading into the second half

Grace Coombs made it 4-0 and King completed her hat-trick with a free-kick that she struck into the top corner, leading to wild celebrations in front of the Chatham bench. With 15 minutes to play, Chats were able to cruise to the finish.

Manager Boanas said: “That was probably one of the most comprehensive and pleasing performances of the whole season, where every player, for want of a better phrase, did what it says on the tin!

“Following the discussions after training on the Tuesday and the team-talk before the game, every player did what was asked of them, including those on the bench and the rest of the squad who came to support and celebrated afterwards - it was a massive squad effort.

“There was a good group of fans who came to support us, along with chairman Kevin Hake and Gary Hake (general manager).

“I think at one point Kev was almost in tears when Jess ran over to the bench after her hat-trick goal. It was pretty emotional.

“We massively dominated, our set-pieces paid off as well, and Jess King had said before the game, because she had played there before, ‘I always score goals on this pitch and free-kicks that end. ’ She wouldn’t normally have been on them but she said, ‘I’m having that’ and bosh!

“She had a feeling she would play well and was one of the justifications for picking her. I left her out of the starting line-up last week and said to her I was saving her for this one, and she showed her worth. Her background is high-level and she showed she still has it.

“She ran over and whispered to me ‘It’s about time, gaffer!’

“She got a round of applause when we took her off and Jasmine Auguste was absolutely outstanding, up and down the pitch, but it was hard to name a player-of-the-match. It went to Jess after her hat-trick but any one of them could have got it and to keep a clean sheet as well, they only threatened our goal once or twice the whole game.”

Billericay are hoping to avoid relegation in the division above and couldn’t get close to Chatham on the night.

“I think they were shocked with how we came out,” Boanas said.

“They probably expected us to be more cautious but we went for it straight away, creating chances and Jess King put a great volley over early doors. Once we scored our first goal we didn’t look back.

“I never felt nervous at all during the night, going into the game, I felt it was going to be okay - but I didn’t know it was going to be that good!

“I normally get anxious, nervous and up tight before any cup final, and I’ve been in a few, but I think it was probably the calmest I’ve felt.”

Chatham have missed out on a promotion shot this season but hope to finish top three, while they still have two more chances of cup glory, with a home semi-final against Portsmouth to come in the Combined Counties Cup and a Kent Cup final game against Dartford to look forward to on May 1.

Boanas added: “We’ve created a little bit of history now and I said to Kevin about how gutted I am that we haven’t won the title and got promoted, but hopefully this is a little bit of payback, and I thanked him for the support given.”

Chairman Kevin Hake said: “I’m over the moon with the result and I’m so pleased Keith is first manager to put Chatham Town Women on a trophy.

“Against all odds, against a team in higher division, at their ground they put in an unbelievable performance on the night.”

The Chatham Women’s team are now focused on Sunday’s National League, Division 1 South East game away to AFC Sudbury.

Boanas said: “It’s quite a tough fixture against a team who have raised their game at the moment but we can hopefully carry this momentum on.”

Chatham’s men’s team will hope they can repeat the feat next Wednesday (April 9) when they play fellow Isthmian Premier Division side Billericay Town in the Velocity Cup final at Parkside, in Essex.