Chatham Town Women missed the chance to end the year top of the National League South East table.

Manager Keith Boanas was frustrated at his side’s lack of creative spark in Sunday’s game with Actonians that ended goalless.

It was their last match of 2024, ending it one point away from league leaders Real Bedford in second place with half of their games played.

For Boanas, who was looking to avenge two 1-0 defeats in previous league and cup games, it felt like a missed opportunity.

Reflecting on the 0-0 draw, the Chats boss said: “I am not happy with the point - far from it. They were weaker on paper than they were in the previous two games. We should have beaten them then.

“That’s now 270 minutes against them and we haven’t scored a goal.

“They are a deep-defending side with a very good centre-back but we didn’t even create chances and I think they had a stand-in goalkeeper as well.

“It was disappointing in the attacking third - happy defensively - but I think had we still been playing now we wouldn’t have scored.

“They are our bogey side, for whatever reason. I have to look at the whys and wherefores. We were missing natural number nines in Jess King and Millie Rayner through injury and Darcy Wells was unavailable, they were big misses.

“Darcy’s energy in midfield had been the highlight for the past few games and Jess and Millie are natural goalscorers.”

The game was held up towards the end of the first half because of an injury to the referee.

Boanas said: “Someone else came in from nearby and the game was delayed for 20 minutes. Once it restarted they called for half-time just five minutes later! That didn’t help with momentum, but it’s not really an excuse.

“We should have been scoring three or four goals against that opponent, on paper, which would have left us top of the table. Win and we would have been top going into Christmas and it’s a bit of a choker.”

Leaders Real Bedford drew with London Bees on the same day as Chats, in second, were held by Actonians. It means the top four is unchanged.

Chatham were relegated last season and are hoping to an instant return to the third-tier but Boanas has seen other opportunities slip by.

He said: “If I was told at the start of the season we’d be sitting second at this stage then we would have taken it but when we look back at the points we’ve dropped and how we have dropped them, it is unforgivable.

“We should be clear at the top. That is the toughest thing to take. In comparison to last season we have to be happy, at this stage, but realistically looking at where we’ve dropped points and who to, then we should be top, no question in my mind about that.

“For some reason the team are Jekyll and Hyde. They have to realise they have to work for every game. I would say 90% of the side didn’t perform to their best and you can’t afford for so many players to be off their game. I can’t find an explanation for that.

“They have been told to go away and watch the game back and then evaluate it. Not just a hot reflection. They have time to have a good look, watch it properly, and evaluate why they did what they did and then we can work out what to do about it.

“We are in a challenging position and if we take our foot off the gas and drop points like we have then we’re not going to get what we want.

“You can’t be positive when it is not a positive performance, you can’t gloss it over, it matters and they have to realise.

“They are happy to take the praise when they do well, and when they haven’t done so well they have to understand they are going to get criticism. We try and make it constructive, we don’t scream and shout after the game, we try and pinpoint what it is.

“Sometimes they have to look at it and look deeper than they do. There is always a knee jerk reaction but we sit and watch the whole game back and I want them to do it. They have until December 29, so plenty of time to do it.”

Chatham return to action on January 5 against London Bees at The Hive - the team that knocked them out of the Women’s FA Cup. That league game is followed by a home meeting against league leaders Real Bedford the following Sunday (January 12).