Chatham Town Women’s new boss Keith Boanas has spent the week assessing the squad he’s inherited ahead of his first league game in charge.

Last Sunday the team faced Portsmouth under-23s in a friendly match that ended in a morale-boosting 6-1 win and Boanas also drafted in some of their own club’s under-18s for a practice match in the week.

Boanas is happy to see what the current Chatham squad are capable of before deciding who has a part to play for the remainder of the season. They head to Cheltenham Town this Sunday.

“I wanted to have a look at everybody before I make any decisions,” said the new boss.

“I need to make decisions on how many players I might need to bring in and what players might go out on loan, if any. I need to make those decisions fairly quickly, but it is never easy, some people will be upset, but it is part of the job.

“Sunday helped, it was a confidence booster for a couple of players, with Tish (Letitia Nicholls) getting a hat-trick and taking her goals well. We scored some decent goals but conceded a really poor one, so there were negatives as well.

“They were a young side and quite industrious. I expected us to win, I didn’t know by how many or what the performance would be like, but I was fairly pleased overall.

“Following the game last Sunday and two sessions this week I have to make a call for this Sunday’s game, against a mid-table side, quite physical. I’m expecting a bit of physical battle at the weekend so I need to pick the team in view of that.

“When I first talked about the job, people said I would need four or five players in, I am not as convinced as that, I just think they need coaching. There is talent and ability there, they need motivating. They have looked good in the sessions so far and with a new gaffer in everyone raises their game.”

“I think the players deserve a chance, it is not their fault what happened, but it is down to them to react, that is what I have asked. Earn the shirt, play for the shirt and make it hard for me to go and look for other players to come in.”

Chatham have announced the signing of experienced left-back Jasmine Auguste.

Boanas said: “I will only bring in players who improve the group but importantly they must be right for us.

“Jas is a bubbly personality, known to many of our current squad and looks already to have slotted in seamlessly.”

Auguste previously played for Gillingham and Millwall, having started out at West Ham United.