Keith Boanas took charge of his first competitive game on Sunday and believes their goalless draw at Cheltenham is a base they can build from.

The new manager might have come away with a win from the Southern Premier Division fixture, with his side having been denied a penalty from a seemingly clear-cut handball, but settled for a point from a tough first game.

Boanas’ side now head to lower-league Haywards Heath this Sunday in the Women’s FA Cup.

The manager felt the handball decision was blatant but there were some good signs shown from the team which is still looking for a first league win. Early on Chats hit the crossbar.

Boanas said: “We started strongly, created some really good opportunities, we were getting down both sides and getting crosses in, just missing by moments and fractions, similarly they had a couple of attacks and as I envisaged they were very physical, very strong through the centre.”

Cheltenham included former Welsh international Natasha Harding in their team but Boanas said: “I managed to get her dealt with, our keeper had an outstanding game, so did Breon Grant one of the forwards, everybody worked really hard.

“Any opportunities they got were through us making errors of judgement or decisions, certainly not through them outplaying us, there were little things the players can learn from watching the videos and I am now getting them all to do an evaluation straight after the game, sending them in.

“It is a sheet I designed, something I have done at other clubs I have been involved in, talking about in possession, out of possession, physical and psychological effects and they can grade themselves and put in a little action plan and I can comment on it. That is a way of helping them develop.

“We have come away from a mid-table side who are renowned for being quite a tough outfit, with a point and a clean sheet. It was a close game and a base to build on.”

Sunday’s FA Cup opponents sit second bottom in Division 1 South East - a level below Chatham - but a new management team has been appointed which could give them a lift.

Boanas said: “Like any young side they will be full of energy and we have to be careful of that but I am confident, but not going to allow myself to get over confident.

“They will be the underdog, playing with no fear, it will be like their cup final early on and so we have to be wary, we have seen what’s been happening in the FA Cup in the men’s game, which proves you can’t take anything for granted.”