Chatham were on the end of a heavy defeat in the Women’s FA Cup but manager Keith Boanas couldn’t fault the players’ efforts.

Championship side Crystal Palace won the third round match on Sunday 6-0, displaying the superior fitness of a full-time side with international players against third-tier Chats.

“I was pretty pleased with the effort,” Boanas said.

“First half going in 2-0 down was reasonable, we had worked on the defending side of it and we coped pretty well, and the goals came more from individual errors rather than them breaking us down, just poor marking from a set-piece and someone slipping over.

“Once we were 2-0 down we had already decided that if we were behind it was no good staying defensive, we went for it a little, changed the system second half, we had a go and were doing okay until they got a third goal which came from a catalogue of errors. When they went in it deflated the girls.”

Chatham then conceded three more in the final 10 minutes to give Palace a sizeable margin.

Boanas said: “Three-nil would have been a respectable scoreline and with the effort I would have been happy with that, but the last 10 they brought on two or three more players and they were so much more fitter and stronger, it was so evident.

“Our girls had worked so hard and I think the pitch, which was boggy, had taken it out of them as well, it is hard to play on and our girls are used to playing on astroturf.

“I couldn’t chastise them after the game, the way we conceded some of the goals is to be looked at, we have a long rest now until after Christmas to work on things, I will also be looking to recruit at least one player, if not two during that time period.”

Chatham return to action after Christmas with a trip to Plymouth Argyle on Sunday, January 7.

Boanas has set a target of 12 more points for survival as they look to pull clear of the bottom two. Chatham currently have four points from their opening 11 games - the halfway point of the Southern Premier Division campaign.

Training will continue over the next three weeks as Boanas looks to get the team ready for their shot at survival.

He said: “We have quite a tough one to face first game afterwards, Plymouth away, but we have time to prepare.

“After the first half on Sunday I said to them they shouldn’t fear anyone in our league and I know they have had bad results against some of them but that is in the past, but if they can pull out that kind of effort and performance against teams in our league we shouldn’t fear anyone, even the top sides, that showed in the Rugby game (losing 2-1 in their last league game), they are a very good side but we matched them and that and that was a battle, if they show that kind of spirit we are on the right track.”

*Chatham have been drawn away to London & South East Regional League side Dartford in the semi-final of the Kent Women’s Cup, to be played on January 21 at Princes Park.