Chatham Town Women’s manager Keith Boanas described their performance in their weekend victory as unacceptable.

After a two-week break, Chats secured a 1-0 home win against National League Division 1 South East bottom side Ashford Town (Middlesex).

But Boanas expects more from his title-chasing team.

“The three points is important, the win is important, but the performance wasn’t acceptable,” said Boanas.

“I was disappointed with the performance. We paid the price for the two easier games that we had before and not having a game the previous weekend.

"But I had warned the players.

“It was three points and that matters. But we’re trying to play in a way that brings more supporters to the club.

“A lot of people say ‘What a great result with some really good football in there’ - which there was. But with the standards we’re setting, we knew it should be a better scoreline.

“We have kept a clean sheet - when we should have done, anyway. That was our strongest defensive unit.

“On reflection, there’s a positive in that we have won the game.

“But it’s not a great win, even though people from the outside may see a different picture.”

Their goal came when Ellie Perkins headed home a corner from Lacey Hergest midway through the first half.

Chats didn’t really build on that lead, however, and almost paid the price late on.

Boanas said: “In the last 10 minutes, they could have scored. They hit the crossbar.

“It was pretty intense and I was intense on the touchline.

“There were a few discussions afterwards about the intensity on the touchline, but the reality is that we could have not won the game.

“Goal difference could make all the difference at the end of the season, as well, and they have lost quite heavily to other teams in our division. We expected more goals.

“We missed two one-on-one chances, it was a good set-piece for the goal, but that should have led to more.”

Nevertheless, fourth-placed Chatham are reasonably well-positioned. They are three points behind frontrunners Actonians and have a game in hand.

Boanas, whose side’s match against London Seaward was abandoned last month after a player collided with the perimeter wall, noted: “If the London Seaward game had carried on, we would be sitting in second.

“Looking back at the QPR match (a 1-1 home draw), we probably could be top.

“After three months, if we’re not top, I will be considering my future - whether the club goes down that route or not is another thing. But that’s the challenge I have set to myself and my staff.

“I do believe we’re the best team in the division on our day from what I have seen.

“We cannot afford for a lot of players to, collectively, have an off-day.

"If one or two do, that’s what your substitutes are there for.”

Next up for Chatham is the Women’s FA Cup first-round match at home to Dorking Wanderers on Sunday, with the winners pocketing £6,000.

Dorking Wanderers ladies’ chairman is Calum Best - the son of Manchester United legend George Best, one of Boanas’ idols.

Boanas, who won the FA Cup in 2005 while he was with Charlton, said: “It’s always a pipe dream that you go all the way.

“It’s probably impossible but, obviously, it’s a competition that I massively respect.

“Dorking is a club I know well. They have got a fairly famous chairman in Calum Best - the son of George, one of my idols.

"If they look at our result from Sunday, they might be fancying their chances.

“Against Horsham (winning 12-0 in the previous round), we still played at a good level - and treated it like a game against a team from a higher division - and we will try to do the same on Sunday.

"There’s a fair amount of prize money on offer, as well.

“That’s our way of thanking Kev (Hake, Chatham’s chairman) and the club for the support they have given.”