Twin sisters Amelia and Madison Woodgate both score hat-tricks in Chatham Town’s 12-0 Women’s FA Cup win over Horsham on Sunday
15:00, 14 October 2024
updated: 15:14, 14 October 2024
Amelia Woodgate scored a first-half hat-trick for Chatham Town Women before twin sister Madison completed her own treble in the same game.
The identical twins were signed by Chats in the summer and helped their side to a 12-0 win over Horsham on Sunday in the Women’s FA Cup, a result which sent them into the first-round proper of the competition.
Manager Keith Boanas - a Women’s FA Cup-winning manager and three-time finalist - was delighted for the teenage pair, who he hopes can have a big future in the game.
“Amelia probably missed two or three more, so could have had six,” he admitted. “The game could have easily been 20 if we had taken all of our chances.
“They're both immensely talented technically and they're both quite quick. They were able to shine yesterday and it was a great confidence boost for them, I'm sure.
“They have stepped up a level. It's about them developing now and moving up to levels where they want to aspire to be.
“Technically, they could go all the way. They just need to work on the physical side of their game, which they are doing.”
Boanas previously worked with twins Gemma and Carly Hunt at Charlton but it can still be a challenge.
“They wear different colour boots, which helps,” said the manager.
“As you get to know them more, you see certain traits. I think it's probably the third time I've had twins in a club.
“It's taken a while with these. At training sometimes you can get them mixed up.
“One came up to me a few weeks back and was asking a question and I'm thinking, ‘which one am I talking to?!’
“When they were doing the pictures for the media shots the other night, the photographer was like, ‘haven't you just been in?!’”
Madison was Chatham’s first signing of the summer and her arrival was quickly followed Amelia’s, both having previously been with Dartford and Ebbsfleet United.
It was Amelia who scored first on Sunday - in a game which also saw Darcy Wells score a first-half hat-trick against the Sussex County Women & Girls League team.
Madison scored twice in the opening half and added her third on 67 minutes, a goal which took Chatham into double figures.
Also on target in the win was Lottie Sharp, Otesha Charles and Liv McGregor.
“We were hot favourites,” said Boanas, manager of the National League Division 1 South East side.
“We wanted to show respect to the competition and to the game, and asked our players to go out and play as if we were facing an opponent at our own level, or higher.
“It took a few moments to break them down as they started enthusiastically. They brought a decent amount of supporters with them, probably had more than we did. It was a big occasion for them.
“They're a young side, a new side. They were really looking forward to it and knew they had a tough task. It was about us approaching everything in the right manner.
“We only scored the three goals in the second half but we had two disallowed and a couple of near-misses. We obviously slowed it down a little bit.
“I did get sick of hearing the song ‘I just can't get enough’ which was played every time we scored - I know one of the Horsham supporters went away saying he never wants to hear that song again - and I don’t blame him!”
Chats will now play Dorking Wanderers in the first round proper on Sunday, November 3 at their Bauvill Stadium.
There’s more cup action for the team on Wednesday night when they head to Sheppey United for a first round match in the Isthmian League Cup.
Boanas was keen to enter the competition this season to give fringe players and youngsters additional opportunities. Kick off at Holm Park is at 7.45pm.
The manager said: “If we get further on in the cup and we end up playing someone like Billericay, who are a league above us now, then I'd have to rethink that.
“At the moment it's about giving playing time to some of those that haven't had minutes and some of the youngsters out of the academy. It will be a mixed team on Wednesday.”
Latest news
Features
Most popular
- 1
‘Plumbers charged my elderly relatives £8,560 but settled on £765 when challenged’
22 - 2
Video captures panic as fireworks display goes wrong and ‘boy’s face burnt’
11 - 3
Where 11,000 new homes could be built in district
28 - 4
Family-run garage closes for final time after 92 years of trade
4 - 5
Kent pub 'surrounded by sheep' named one of UK's best to visit in autumn
3