Report written by Michael Eden:
Centre-back Grace Breen was the hero as her powerful late diving header earnt London Bees another three points against Chatham.
The Bees made a bright start in driving rain at the Bees Stadium. A half-chance arrived as early as the 4th minute with Hayley Hoare just failing to get on the end of a through ball from Sandy Martins and Chatham were able to scramble clear.
The home side continued to press in the opening exchanges with Martins beating the keeper to an aerial ball and hitting the angle of post and cross bar with a looping header.
Chatham were proving to be a threat on the counterattack and Amy Liddiard had to be alert to intercept a driven cross to prevent an almost certain opener for the visitors.
As the weather conditions deteriorated through the first half it was proving difficult to find fluency, but it was Martins again nearly produced a moment of magic with a dipping strike from 25 yards that flew just wide with the keeper stranded.
The Bees should have taken the lead on the half hour mark when a driven ball across the box from Martins found Elizabeth Mulvaney, who lost balance at a crucial time and clipped the crossbar with the keeper beaten.
The second half started much in the same vein as the first, with the hosts enjoying the majority of the possession, and Chatham looking to counter with pace.
A driving run forward from Che Thomas, ended with Martins teeing up Hoare who struck a low shot just wide of the post.
The Bees were beginning to dominate and chances kept coming. Gemma Biggadike had an opportunity inside the area, but her goal bound strike was bravely blocked, then minutes later a low cross from Martins flew just out of the reach of Hoare.
Thomas and Mulvaney then had clear openings in quick succession, but the visitors somehow kept the ball out.
Substitute Grace Stanley then found space down the right-hand side but took too long before releasing the ball and the chance had gone.
A superb left footed drive from Martins was kept out by the keeper as the Bees looked to turn the screw.
From the resulting corner, the hosts’ dominance was finally rewarded as Grace Breen met the ball sweetly to head the Bees into the lead with 5 minutes left.
As the clock ticked into added on time, Chatham came perilously close to an equaliser as a thunderous free kick beat Liddiard but smacked the top of the bar.
The stopper also had to be alert to tip another long-range effort over the top.
The Bees managed to hold on under pressure and deservedly took the three points to stay top of the league.