Chatham Town Women’s manager Keith Boanas has vowed to fight until the end after a controversial weekend defeat saw their survival hopes take another dent.

Boanas’ team remain second-bottom in the National League Southern Premier Division table, nine points from safety with matches running out, after Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Cardiff City Ladies.

The hosts fell behind on 29 minutes at the Bauvill Stadium when a Cardiff free-kick was awarded after what initially seemed a fair Chats challenge and, from the set-piece, the Welsh side went ahead.

A minute after the restart, Chatham thought they had levelled with a header from a right-wing cross, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside, and Cardiff went straight up the other end to earn a debatable spot-kick.

It was given for handball after a shot had struck a home defender from point-blank range. The penalty was then converted, with defender Lenny Priest sin-binned for dissent.

On social media, Boanas wrote: “At the risk of excuses, I have in my career always respected referees fully and - usually - it is mutual.

“The disallowed goal and penalty decision and some others were embarrassing, and I was spoken down to by a very arrogant assistant ref - shocking. They say everything is a learning curve… Well, this is a very new feeling for me!

“But I knew it would be tough taking this on. We will fight as a team of staff and players with everything we have. The respect for the club, the game we love and ourselves demands that.”

On-loan Ipswich forward Holly Turner was Chatham’s player-of-the-match, the side now winless in six games.

Chats visit leaders Portsmouth this Sunday.