Last season ended on a high with a rousing 3-0 win over Dulwich Hamlet which led to a fifth-place finish, the highest the club had managed since 2022-23.

It marked the end of an era, as soon after this it was announced that a controlling stake in the first team had been acquired by the McCaffrey Sports Investment Group from the USA and ambitious plans were announced.

Fronted by former NWSL and USA player Steph McCaffrey, the investors brought in former Hashtag United boss Jason Stephens from Leyton Orient along with several of their very talented players.

A brusing pre-season saw Liv McGregor and Kat Turner sidelined for the opening game but new captain Georgia Griffin and her deputy Wiktoria Fronc made the starting line-up in Kent alongside McCaffrey.

There were also first starts for goalkeeper Zahra Cheeseman who played for Dulwich last season and Pakistan international Zahmena Malik who began the game at left-back.

The new signings had seen Actonians installed as one of the pre-season title favourites but Chatham were even more strongly fancied by some so this was arguably the game of the day in this division of the FAWNL.

With the music pumping, a bouncy castle keeping the kids entertained and a large crowd of several hundred in, there was a lively atmosphere at kick-off.

The A's made a bright start and appeared to control the opening stages but fell behind when possession was lost from one of their own set pieces.

The hosts broke forward quickly and Ameila Woodgate confidently slotted home in the 11th minute to the delight of the locals.

Undeterred, the visitors continued to play their game and carved out a good opportunity for Malik just three minutes later but her low effort was saved Evie Thorne-Ford.

This seemed to encourage Stephens' team as the chances continued to come.

McCaffrey surged into the box on the half hour but her cross-shot cannoned back off the far post before being hacked behind for a corner.

This was cleared but not effectively enough and a free-kick was conceded about 25 yards out as the Actonians pressure really started to pay dividends.

One of the stories of the summer was captain Mara Bramwell's departure for Chatham and her often deadly long-range free-kicks went with her.

Responsibility for set pieces like this now seem to have passed to her former defensive partner Lois Colley and she made no mistake with an unstoppable effort which flew into the top right corner to make it 1-1 on 32 minutes.

This setback seemed to fire up the Chats again and by half time they'd forced Cheeseman into a fine save from Lottie Sharp and seen Colley pull off a spectacular clearance as Charlotte O'Shea's cross looked set to find an unmarked team-mate in front of goal.

The referee blew for half-time shortly after and many of the players headed off with smiles on their faces after what had been a pulsating first half.

Actonians came racing out of the blocks following the restart and almost took the lead when Abi Kargbo saw her low effort cleared off the line.

However, within seconds Chatham went ahead again as Woodgate rampaged down the left before crossing for her twin sister Madison Woodgate to tap home.

This new look Actonians side clearly has goals in it and at no point did they look out of it.

Twenty minutes after falling behind they were level when a defensive mix-up saw the ball break for Griffin on the right and she calmly lobbed it over the goalkeeper into the far corner to restore parity at 2-2.

Chances came and went for both sides and with 85 minutes on the clock, Griffin found herself through on goal again and she made no mistake, cooly slotting under the advancing keeper to give Actonians the lead for the first time.

With the game into its closing stages, A's legend Bramwell was now on the pitch for the hosts and with injury time looming it looked all set up for her to make a dramatic impact.

When Karesha Iton's dangerous ball over from the right was turned in at the far post in the 89th minute, the stadium announcer initially credited the equaliser to the American defender but it was corrected soon after and given to Hope Thompson instead.

Stalwart right-back Jennie Brereton had gone off earlier in the game and with Colley also hobbling off injured, the A's defence for the incredibly tense remaining minutes of injury time saw Viv Ruettgers fill in at centre-back and debutant Julia Casinha slot in on the flank after coming off the bench following her move from Atletico London.

The makeshift backline saw out the remaining time and this gripping game ended 3-3.

All-in-all, this was a great advert for the FAWNL and showed Actonians fans they should have a lot to look forward to this season.

POTM - Georgia Griffin. The captain scored twice and was always looking to make things happen on a thrilling afternoon in Kent.

Report by James Doe