Herne Bay Ladies V Ebbsfleet Res Ladies

Match Report - Anthony Deer

Another difficult game on paper and was made even worse with a depleted squad today through injury, illness and work commitments. We travelled to Gravesend to play Ebbsfleet ladies with just 12 fit players but still full of confidence of getting the result needed to continue our great run.

On a heavy pitch which had a clear up and down slope, we lost the toss and were asked to play down the hill first half. We found it tough to get into the game at the beginning however, we dominated proceedings forcing the home goalkeeper into making many saves. But with 20 minutes gone the Ebbsfleet goalkeeper could not stop the strike from Vicky Holness. A tight angle down the left, Vicky went passed two defenders and calmly lobbed the goalkeeper to score the first goal of the game. From the restart, Ebbsfleet pushed on and tried to penetrate the back four however once again they found it hard to do so, and were frustrated by good defending from Enya Lynch, Shona Clark, Clare Brown and Chantelle Bleau.

With 15 minutes to go, Natalie Lewis went in for a tackle and twisted her knee so had to leave the field of play. From this incident, Ebbsfleet had their first and only chance of the first half and it had to be a good strike to beat Emily Johnson in goal and it was. The ladies pulled together and continued to pepper the Home goal, only for the goalkeeper to tip two over the bar and one round the post, frustration was slowly creeping in however, a great run down the right saw Charlie Hayes score her first goal of the season by beating the left back and hitting across the goalkeeper making it 2 – 1 just before halftime.

We knew the second half was going to be very difficult but challenges set for the team saw a very professional performance. Shooting up the hill was always going to be tough but once again, we had the most chances and dominated play and could have put the game to bed with the amount of chances created. Ebbsfleet had two chances in the second half, a long range effort and a goal mouth scramble, apart from that the back four dealt with everything frustrating Ebbsfleet at every given opportunity.

Here I want to say about the commitment of the players as two were struggling with little knocks but continued to play as much as they could throughout the game and didn’t let themselves or the team down, the team helped each other as much as they could and work rate of Vicky Holness and Kiya Mills up top ensured Ebbsfleet rushed their passes and give possession back to us high up the pitch. A nervous last 15 minutes for any manager, all I asked is these girls to be successful and believe in themselves. One of the challenges set at half time was one of the old cliche of don’t concede and we will win the game and the girls ensured this happened. With four minutes left to play, the game was all over, a ball played by Lesley Kay over the back four for Vicky Holness to have a great touch into her stride and showed the confidence to take it round the goalkeeper and slot it into the empty net.

A professional performance by all team members under the hardest conditions. In great adversity comes great reward. Nine wins from nine games in the league is truly a remarkable achievement but a tough two weeks ahead will once again prove what these young ladies are capable of. Ridgewaye at home next week in our tenth league game. 2pm Kick off at Bell Meadow, please come down and show your support.

Team: Emily Johnson, Chantelle Bleau, Shona Clark, Enya Lynch, Clare Brown, Natalie Lewis, Charlie Hayes, Lesley Kay, Lauren Wiltshire, Vicky Holness, Kiya Mills, Shantelle Rowden

Player of the Match: Vicky Holness