Shoot - Out at Winch’s Field

Herne Bay Ladies (1) 1
Holness 38s

Maidstone United Ladies (0) 1

Herne Bay Ladies won 4-3 on penalties

Ryman Women’s Cup: 1st Round
Thursday 12th December 2013.

by Anthony Deer

Thursday night was the long awaited Ryman’s Women’s Cup fixture against Maidstone United after several postponements. There is always something special about playing midweek games under the floodlights at Winch’s Field and tonight was no different. Maidstone play in the league above and are currently doing well, this was going to be a good test for our ladies. But our ladies rose to the challenge, understood their roles and responsibilities and produced a disciplined performance from back to front.
If you got to the game a few minutes late then you missed out! Normally it takes us a good ten minutes to settle into and get to grip with the game. But no one envisaged our great start! Vicky Holness received the ball at the edge of the area, took the ball past a couple of defenders and struck her shot across the goalkeeper to find the net. 38 seconds was recorded, this is one of our fastest goals but a crucial goal it was to be! The plan was to frustrate Maidstone and this worked, the formation allowed us to utilise the players so we didn’t leave spaces for Maidstone to attack. Enya Lynch made a return into this evening’s team covering for the injured Rachel Tracy. The partnership between Enya and Beth Nugent stopped any serious attack with Maidstone putting hopeful balls through only for Breeze Handley to pick up comfortably. Although at times we looked a bit negative and going forward didn’t happen very often. The plan continued to work and frustration was increasing more and more in the Maidstone team. We didn’t let Maidstone settle on the ball at any time throughout the half and pressed them into mistakes causing them to give up possession cheaply. The half time whistle blew and the girls were half way there for an upset.
I couldn’t find anything negative to say at half time as all the players did exactly what I asked, however we were only half way there with the second half up the small slope it was going to be a long 45 minutes. Every team has a period of time in the game where they have all the pressure and Maidstone came out with a purpose and played some neat football in the middle third but once again the back four and the midfield five stopped any serious attacks from happening. The only downside to this evening’s game was a serious injury to Charlie Hayes, whose work rate again tonight was exceptional as were all the girls. Hopefully it isn’t too serious as she has been outstanding so far this season. With Maidstone changing their formation to push for the equaliser, gaps and spaces began to open at the back. Isabelle Tulett had a couple of half chances to finish the game only for the Maidstone keeper to save her efforts. It was always going to take something spectacular for us to concede tonight and this happened in the 94th minute when a ball rolled to one of the Maidstone’s midfielder who struck it from 35 yards towards goal and unfortunately went over Breeze’s head and nestle into the net. With still another couple of minutes left, Maidstone looked to find the winner, but Herne Bay Ladies held firm to the final whistle and forced the game into penalties. I asked the girls who wanted to take a penalty and five were confident and so stepped up to the plate!
Maidstone took the first penalty and missed, so it was all down to us making sure we hit the target. Lesley Kay took the first penalty and converted it to ease the pressure. Maidstone scored, Carly Farrow stepped up and although hit the ball well, hit the post. Maidstone scored again, Vicky Holness converted her penalty, Maidstone once again scored and Kate Foster put her penalty away neatly. With the fifth penalty takers left, it really was sudden death. Maidstone hit the cross bar in their final penalty kick. So it was all down to Debbie Blackmore, thankfully the ball found the back of the net and the ladies went through to the semi final!
An extremely pleasing performance with the only down side being the injury to Charlie Hayes. The girls are believing and trusting in each other and have now set a very high standard which they need to bring to each game from here on in. Who knows what this year’s team can achieve, but we will take each game as it comes as they are all just important as each other. No single player of the match tonight as this was a team performance to be proud of. Although celebrating tonight is on the agenda, we are back to action Sunday to start our journey in the Kent Plate and hopefully retain this trophy from last year. Our opponents are Rusthall who play in the SECWFL Kent League Division 1 – WEST. We are back at Winch’s Field with a 2:00pm kick off.

Herne Bay Ladies: Breeze Handley, Emma Brown, Enya Lynch, Beth Nugent, Debbie Blackmore, Lesley Kay, Charlie Hayes (Kate Foster 54), Sarah Holmes, Carly Farrow, Vicky Holness, Isabelle Tulett.

Subs not used: Rachel Tracy, Lauren Wiltshire, Bella Smith, Elizabeth Lehan.

Player of match: The entire Team