Ladies Bow Out With Pride

Gillingham Ladies (2) 6
.
Herne Bay Ladies (0) 0

Ryman Women’s Cup Semi Final
Wednesday 12th March 2014

by Anthony Deer

Once again we found ourselves facing up against Gillingham Ladies in the Women’s Ryman Cup, but this time a place in the final was up for grabs. The story of David and Goliath springs to mind when these two clubs meet, last year Gillingham played at Winch’s Field and won 5-0, this year Herne Bay Ladies travelled to Chatham to play the semi-final at their place. With Gillingham currently sitting third in the National Premier League, in the league cup and in the Women’s FA Cup and Herne Bay sitting four leagues below, this was always going to be a momentous advantage to Gillingham. Knowing that an improbable successful result we set ourselves up to ensure we frustrated the home team as much as we could. If we could keep the score down to anything like it was last year then this would be seen as a success as both teams were stronger. The fact that Gillingham put out a full first team shows that were taking this competition seriously. I put out the strongest team that was available with only Emma Brown and Charlie Hayes unavailable giving a starting debut for Emily Hayward. We changed from our normal shape knowing that there would be more defending than attacking and to ensure we frustrated Gillingham as much as we could.

The game went to according to the teams with Gillingham attacking and Herne Bay soaking up the pressure. Once our ladies got use to the pace of the ball from which Gillingham was moving it, we started to use our shape and defend in numbers. Unfortunately, it took only 12 minutes for Gillingham to notch up their first goal, a good ball from the left was met with one of the Gills players head and finished in the back of the net. Don’t get me wrong, Gillingham had most of the possession and created many, many chances, however, with a little bit of luck and some bad finishing we kept defending in numbers and frustrated them. The second goal came on 23 minutes from a corner, one of at least 30, where it bounced over the players at the front post only to see an unmarked Gills player tap it in at the far post. Most teams and players at this point would get their heads down and give up, but not Herne Bay Ladies, straight from the restart, Lesley Kay put a ball through the middle for which Harriet Chapman ran on to and went one on one with the keeper, only a fingertip save from the Gills custodian stopped us scoring what would have been a huge landmark in the short Herne Bay Ladies History. However it wasn’t to be, but no more goals were scored in the first half. So to go in at half time two goals down was a fantastic effort by everyone, breathers and oxygen was needed but refreshments were on the agenda. I couldn’t ask for anymore from the girls in the first half and it was almost heart breaking that I had to ask them to do the same again for another 45 minutes. The second half was always going to be the telling half as fitness levels are going to show and they did.
Three minutes into the second half, disaster struck early on as Rachel Tracy accidently diverted the ball past Breeze. It then took 22 minutes for Gillingham to score their next goal! That’s not to say they didn’t have any chances, Breeze Handley in goal was in fine form and she thwarted many Gillingham attacks including a fantastic double save. We were grateful for the woodwork on a few occasions and rode our luck at times, with some last ditched body on the line defending. The next goal Gillingham scored was a strike that just bounced in front of Kate Foster for which the ball took a bobble and went over her foot in to the net. Five minutes later another lucky goal as the ball hit the post, hit a player, bounced over Breeze and fell kindly to a Gills player who tapped in from one yard. The final goal came in the 87th minute when from one of our forward movements of attack fell through and Gillingham counter attacked extremely quickly, with our players now on their last legs the goal was always inevitable. We played the remaining five minutes without conceding a goal. The final whistle blew and although the score line was on the wrong end of Herne Bay Ladies another work like performance with great discipline showed that these ladies are no walk over and will never give in regardless of who the opposition is!

Gillingham played some lovely football at times and should have scored more with the chances they had. But with the difference in leagues and the fitness of the Gills players, I could not have asked for anymore from our players, each one worked until every last bit of energy was gone. Not one person let themselves down in a game where winning was improbable.

Keeping this team together with a few additions will only get stronger and stronger in the years to come. Next up is Long Lane on Sunday a must win game if we to stand any chance of winning the league.

Herne Bay Team: Breeze Handley, Kate Foster, Rachel Tracy, Beth Nugent, Debbie Blackmore, Lesley Kay, Emily Hayward (Isabelle Tullett 70), Sarah Holmes, Carly Farrow, Vicky Holness, Harriet Chapman.

Subs not used: Bella Smith, Lauren Wiltshire, Elizabeth Lehan

Players of Match: Kate Foster and Breeze Handley
Although everyone did their part in what is seen as a good result against a team four divisions above.