Bay Maintain Pace in Title Race

Charlton Athletic Development (0) 0

Herne Bay Ladies (1) 3
Tracey, Brown, og.

South East Counties Women’s Football League Division One (East)
Sunday 9th March 2014

by Anthony Deer

Back to league action today with just six games left, including todays against Charlton Athletic Development. This is the first meeting between these clubs this season, so we were not sure what to expect. With the beautiful day that it was, conditions favoured the team that played down the hill as the sun was in your eyes and wind against if you were playing up it. Only Lesley Kay was unavailable for today’s match but once again we had 16 players to choose from.

This was a game of missed chances that on another day could have cost us, but the resilience of this Herne Bay team shone through. The fact that Breeze Handley in goal in the first half touched the ball no more than three times shows our domination of this game. Charlton played some neat football but were thwarted on many occasion from the back four of Emma Brown, Rachel Tracy, Beth Nugent and Debbie Blackmore. We created many chances with Carly Farrow’s goal being disallowed, several one on one chances missed but it was on the half hour mark that we finally got the first goal. A free kick was awarded after Kate Foster was upended 30 yards from the goal. Rachel Tracy stepped to take the kick and had two choices, either put the ball into the box or have a go, with the sun blinding the keeper there was only really one option. Rachel then hit a sweet shot that sailed over the keepers head and hit the underside of the crossbar and into the goal. From here we still created chances with Harriet Chapman, Vicky Holness, Kate Foster and Emma Brown all coming close but no more goals were scored up to the end of the first half.

We didn’t play our normal fluent football but found ourselves in many scoring positions but were under pressure from a good back line from Charlton who caused and worked hard to ensure we didn’t score easily. The only way that Charlton were going to score would be from our own doing, but the defence stood firm resulting in Charlton hitting hopeful balls towards Breeze in goal. It didn’t take too long to score the second of the game, from one of our many corners Kate Foster delivered the perfect corner for Emma Brown to run in late and volley the ball into the net. For the rest of the half, Charlton defended well and frustrated Herne Bay at times but they still didn’t look like scoring, it wasn’t until the 80th minute of the game where we finished the game off! Another delivery from a corner by Kate Foster resulted in a Charlton player divert the ball in to her own net. We still had chances to increase the score but it wasn’t to be.

Today was about the defenders, both keeping a clean sheet and scoring two of the three goals. Not our greatest performance by far but an important three points that keep us in the running for the league with Long Lane up next Sunday at home, we still need them to drop points against another team to stand any chance. That said, we need to focus on winning the remaining games to keep the pressure on Long Lane! Its there’s to lose!

Up next is Gillingham away on Wednesday night, although another cup semi-final, we are definitely the underdogs but a game where we want to do well. However with the big top of the table clash on Sunday I will ensure that we are ready for that game without any injuries.

Herne Bay Squad: Breeze Handley, Emma Brown, Rachel Tracy, Beth Nugent, Debbie Blackmore, Lauren Wiltshire, Kate Foster, Sarah Holmes, Carly Farrow, Vicky Holness, Harriet Chapman, Isabelle Tulett, Bella Smith, Charlie Hayes, Emily Hayward, Elizabeth Lehan

Player of Match: Vicky Holness