Foster's Final

Herne Bay Ladies (4) 7
Holness 16, Foster 40, 45, 75 Kay 42, Chapman 54, Farrow.

Bromley Ladies (0) 1
Tanya Holley 90

Kent FA Women’s Plate Final
Wednesday 2nd April 2014

at Greatness Park, Sevenoaks Town FC

Att: 181

by Peter Guise

Herne Bay Ladies went in to this Plate Final as holders and the early exchanges indicated that retaining the trophy might not be a foregone conclusion as Bromley Ladies, in their inaugural season, piled pressure on Breeze Handley’s goal, winning a succession of corners. But the Bay back line held firm and once Vicky Holness had put the Bay ahead with an exquisite volley lob just after the quarter hour mark Herne Bay settled and started to knock the ball around with ease.

Bromley were now mostly pegged back in their own half as Herne Bay worked the ball intelligently using a short pass game to negotiate their way through midfield. The final five minutes of the first 45 effectively put this Final to bed with Bay scoring three times to go in at the break with a seemingly unassailable lead. On 40, Vicky Holness crossed for Kate Foster to head home Bay’s second and the first of what would prove to be a hat-trick that would deservedly earn her the Player of The Match award and the match ball. Two minutes later and Vicky Holness was again the provider. With three Bromley defenders around here on the edge of the area she calmly laid the ball off to Lesley Kay whose sweet, unstoppable drive from 30 yards rocketed into the Bromley net for Bay’s third. On the stroke of half time, Kate Foster added the fourth, her second, with a power header from 10 yards out. Cracking goals all of them and better on any football field, at any level, will be a rarity.

With such a solid lead at the break many may have wondered how the second half would pan out. Herne Bay Ladies allayed any fears some might have had about reducing pressure on the gas pedal by continuing to force the pace. Emma Brown increased her forward runs from right back. Carly Farrow bossed the midfield and Kate Foster foraged first down the right flank and then latterly down the left.

Harriett Chapman eventually got her just reward for a solid performance when she increased Bay’s lead 9 minutes into the second half but the thirst for goals was not quenched. Kate Foster, put through into the box on 75 was tripped, and coolly slotted home the resulting penalty to cap her night with a hat-trick. Still the Bay attacks came and Carly Farrow added her name to the score sheet a minute later.

With the clock ticking down, Bromley Ladies, who hadn’t stopped playing despite the score line, grabbed a goal back in stoppage time as Tanya Holley capitalised on a rare defensive slip.

So, amidst the bubbly bottles bursting, Herne Bay Ladies celebrated retention of the Plate, a competition they will not be able to enter next season, should they achieve promotion to the SECWFL Premier Division.

On Lesley Kay’s 30 yard drive, manager Anthony Deer commented, “It was probably the best goal of the game. As soon as it left her foot I knew it was going in. It was an absolutely stunning goal.” He added, “we’ve won the Plate two years on the trot, we are second in the league and we’re in the Final of the League Cup. Fantastic, just fantastic!”

Herne Bay Ladies Plate Final Match Squad: Breeze Handley, Emma Brown, Rachel Tracy, Beth Nugent, Debbie Blackmore, Lesley Kay, Kate Foster, Sarah Holmes, Carly Farrow, Vicky Holness, Harriet Chapman, Isabelle Tullett, Lauren Wiltshire, Charlie Hayes, Bella Smith, Emily Hayward.

Player of Match: Kate Foster