Robins Ruin Record

Carshalton Athletic (2) 2
Laura Curtis 4
Ella Bale 38

Herne Bay Ladies (0) 0

at Colston Avenue

Ryman Women’s Cup – 2nd Round
Wednesday 26th November 2014.

by Peter Guise

(photo credit: Barry Tracy)

Herne Bay Ladies suffered their first defeat of the season in all competitions in this Ryman Women’s Cup tie against a well drilled, tactically aware and confident Carshalton from a division above.

“It’s the first game we’ve lost this year, it’s a miserable night, a long way to come but more lessons learnt, mistakes do cost you games”, said manager Anthony Deer.

Bizarrely, the match was 12 minutes late kicking off with the referee delaying the kick off to allow Carshalton players to arrive even though 12 Robins were changed and available. Carshalton eventually kicked off with 9 players on the park and 3 on the bench with the remaining 2 ‘starters’ joining the match within the first 10 minutes.

It was evident very quickly that Athletic were a pacey side going forward and moved the ball around well, pouncing on hesitation with Bay too often wanting too much time on the ball. Calamity struck in the 4th minute when Nicola Harris gave too little weight to a back pass to ‘keeper Sarah Cooper and Laura Curtis, the Robins’ top scorer, nipped in to open the home sides account.

From this point on Bay upped their tempo moving forward and on numerous occasions exposed Carshalton’s defensive frailties. Vicky Holness went close with a shot that was charged down on the edge of the box but the home goalkeeper was rarely forced into making a save for all of Bay’s pressure. Then, with 7 minutes of the first 45 remaining another slip in midfield allowed Ella Bale to drive home to double Athletic’s score.

After the break, in driving rain, Carshalton spent most of their time encamped in the Herne Bay half forcing two good saves from Sarah Cooper, who was again on top form. The visitors were mostly reduced to break away efforts with Sarah Holmes putting in some positive runs down the left. To their credit, Herne Bay held firm and without conceding further showed enough to suggest that they will be ready to rejoin battle with Carshalton in the important FA Women’s Cup tie at Winch’s Field in 10 days time.

“A bit too much time on the ball, we’ve given them two goals really, Sarah Cooper in goal was again outstanding, but the girls won’t fear this team when we play them at home in 10 days time”, said Anthony Deer.

Herne Bay Ladies: Sarah Cooper, Nicola Harris, Jaime Welch (Ashley Bantages 55), Beth Nugent, Debbie Blackmore, Kate Foster, Carly Farrow, Sarah Holmes, Isabella Tullett, Victoria Holness (Jemma Roberts 65), Rachel Tracy.

Subs not used: both available subs were used

Player of the Match: Sarah Cooper (Herne Bay Ladies)