Out But Not Down

Herne Bay Ladies (0) 0

Carshalton Athletic Ladies (0) 1
Burke 49

at Winch’s Field

FA Women’s Cup – 1st Round Proper
Sunday 7th December 2014.

Attendance: 183

by Peter Guise

(photo credit: Phill Morgan www.perpetual.photgraphy - Vicky Holness ripples the side netting.)

It was the biggest match in Herne Bay FC Ladies short history and it attracted the biggest crowd yet to Winch’s Field for Women’s Football. That there was a sense of occasion was not in doubt. The girls from the Herne Bay Youth FC girls teams provided extra gravitas by acting as mascots and taking part in the Football Remembers celebrations that highlight the 1914 Christmas Truce Football matches. No doubt, many of those who came will return having witnessed a match that underlined how far both the women’s game in general and Herne Bay FC Ladies in particular, have progressed even though they didn’t witness their side progressing further in the Women’s equivalent of the FA Cup.

“All the girls gave 100%”, said skipper Rachel Tracy, “I’m a proud captain”.

Proud she most certainly can be of a Herne Bay side that never gave up despite being pegged back in their own half for much of the first half, had second half chances cannon off the Robins’ crossbar and scrambled off the goal line.

Carshalton enjoyed the early territorial and possession advantage and had numerous chances to take the lead. In the 14th minute Sarah Holmes hacked off the line from the dangerous Ella Bale and a last ditch block from returning England Futsal heroine, Emma Brown, denied the same player ten minutes later. 60 seconds further on and Sarah Cooper made the first of many fine saves throughout the match when she tipped a Laura Curtis effort over the bar.

Bay came into the game more as the half wore on and their neatest move of the match to that point saw Sarah Holmes release Vicky Holness whose shot went wide of the right hand post to ripple the side netting.

Meanwhile, Sarah Cooper was forced into action again 6 minutes before the break when she produced another excellent stop to deny Laura Curtis after Beth Nugent had her pocket picked by Athletic’s top scorer.

Four minutes after the turnaround, Carshalton took the lead, Jessica Burke rose to head home from a left wing corner and now Bay had to go in search of an equaliser. They were inches away too, just 5 minutes later when Kayleigh Mount headed Kate Foster’s right wing corner against the crossbar. Now space was opening up for both sides as the game progressed and just after the hour mark Sarah Cooper kept the Bay’s hope alive when, from point blank range, she denied Alison Hall.

Again, Bay came forward, and in the 73rd minute Harriett Chapman’s low drive was cleared off the Athletic goal line. Vicky Holness was also denied by a brave piece of goalkeeping by Chanel Yardley as Bay went in search of that elusive goal.

Herne Bay Ladies FA Women’s Cup journey may be over for this year but it has turned a few heads.

“A little bit disappointed, it was a close game that’s for sure”, said Herne Bay Ladies manager Anthony Deer, “we had our chances, disappointed we hit the crossbar straight after they scored, that might have changed the game a little bit. A close game in front of a fantastic crowd.”

Herne Bay Ladies: Sarah Cooper, Emma Brown, Rachel Tracy, Beth Nugent, Debbie Blackmore, , Kate Foster, Carly Farrow, Harriett Chapman, Sarah Holmes (Isabella Tulett 79), Vicky Holness, Kayleigh Mount (Emily Brown 66).

Subs Not Used: Jaime Welch, Jemma Roberts, Breeze Handley..

Cautions: None Sent Off: None

Herne Bay Player of the Match: Debbie Blackmore

Referee: Jack Hobbs Assistants: Darren Cooper & Adam Aylward.