Tulett At The Double

Herne Bay Ladies (2) 3
Isabella Tulett 9, 85
Rachel Tracy 12

Long Lane Ladies (0) 1
Ellie Beere 62

at Winch’s Field

SECWFL Premier Division
Sunday 15th Febuary 2015.

Attendance: 37

by Peter Guise

(photo credit: Steve Barton – Tulett curls past the ‘keeper for her second goal to secure the points.)

Having lost their first league game of the season last time out Herne Bay Ladies raced into an early two goal lead as they sought to banish that reverse in double quick time.

“The clichés will be coming out more as the weeks go on as we really do have to take each game as it comes!” exclaimed Herne Bay Ladies manager Anthony Deer. “We won the 3 points which is the bottom line, but from now to the end of the season every match is going to be difficult.”

Bay went ahead after just 9 minutes when Sarah Holmes flick set up Isabella Tulett who crashed the ball home. Skipper Rachel Tracy powered them further ahead 3 minutes later with a 35 yard free kick that looped over the defensive line, and although Kate Foster couldn’t reach it, the ball bounced in front of Long Lane ‘keeper Chanelle Maston and looped into the net for centre back Tracy’s second goal of the season.

The home side threatened to run riot as player of the match, Sarah Holmes, found space on the right time after time and delivered telling first time crosses. Just after the half hour mark, Kate Foster broke through to the edge of the six yard box but her effort, at an angle, came back off the goal frame.

After the break, Bay seemed to take their foot off the pedal and, unsurprisingly, it let a hard working Long Lane back into the game. Equally unsurprisingly, the visitors pulled a goal back in the 62nd minute when Beere’s free kick from wide on the left curled round the wall and beyond Sarah Cooper in the Bay goal.

For much of the second period the play was disjointed, interrupted by a number of lengthy stoppages for injuries, but as the half wore on Bay gradually got back on top. In the 77th minute, Emily Brown broke through but her shot flew wide. Tulett, though, settled the nerves and sealed the points in the race for the title when she raced clear and curled round the ‘keeper for her second of the match 5 minutes from time.

With games in hands this result kept the Bay in the hunt for the Premier Division title and a third successive promotion.

“It wasn't pretty at times and we will be disappointed with the goal we conceded but 3 points is 3 pointts”, said Deer. “A lot of room for improvement but with only 8 games left the league is still in our hands. If anything we are putting more pressure on ourselves than other teams”.

Herne Bay Match Squad: Sarah Cooper, Emma Brown, Nicola Harris, Beth Nugent, Debbie Blackmore, Kate Foster, Carly Farrow, Sarah Holmes, Isabella Tulett, Vicky Holness, Rachel Tracy, Bella Smith, Emily Brown, Ashley Bantges.

Herne Bay Player of the Match: Sarah Holmes