Super Sub Chapman Claws Bay Back

Wivelsfield Green Ladies (2) 2 aet 2
Gardiner 10
Plummer 28

Herne Bay Ladies (0) 2 aet 4
Holness 49
Chapman 80, 106
Blackmore 100 (pen)

at Haywards Heath FC

SECWFL League Cup Semi-Final
Sunday 8th March 2015.

by Peter Guise

(photo credit: Steven Barton – Chapman equalises with ten minutes to go.)

Having been shocked by early goals from their Division One opponents, Harriet Chapman came off the bench to inspire a comeback that gives Herne Bay Ladies their second League Cup Final appearance in successive seasons. “Fair play to Wivelsfield, they battled well, two long balls, we didn’t deal with them and they scored two goals and half time couldn’t come quick enough”, said Bay manager Anthony Deer.

Division One (West) outfit, Wivelsfield Green, had caused one shock in the League Cup already this season when they knocked out Premier Division Burgess Hill Town in the quarter-final and they looked set after half an hour to cause another. They had taken the lead as early as the 10th minute when the first of those long ball passes put Gardiner through one on one with Cooper and the home forward finished superbly. Nicola Harris looked to have equalised 6 minutes later when she forced home Rachel Tracy’s free kick only for the effort to be ruled out with the linesman’s flag raised for what seemed a debatable offside decision. Worse was to come for Premier Division Herne Bay when another long ball, from a break down the right, sent Hayley Plummer through on goal to double the home side’s advantage in the 28th minute.

After the break, Bay through the proverbial kitchen sink at the Wivelsfield goal and within 4 minutes of the restart Kate Foster threaded a ball through to Vicky Holness who made no mistake. From this moment on, traffic was for the most part one way and Wivisfield had ‘keeper Helen Bashford to thank for maintaining their lead with a string of fine saves amid half a dozen goal line clearances. With the clock ticking down, Deer introduced Harriett Chapman from the bench and she made an immediate difference linking well with Vicky Holness up front and Nicola Harris on the left who had an outstanding match for the visitors. With 10 minutes left Bay breathed a deafening sigh of relief, as Harriett Chapman drove home Vicky Holness’ pass from just inside the box. In the closing moments of the 90 Bay might have scored a late winner with first a goal-line clearance of Emily Brown’s powerful header and second, a last gasp clearance from another goal-bound Chapman effort.

Into extra time then and ten minutes in Herne Bay were handed the softest of penalties when Emily Brown was adjudged to have been brought down in the right hand angle of the home penalty area. A harsh decision, maybe, and one that left Wivelsfield distraught. Debbie Blackmore made no mistake from 12 yards to give Bay the lead. It knocked the stuffing out of the underdogs whose gallant efforts were to come to nought when Harriett Chapman added Bay’s 4th goal, and her second, sliding through 6 minutes later to beat Bashford.

Going two goals behind signalled a big wake up call for Herne Bay Ladies who are now still challenging for league and cup double honours, ironically, their rivals for both are Dartford Royals who they face twice at Winch’s Field in April. Firstly, in a crucial league showdown on Easter Sunday and then a fortnight later in the League Cup Final, where Bay will technically be the ‘away’ team. Destiny awaits!

“We knew we hadn’t played well in the first half”, said Deer, “but we had the belief, we rallied round. The next games are big games. The girls realise it’s going to be a battle. The Final is the icing on the cake but we’ve got to focus on next week. We’ve made it tough for ourselves with the nil nil draw on Thursday (against Parkwood Rangers at home), the two big games in the league are against Parkwood away and Dartford at home. The Cup Final is cup football, it’s the best team on the day”.

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

Herne Bay Player of the Match: Nicola Harris