Chapman Champions Bay Progress

Herne Bay Ladies (1) 1
Chapman 32

Gillingham Ladies (1) 3

Pre Season Fixture
Eddie 'Titch' Willett Memorial Shield

Sunday 9th August 2015
at Winch's Field

Attendance: 108

(photo credit: Steve Barton: Harriet Chapman, right of picture, turns to receive her colleagues congratulations after putting Bay in the lead)

On a blistering hot day, it was 30 degrees pitchside, Herne Bay Ladies got their season underway with this pre season fixture against Gillingham Ladies who play one division above the Bay. In past matches between the two sides, the Gills have always demonstrated their superior league quality and matches against them are a good yard stick for how much progress the Bay have made. For the first half an hour it was evident that the gulf between them had narrowed considerably as Bay matched their higher league opponents in every department. Bay might have taken the lead early on but Vicky Holness shot wide when put through. However, Harriett Chapman went down in the historian's stats book as the first Bay Ladies player to score against Gillingham in the modern era when she headed home from a right wing cross just after the half hour mark. Gills were soon back in the game though when the equaliser was swept home a few minutes later.

After the turnaround, Gillingham began to increase their possession and dominated the game for long periods, scoring a second midway through the second period and sealing victory 5 minutes from time. That late goal aside, this was a good test for Herne Bay Ladies who, with several new additions to the squad, looked bright, showed great promise, especially in the first 45 minutes before the conditions and Gills' status took hold, and all augurs well for the new season.

"Forget the score line, it was a top effort from the team today", said Bay manager Anthony Deer, "The new signings showed potential, there was a come back from an experienced player, a goal scored in open play against a decent team and to finish the day off a new kit sponsor who was impressed with the way we played. A couple or tweaks here and there and we will be ready for the season".

Herne Bay Ladies next match is another pre season fixture next Sunday at Winch's Field KO 2 pm against a Charlton Athletic XI.