Wasps Sting Bay

Crawley Wasps (1) 1
Callaghan 18

Herne Bay Ladies (0) 0

London & South East Regional Women's Football League
Sunday 30th August 2015
at The Jubilee Stadium

Attendance: not stated

by Peter Guise

(photo credit: Peter Guise – Kiya Mills' [blue] drilled shot was inches wide)

There was to be no repeat of last season's Women's FA Cup success against the Wasps for Herne Bay as they suffered their first competitive defeat of the new campaign against a well organised Crawley who took advantage of a lapse in concentration and a partly immobile Tracy. The goal that separated these two came in the 18th minute. A clever through ball zipped past the injured Bay skipper and Lauren Callaghan latched on to it to ram the ball home. Rachel Tracy limped on for a further ten minutes before retiring to the bench.

Bay had started slowly but matched their hosts with Danni Farmer again instrumental in midfield along with Gemma Sullivan but before half time couldn't find a way to prise open the Crawley defence. Twice Farmer sent telling free kicks into the area and twice Bay failed to capitalise. They might have equalised in the 43rd minute but for a brilliant save by Catherine Poleykest between the home sticks who tipped Farmer's deft flick aside for a corner.

After the break, Herne Bay had more chances as they pushed forward although the lone striker formation was contained relatively easily by Crawley's back line. Chances did, however, come the visitors' way. Farmer spooned over in the 53rd and just after the hour mark, good work from Amber Guyatt provided the chance of the match for Kiya Mills but her shot rolled agonisingly wide of Poleykest's right hand post.

Emma Hogben might have salvaged a point for Herne Bay 13 minutes from time but her fizzer from the edge of the box flew over. Bay continued to press deep into stoppage time but Wasps held on.

"Defeat is difficult to take but we've got to learn that we can't start slowly", said manager Anthony Deer, "I don't think Crawley were any better than us. We've created a lot of chances today and we've got to be more clinical in front of goal. It was a sloppy goal to concede and we didn't have seem to have that energy early on. We didn't play badly it's just about being clinical".

Crawley Wasps Starting XI: Catherine Poleykest, Rebekah Dunt, Hannah Duncan, Bethany Kemp, Michelle Ward, Suzie Davis, Aston Worsfold, Lauren Callaghan, Toni Smith, Rebecca Carter, Natalie Stephenson.

Subs: Laura Harding, Emma Kendall, Jade Simmons

Herne Bay Starting XI: Sarah Cooper, Amber Guyatt, Rachel Tracy, Beth Nugent, Debbie Blackmore, Carly Farrow, Danni Farmer, Gemma Sullivan, Emma Brown, Alex Roy, Mollie Proctor.

Subs: Emily Brown, Kiya Mills, Emma Hogben.

Herne Bay Ladies Player of the Match: Gemma Sullivan.