Clinical Finishes Proves The Difference

Herne Bay Ladies (1) 2
Daniella Farmer 34
Harriett Chapman 69

Fulham (0) 0

London & South East Regional Womens Football League (Premier Division)
Sunday 25th October 2015

at The Altira Park Stadium, Winch’s Field

Attendance: 55

by Peter Guise

(photo credit Steve Barton – Daniella Farmer nips in for Bay’s opener)

Herne Bay Ladies took all three points in what, at times, seemed a slow motion encounter. Fulham’s passing game looked the more assured but Herne Bay were the more incisive and clinical in front of goal. Daniella Farmer capped her return to the team with a well taken goal and the Player of the Match Award.

“In the end, three points is three points but it’s still frustrating that we looked like we were panicking at times”, said Herne Bay Ladies manager Anthony Deer, “when we get the ball down and play we get in and get the chances”.

Neither ‘keeper was called upon to make a save of any real note in a game that spent long periods meandering. Fulham kept the ball better and their passes rarely went astray, finding the intended recipient more often than not whereas Bay relinquished possession too easily at times and seemed reluctant to be positive.

Verity Snow might have topped the visitor’s early dominance in the 4th minute but she blasted over the bar when set up perfectly by Megan Lovelock. It proved to be costly although not until 34 minutes had gone by. Good interplay between Alex Roy and Harriett Chapman, the latter given a striking role for the first time this season, allowed Daniella Farmer to nip in and loft the ball past Paige Hersey in the Fulham goal.

After the break the second half was almost a half of two halves. At first, Fulham’s neater ground game bemused the home side and ten minutes in to the half Tanvy Hans wasted a good chance to level when she fired into the side netting. 7 minutes later Megan Lovelock flicked wide when well placed. But Bay began to gain the upper hand. With an hour gone in the game, Farmer played in Chapman but Persey came out bravely to block with her legs. But four minutes later Chapman got her revenge. Farmer played a neat cross field ball to Emma Brown on the right and the England Futsal International set up Harriet Chapman who lobbed the visitor’s ‘keeper from the edge of the box to double Bay’s advantage. With a quarter of an hour to go Carly Farrow sent a free kick just wide and Bay weathered the final onslaught with the central defensive pairing of Rachel Tracy and Beth Nugent solid at the back.

“Today the formation of Harriett (Chapman) up front with Daniella (Farmer) sitting just behind worked well”, said Deer, “when we got the ball forward and started passing the ball around we matched them. We didn’t look after the ball as much as I’d like us to, we don’t want to overwork our defence, we must make sure we keep the ball. Let the other team do the running rather than us”.

Herne Bay Ladies starting XI: Sarah Cooper, Emma Brown, Rachel Tracy, Debbie Blackmore, Beth Nugent, Harriett Chapman, Kate Foster, Daniella Farmer, Gemma Sullivan, Carly Farrow, Emily Brown.

Subs (roll on, roll off): Amanda Beeput, Alex Roy, Kayleigh Mount, Amber Guyatt, Lucy Harrington.

Fulham Starting XI: Paige Hersey, Jessica Winchester, Chloe Greer, Helen Ogle, Verity Snow, Megan Lovelock, Tanvy Hans, Jade Alley, Megan Ward, Rachel Woodland, Lauren Armstrong.

Subs: (roll on, roll of): none

Referee: Gavin Hoare

Herne Bay Ladies Player of the Match: Daniella Farmer