Cup Run Gathers Pace

Herne Bay Ladies (1) 2
Carly Farrow 44
Debbie Blackmore (pen) 52

Eastbourne Ladies (0) 0

SSE Women’s FA Cup
2nd Qualifying Round
Sunday 20th September 2015
at Winch’s Field

Attendance: 65

by Peter Guise

(photo credit: Steve Barton – Debbie Blackmore scores from the spot)

Eastbourne Ladies from the league below were no pushovers and Bay were made to work for this hard fought victory that sees them through to the 3rd Qualifying Round of this season’s Women’s FA Cup. Last season, during their third promotion season in succession, Herne Bay had thumped today’s opposition 9-0. But this term, manager Anthony Deer has adopted a more consolidating game plan, often playing just one up front and calling on his players to hold what they have when they go ahead rather than pressing on for the kill.

“It’s the formation we are playing this year and we’ve got to practise what we want to be playing”, said Herne Bay Ladies manager Anthony Deer, “I might have changed it for today and yes we have got players who aren’t naturally midfielders, it’s about having a fine balance between attacking and defending. Today it was job done, it’s cup football. At the level we are now at it’s a case of scoring and then making sure we don’t concede”.

To some degree that might sound negative to many but the reality is that Herne Bay Ladies are closing in on another 1st Round Proper appearance in the Women’s FA Cup and are third in the league.

It took them a while to find top gear in this encounter, limited to half chances until the closing stages of the first half. Vicky Holness seemed to want too much time on the ball in the 13th minute and was crowded out, Amber Guyatt’s 27th minute effort was smothered at the near post and Harriett Chapman was stretching, having had to run from the deeper midfield position the prolific striker now plays in the new system, in her attempt to get a foot on Kayleigh Mount’s left wing cross. But, the opener duly came, a trusty strike from the boot of Carly Farrow a minute before the break, letting fly from distance she powered the ball past Watson in the Eastbourne goal.

After the break, Bay got a lucky break, Vicky Holness chasing a ball seemingly going away from the Eastbourne goal was inexplicably bundled to the floor in the left hand angle of the penalty area. Debbie Blackmore made no mistake from 12 yards sending her spot kick into the left hand corner. Holness might have added a third 15 minutes later but her shot went wide of Watson’s right hand upright and Bay were content to make steady progress to the next round.

“Eastbourne have improved from where they were last year”, said Deer, “but we are in the next round. Carly’s worked hard today, it was a good strike, great solo effort. We’d like to try and get as far as we can, last year we got to the first round proper, these players want to win every game possible, the reality is that it will be a nice little run and helps the football club”.

The draw for the 3rd Round Qualifying takes place on Monday at Wembley with ties scheduled for Sunday 11th October.

Herne Bay Ladies: Sarah Cooper, Amber Guyatt, Alex Roy, Beth Nugent, Debbie Blackmore, Kayleigh Mount (Mollie Proctor 80), Carly Farrow, Harriett Chapman, Gemma Sullivan (Lucy Harrington 73), Vicky Holness, Rachel Tracy.

Subs not used: none

Eastbourne Ladies: Abi Watson, Jess Storrie, Mel Ferguson, Emma Sweetman, Elena South, Ellie Hawes, Ella Sutherland, Shantelle Omar, Parrie Omar, Vicky Ecclestone, Leanne Strudwick.

Subs not used: Rachel Gunn, Lucy Callingham (GK), Lucy Collinson.

Player of the Match: Alex Roy (Herne Bay)

Referee: Dwayne Nunn Assistants: Nic Derrane & Dan Barham