Opening Blitz Puts Bay in Semi Final

Carshalton Athletic (0) 1
Laura Curtis 65

Herne Bay Ladies (4) 4
Daniella Farmer 6
Debbie Blackmore 12 (pen)
Emily Brown 17
Gemma Sullivan 22

Ryman Womens Cup Quarter Final
Tuesday 24th November 2015
at Colston Avenue

by Peter Guise (courtesy of KSN)

An opening 22 minutes of some of the finest five yard football yet produced by Herne Bay Ladies gave them their first ever victory over The Robins and propelled them into their second semi-final of the season.

“The 3G pitch helped us play our game, the first half was fantastic”, said Herne Bay Ladies manager, Anthony Deer.

Bay’s domination of the opening exchanges of this Ryman Women’s Cup quarter-final was complete and total, accompanied by good husbandry of the football. In the eighth minute Nicola Morris played Daniella Farmer into space and from 30 yards she rifled the ball into the home net. Four minutes later Gemma Sullivan wriggled her way into the box, was brought down, and Debbie Blackmore made no mistake from 12 yards.

Carshalton had no answer to Herne Bay’s slick passing game and fell further behind after a one two interchange between Sullivan and Farmer put Emily Brown through to blast pass the advancing McNulty in the Robins’ goal. Five minutes later this cup tie was over as a contest when Gemma Sullivan latched on to a weak goal kick and chipped the ‘keeper, just reward for her efforts throughout the opening blitz. The Robins, on their rare incursions into the final third were met by an on form Sarah Cooper in the visitors’ goal, turning Tamara Graham’s shot round her right hand post for a corner and saving at the foot of the same upright from Laura Curtis.

After the break, The Robins had to force the game and to their credit they forced Bay on to the back foot and disrupted the visitors’ composure on the ball. So much so, that the ever dangerous Laura Curtis exploited a defensive hesitation in the 65th minute to net what proved to be nothing more than a consolation score for the home side.

“The first twenty minutes were amazing, four goals up, we’ve put the ball on the ground, we’ve kept it, been patient rather than forcing it”, said Deer, “it would be nice to get a home draw in the semi-final, Gillingham, Spurs, West Ham, I don’t mind, it would just be nice to get a home tie”.

Herne Bay Ladies: Sarah Cooper, Amber Guyatt (Alex Roy 54), Emily Brown (Bella Smith 86), Beth Nugent, Debbie Blackmore, Kate Foster, Carly Farrow, Daniella Farmer (Rebecca Longley 81), Gemma Sullivan, Nicola Morris, Rachel Tracy.

Subs not used: none (only three named)

Player of the match: Gemma Sullivan (Herne Bay Ladies)

Referee: Rachel Marlow Assistants: Tom Bone & Paul Maskell