Below par Bay Battered by Barcelona Belen’s Hat-Trick

Leyton Orient (1) 3
Belen Ripoli Douton 16, 52, 63

Herne Bay Ladies (1) 1
Carly Farrow 30

London & South East Regional Women’s Football League
Sunday 6th March 2016

at The Mile End Stadium

by Peter Guise.

(photo credit Peter Guise: Harriett Woolston stoops to send the ball goalward).

Leyton Orient’s Spanish sensation, Belen Ripoli Douton dealt Herne Bay’s bid to finish in runners-up spot a severe blow with a superbly taken hat-trick. It is still a mathematical possibility for Bay but they will not be able to afford any more slip ups, and that includes the visit to Winch’s Field of already crowned champions AFC Wimbledon, and must hope that main rivals London Corinthians drop points as they have a far superior goal difference.

Missing several key players, Herne Bay were on the back foot from the first whistle and have ‘keeper Sarah Cooper to thank for making the scoreline look better than it might have been. In the opening few minutes it was Cooper who spared the Bay’s blushes with fine saves from first Ellie Davies and then Naomi Sterling. But Orient, and Douton, were not to be denied. In the 16th minute Lydia Cooper was set free on the right, not for the first time, and crossed for Douton to ram home.

Herne Bay’s sorties into the home half were rare but on the half hour a superb diagonal ball out to the right from Kate Foster was seized upon by Carly Farrow who rifled the ball past the flat-footed Ogunde in the Orient goal. All level and now Bay had their best period of the match. Just before half time Woolston fed Alex Roy but she side footed her effort wide of Ogunde’s right hand post.

After the break the home side warmed to their task as they scented victory over the visitors who seemed unable to change their game plan in response, sticking stubbornly to a solo striker who became increasingly isolated from a distant central five who despite their numbers were continuously over-run by a skilful Orient. It seemed inevitable that the ‘O’s’ would add to their single goal and so it proved to be. Douton lobbed Cooper in the 52nd minute and 11 minutes later completed her hat-trick.

Orient were impressive. Skilful on the ball, patient off it, high pass completion rate with decisive and incisive movement going forward. A thoroughly deserved victory that sees them leapfrog Bay in the table on goal difference. There, for Herne Bay lies the problem; goal difference. Whilst they can point to the third meanest defence in the league, the goals have dried up as a result of the one up front system introduced by abandoning the free flowing, attacking football that has served them well before this season. It would seem that it doesn’t suit this squad of players and certainly is not entertaining for those in the stands.

Herne Bay Ladies manager, Anthony Deer declared himself, “A little disappointed in both result and performance, we certainly wasn't at the races today and found life very difficult from the start! For some reason we have misplaced our passing game recently and today we were punished for it! However, we will dust ourselves down and work again on getting things right before our next game”.

Leyton Orient: Naomi Ogunde, Lydia Cooper, Ellie Davies, Daisy Davis, Danielle Griffiths, Sophie Le Marchand, Connie Montiel-McCann, Belen Ripoli Douton, Naomi Stirling, Egle Trezzi.

Subs (roll on / roll off): Hayley Barton, Jasmine Campbell, Olympia Diamond, Sarah O’Donnell, Heather Staff.

Herne Bay: Sarah Cooper, Emma Brown, Alex Roy, Beth Nugent, Debbie Blackmore, Kate Foster, Nicola Morris, Carly Farrow, Amber Guyatt, Harriet Woolston, Rebecca Longley.

Subs (roll on / roll off): Gemma Sullivan, Kimberley Austin

Player of the Match: Belen Ripoli Douton (Leyton Orient).