Future Hope

Herne Bay (0) 1
Rebecca Smith 62

Crawley Wasps (2) 3

London & South East Regional Women's Football Leahue
Sunday 16th October 2016
at The Altira Park Stadium, Winch's Field

Att: 38

by Peter Guise

(photo credit: Peter Guise - Herne Bay on the attack)

Herne Bay Ladies had four new signings on show for this match and made half a team's worth of changes through unavailability but did enough to lay the foundations for the future as Rachel Tracy continues to rebuild the squad.

Having gone behind as early as the 9th minute, many teams might have buckled but Bay stuck to their task only to be cruelly denied going in at the break only one behind when Wasps made their possession football pay with a second goal just before the interval. After the turnaround, Bay were more lively, more competitive and saw more of the ball. Deservedly, they hauled a goal back just after the hour mark when new signing Rebecca Smith (previously with Women's Premier League C&K Basildon) turned in a delightful right wing ball from Sophia Joy. They might even have drawn level had Rachel Tracy's free kick from distance dipped six inches lower but as it was it grazed the top of Wasps' crossbar and landed on the roof of the net.

Pushing forward for that equaliser Bay conceded a third 13 minutes from time that wrapped the points up for Crawley who had the lion's share of possession and played a skillful passing game that, at times, had Bay chasing shadows.

"The goal was quality. We had 7 changes from last week, there's been 15 new faces in the squad over the last three weeks, we're rebuilding in a hard league. Second half, everyone was fighting for it, once everyone is available you'll see a brand new Herne Bay Ladies team that will go on to do great things. The priority is to stay in this league. If we were in a lower league it would be easier to rebuild but a few more weeks and we will be there looking at mid table in this league. We're staying up", said Herne Bay Ladies Manager Rachel Tracy.

Herne Bay Ladies Match Squad: Rachel Golding, Kayleigh Mount, Laura Baker, Amelia Angus, Debbie Blackmore, Carly Farrow, Holly Bayliss, Rebecca Smith, Emily Brown, Sophia Joy, Alice Phillips, Sarah Holmes, Rachel Tracy, Sarah Cooper, Asmaa Hatim.

Herne Bay Ladies Player of the Match: Alice Phillips