Ladies FA Cup Journey Over

Hemel Hempstead Town (1) 2

Herne Bay Ladies (0) 0

SSE FA Women's Cup - 3rd Round Qualifying
at The Vauxhall Stadium
Sunday 9th October 2016

Att: 65

(photo credit: Barry Tracy)

Herne Bay Ladies exited the FA Cup on Sunday, but not without putting up solid resistance to a very lively home side, writes Barry Tracy. The Bay were without regular keeper Sarah Cooper, so manager Rachel Tracy took over the gloves, where she performed admirably considering her lack of experience between the sticks. The Bay ladies slow start was to see them lose an early goal in just the 8th minute. Following Tracy's clearance off the line falling fortuitously via a rebound less than a yard out to an unmarked Hemel forward. This lifted the home side who attacked with pace down the flanks for long periods in the first half, although a lot of their passing on a zippy pitch found its way through to Tracy who patrolled her box well. Feeling the pressure at the back building, only solid defending from the back four of Casini, Blackmore, Phillips and Longley kept the score at one. Indeed if not for a brilliant save from Rachel Tracy 5 minutes before the break from point blank range, it could have been worse. Yet right on the stroke of half time Bay should have been level. Alex Roy got away on the right wing, and her cross into the box saw Carly Farrow in space. As she took on her shot, with the keeper to beat, Farrow was upended but amazingly no penalty was given! To add insult to injury (literally) Farrow was carried off with an ankle injury, which would see her play no further part in the game.

One down at half time but having fought back, hopes were high of retrieving the game as the second half kicked off. New signing Laura Smith had replaced Farrow, and was showing some fine touches getting involved in the game straight away. As the game wore on Bay pushed on looking for the equalizer, and with 10 minutes to go a glorious opportunity came and went. Amber Guyatt finally broke down the home side's, at times galling, offside trap, but was denied by a brilliant save from the home keeper who tipped her goal bound shot around the post. That was to be the Bay's last chance on goal, and it was 6 deep minutes into injury time that Hemel scored their second following a corner. It was hard on the Bay who gave it their all for 90 plus minutes, but no real complaint on Hemel's progress to the next round.

Herne Bay Ladies: Rachel Tracy, Alice Phillips, Rebecca Longley, Valentina Casini, Debbie Blackmore, Carly Farrow (Laura Smith 46), Sophia Joy (Holly Bayliss 55), Laura Baker, Kayleigh Mount, Amber Guyatt, Alex Roy.

Subs not used: none (only two named)

Herne Bay Ladies Player of the match: Rachel Tracy