Ladies score four but lose to champions

Herne Bay Ladies (3) 4
Jemma Barton 22
Kate Foster 23
Sophie Gifford 36
Effie Dodds 78

Kent Football United (4) 6

SECWFL Premier Division
at Simon Langton Grammar Schhol for Boys
Sunday 20th May 2018

by Peter Guise

(photo: Sophie Gifford goes close at the near post)

For the second week in succession Herne Bay Ladies scored four goals but came out the losing side. This Sunday, League champions Kent Football United stole the points in a game where the visitors conceded four goals in a league match for the first time this season. Bay's improvement in recent weeks has shone like a beacon and they might have been pinching themselves when they were 2-1 up against KFU midway through the first half but a deserved lead it was thanks to strikes from Jemma Barton and Kate Foster. The Champions clawed their way back into the game and were ahead but Sophie Gifford restored parity for Bay in the 36th minute. This was becoming anything but a stroll in the sun on the last Sunday of the season and United nicked the lead 3 minutes before the interval.

KFU stamped some authority on the game with two goals in two minutes on the hour mark but this Herne Bay side doesn't give up and battled on. Effie Dodds was bundled over in the box but Chloe Woolaway's penalty was saved by the knees of the United 'keeper after guessing the right side to dive. Dodds had the final word though netting Bay's fourth after closing the 'keeper down with the latter's attempted clearance cannoning back in to her own net.

"We were the better side, especially in the first half", said manager Peter Whittaker, "It certainly doesn't feel like a defeat today. The top of the table came to town and we rattled them. I'm looking forward to next season".

Herne Bay Ladies match squad: Rachel Tracy, Katie reeves, Kayleigh Mount, Saraya Phillips, Lucy Page, Georgina Reid-Ward, Kate Foster, Jemma Barton, Chloe Woolaway, Asmaa Hatim, Sophie Gifford, Isabelle Quinney, Effie Dodds.