Bay Through to Quarter Finals

Aylesford Ladies (1) 2, 3
18,83,93

Herne Bay FC Ladies (0) 2, 3
Jemma Barton 78
Lauren Harris 90
Kate Foster 115

Herne Bay FC Ladies won 5-4 on penalties

Kent Women's FA Cup - 2nd Round
Sunday 21st October 2018
at Aylesford Rec

(photo: Jemma Barton slots home penalty number 4)

Herne Bay progressed to the quarter-finals of the county cup in dramatic fashion. Never ahead until the penalty shoot out but they dug deep to emerge triumphant against former foes during their time in the L&SERWFL. Aylesford took an early lead in probably one of the warmest late October days on record. Bay pressurised, had a few scares of their own then equalised from a venomous Jemma Barton strike 12 minutes from time. That might have been enough to calm the nerves reeady for extra-time but not a bit of it. Aylesford took just 5 minutes to re-establish their lead. In the dieing seconds of the 90 minutes Lauren Harris popped up with her eighth goal of this campaign to pull the match back to 2-2 and force an extra thirty minutes.

Aylesford were not about to roll over and again struck early in the added period. Now Bay had to press. This was real cup football with both sides forcing the pace. With the Aylesford manager asking his side to manage the one goal advantage to see the tie out, Bay forced a penalty shoot out with Kate Foster's 25 yeard free kick five minutes from the end of extra-time that ping-ponged in off post-goalkeeper-post.

And so to penalties, cool heads were needed, firm shoots were provided. Bay took the high ground taking the first penalty and it was nip and tuck to the end. The strikes of Lauren Williams, Kerry Grant, Lauren Harris, Jemma Barton were all cancelled out by Aylesford successes. Kate Foster struck Bay's fifth and now Aylesford had to score to force sudden death. Missed, scenes from the players on the half way line in yellow shirts. Bay were through, a quarter-final place beckons.

"They were courageous and defiant with bouncebackability in abundance", said manager Peter Whittaker, "it was 120 relentless and fierce minutes of cup football. We showed great character today, we're giving Herne Bay somthing to cheer about".

Herne Bay FC Ladies: Sarah Cooper, Lucy Page, Kayleigh Mount, Jemma Barton, Kerry Grant, Kate Foster, Megan Pearce (Isabelle Quinney 87), Lauren Williams, Alice Phillips (Katie Reeves 81), Lauren Harris, Saraya Phillips.

Player of the Match: Saraya Phillips