Meridian (2) 3
Herne Bay Women (1) 4
Abigail Duff 32
Kate Foster 64, 67
Abbie Potter 68
Pre Season Fixture
Sunday 4th August 2019
at The Victory Academy
The first 20 minutes of this first pre season fixture were spent finding match legs by which time Bay were already two goals behind to an improved Meridian side who had been whipped 6-0 by Bay in last pre-season, writes Peter Guise. But then Herne Bay's squad found their fluidity, spread the play more and with her first meaningful run down the left wing of the afternoon, Abigail Duff chipped the home 'keeper to pull a goal back. Bay went into this game without a recognised goalkeeper being available. New signing Abbie Potter took the gloves for the first half and demonstrated that she was more than capable, not at fault for either goal, commanding her area, diving at feet and distributing well. Potter was to make an impact at centre forward in the second 45.
After the turnaround, Alice Phillips went between the sticks, charging out to one attack to clear as forcibly as any centre-half, but she couldn't prevent Meridain scoring a third. Bay shifted up a gear and put the game to bed with three goals in four minutes. Kate Foster stooped to head home on 67, then was unmarked to nudge the ball over the line 60 seconds later from Megan Pearce's teasing corner. Abbie Potter's pace was now telling and she duly got her just reward a minute later.
"We know it's going to be tougher this season", said manager Peter Whittaker, "but we were a couple missing today and without Coops (Sarah Cooper) in goal we had to change formation through the game to counter Meridian's midfield. The first match is out of the way now and we move on".
Herne Bay Women (squad): Jemma Barton, Effie Dodds, Abigail Duff, Kate Foster, Lucy Page, Megan Pearce, Alice Phillips, Saraya Phillips, Abbie Potter, Katie Reeves, Molly Shipton, Ellie Turner.
Secretary's Player of the Match: Abbie Potter