Tucker hat-trick as Bay Progress in Women’s County Cup

Herne Bay FC Women (6) 9

Lillian Tucker, 10, 45, 57
Jemma Barton 3. 34
Abigail Duff 46, 50
Kate Foster 26
Chloe Woolaway 37

Sittingbourne (1) 2

Kent FA Women’s Cup, 1st Round
Sunday 15th September 2019
At The Kent Vehicles Stadium, Winch’s Field

Attendance: 68

(photo credit: Keith Davy – Lillian Tucker who scored a hat-trick on debut)

Herne Bay’s Women’s team cruised through the first round of the Kent FA Women’s Cup thumping Sittingbourne 9-2 at The Kent Vehicles Stadium, Winch’s Field, writes Peter Guise. Beaten semi-finalists last season, Bay were determined to get off to a good start after two reverses in the previous two weeks in the FA Cup and in the league. That they did, racing to a 4-0 lead just after the half hour mark Jemma Barton struck the first blow in the 3rd minute with debutant Lillian Tucker opening her account in the 10th and Kate Foster sending in a free kick that eluded everyone on its way in to the back of the net in the 26th. The fourth was added by Jemma Barton in the 34th. A minute after Chloe Woolaway had scored from distance in the 35th to make it five, the brickies got one back, but Lillian Tucker restored the five goal advantage just before the break.

At the interval, Effie Dodds replaced Bay’s influential centre back, Molly Shipton, as a precaution against further aggravation to an injury picked up in last week’s league encounter with Worthing. Lillian Tucker completed her hat-trick on debut a minute after the restart and further goals came from Abigail Duff who tucked away a brace inside four minutes. To be fair to Sittingbourne they were depleted by injury and could not name any substitutes and were further hampered by losing two to injury in the second period. They never gave up though and scored a second from the spot in the 63rd minute. Bay also gave a debut to new goalkeeper Jasmin Connolly who, although she had little to do of note against an attack a division below Bay, showed great awareness and displayed good distribution. She will have busier afternoon’s when Bay return to SECWFL Premier Division action in two weeks time. They are without a fixture this coming Sunday.

“In scorching conditions we got the job done and restored some confidences after those two defeats and we had some important debut performances from Jasmine Connolly in goal and Lillian Tucker up front”, said manager Peter Whittaker, “bigger and tougher challenges lie ahead but we looked good and are more ready for them”.

Herne Bay FC Women: Jasmin Connolly, Lucy Page, Saraya Phillips, Jemma Barton, Molly Shipton (Effie Dodds 46), Kate Foster, Megan Pearce, Alice Phillips, Lillian Tucker (Abbie Potter 57), Chloe Woolaway, Abigail Duff.

Player of the Match: Chloe Woolaway