Potter Magic Gets The Ball Rolling

Eastbourne Utd (0) 0

Herne Bay FC Women (1) 4
Abbie Potter 30
Kate Foster 62, 88
Jemma Barton 67

SECWFL (Premier Division)
Sunday 6th October 2019
at The Oval

After suffering defeats in their first two league matches, Herne Bay Women posted their first points on the board with a thoroughly entertaining performance, writes Peter Guise. Abbie Potter opened the scoring on the half hour with her debut goal for the club. Playing as an out and out left winger rather than a target striker, she demonstrated her ability in that position with a fine solo run down the wing before cutting in to blast past Katie Burr in United's goal. The floodgates might have opened at that point but Bay had to wait until after the interval to stamp their authority on the game.

The central defensive pairing of Megan Pearce and Molly Shipton prevented almost everything that the Sussex side through at them whilst Saraya Phillips and Lucy Page controlled the flanks. It was this back four formation and Jasmin Connolly's command of her area behind them that gave Bay the confidence to strike forward. Kate Foster extended the lead on 62 when a cleverly flighted free kick from Pearce dropped over the wall with Foster racing on to it to power home. Five minutes later came the goal of the match. Jemma Barton produced a long range drive that modern coaches like to describe as 'worldies'; it simply rocketted in to the net. Foster made it four with two minutes remaining. Seemingly taking the ball of Potter's feet to the right of the six yard box, she twisted and turned to slot home from an acute angle.

First league points bagged and manager Peter Whittaker was delighted, "It was a good all round team performance and proves we can handle this level but we must follow up it up next week with a similar showing".

Herne Bay FC Women: Jasmin Connolly, Lucy Page, Molly Shipton, Jemma Barton, Saraya Phillips, Kate Foster, Megan Pearce, Abbie Potter, Lillian Tucker, Chloe Woolaway, Alice Phillips.

Roll on / Roll Off subs: Ellie Turner, Katie Reeves, Chiara Mesquita.

Player of the Match: Kate Foster