Cray Wanderers Women vs Kings Hill Women – Kent FA Plate – 2nd Round
Cray Wanderers 3
Blanche 9 mins, Dodds 37 pen, Jackson 54
Kings Hill 1
Boxer 18
Cray Wanderers advanced into the next round of the Kent FA Plate after a fine win against a very good Kings Hill side at Flamingo Park.
In a match between the leaders of the Southern Counties Women’s League Division One West and East the game got off to a fast start and Annemarie Blanche put Cray one nil up before Freya Boxer levelled before eighteen minutes. The Wands went back in front through a Grace Dodds penalty to lead at the break and a quality finish from Kate Jackson made it 3-1 in the 54th minute.
On a chilly afternoon, the game got off to a quick start and Cray created the first half opening in the 3rd minute from a free kick down the right, Vittoria D’Urso’s ball into the box was headed wide of the right post by Hannah Atkins.
Then at the other end, Kings Hill showed their intent when Freya Boxer down the left put over a cross that was cleared back to her and her near post shot was saved by Sam Sharp.
In the 9th minute Cray took the lead when from a throw in down the left the ball came to Annemarie Blanche who lifted a shot towards goal which looped over Maisie Duggan and into the net.
Kings Hill though showed their quality and levelled nine minutes later when Boxer picked up the ball down the left of the penalty area, cut into the box and clipped the ball over Sharp and into the net.
From here the game quietened for a spell with perhaps Kings Hill edging possession and won a couple of corners, from one of which from Sharp’s punch out the ball came to Atkins who made a darting run down the right but her cross sailed over.
In the 37th minute Cray went back in front after Kate Jackson down the right hit a shot which deflected off the arm of Claire Gooderham for the award of a penalty from which Grace Dodds stroked home from the spot and Cray led 2-1 at the break.
HT: 2-1
The second half began much the same way as the first and Kings Hill came close to levelling early on when from a free kick out on the left from Scarlett Good played towards the far post Lauren Seymour turned the ball wide.
Then at the other end after a nice spell of passing, Hrystyna Kulishko set up Kate Jackson for a half volley which was held by Duggan who then did well to save from a shot from Atkins from Kulishko’s pass.
In the 54th minute there was daylight between the teams when Cray scored a third when down the right, Dodds found Jackson who from just inside the area drilled a well struck shot under Duggan and into the net.
Kings Hill looked to hit back and Seymour’s shot was claimed by Sharp while for Cray, Blanche fired over the top from a free kick.
The visitors had a little spell of pressure and won a couple of corners and from the left, Good’s ball was helped on by Gooderham to Charlotte Martin at the far post and her shot was blocked by the feet of Sharp for a corner.
Cray though were looking dangerous when they attacked and Eve Sales down the left set up Olivia Gregory for a shot from the edge of the area that was saved by Duggan while for Kings Hill, Boxer made a run forward but her shot was gathered by Sharp. For Cray, Jackson down the right fired fractionally past the left post.
In the 75th minute Cray were awarded a second penalty after a corner down the left, Jackson’s ball into the area found Okasia Brown who was fouled inside the box. From the spot kick though, Jackson fired over the bar.
Going into the last ten minutes, Kings Hill looked to reduce the arrears and Jess Brislee won the ball down the right and looked to catch out Sharp with her cross which crashed back off the top of the bar. Then Brislee again down the right sent over a cross to the far post which was turned wide by Good. This was followed by Good firing well over from a free kick.
Cray looked to add a fourth in the closing minutes and Jackson saw a shot held and then her cross set up Charlotte Knipe who fired over.
The last opportunity came in added time when Eve Sales down the left cut into the area and her cross-shot was deflected across goal just missing a touch from Knipe and went behind for a corner.
In the end Cray had done enough over the game to win and this was the second stern cup tie test in two weeks and contrasts of styles and keep churning out winning results. The Wands are already top of the league and in the Quarter Finals of the League Cup where they meet Tonbridge Angels on 7th January and now Dean Jarman’s side advance in the Kent County Plate.
Next Sunday the Wands return to league action after a few weeks away with a trip to Tonbridge Angels, KO: 4.30 pm.
Cray Wanderers: Sam Sharp, Grace Dodds, Vittoria D’urso, Clare Goldsmith, Danielle Smith, Okasia Brown, Renette Ofori, Annemarie Blanche, Hrystina Kulishko, Chloe Ashdown, Hannah Atkins; Eve Sales, Olivia Gregory, Charlotte Knipe, Kate Jackson, Louise Chenery
Kings Hill: Maisie Duggan, Claire Gooderham, Mia Saunders, Emma Pearson, Scarlett Good, Megan Kemp, Sadie Mitchell, Charlotte Martin, Lauren Seymour, Freya Boxer, Lyra Probert; Jess Mendez, Jess Brislee, Sophia McCahill, Shinade Laird, Isra Preddie
Referee: Amari Taylor
