WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT
By Charlie Bradford
Margate Women 1
(Hall 50)
Cray Wanderers Women 1
(Main 48 (pen))
South East Counties Women’s Football League Premier Division
Sunday 5th October 2025, 4:30 PM @ Hartsdown Park
This was much more than a jolly girls outing to Margate for Cray Wanderers Women this afternoon – this was the chance to maintain top spot in the league as they travelled down to the Kent coast…!
After defeating Margate 7-1 in the Women’s F.A. Cup already this season, the Wands Women would have perhaps been assured that Margate away was a winnable fixture but nonetheless Cray could not rest on their laurels in such a short league season…
The first half rather saw both teams cancel each other out with Margate having the first chance of the game when Michaela Beach struck a shot down the throat of Cray goalkeeper Jess Cox.
From there on the first half perhaps saw midfields on top with Cray’s best chances being a Sarah White goal bound header headed off the line before, on the stroke of half time, Millie Main found herself one on one but saw Margate goalkeeper Suzie Urban make a good save with her body.
HT: 0-0.
The second half was three minutes old when Cray were awarded a spot kick when Ellie Rivers was tripped on the left side of the box. Up stepped Millie Main to stick the ball into the bottom left and maintain her scoring form this season.
However, two minutes later, Margate equalised when a ball over the top saw Emily Hall in a race to the ball with Cray goalkeeper Jess Cox which she won before proceeding to lob Cox from 20 yards into the unguarded net.
Cray then responded with a couple of volleys towards goal by Millie Main and Chloe Francis but both were dealt with well by Suzie Urban.
Indeed Suzie Urban was to thank again moments later when she caught Ellie Rivers’ effort to the top right before Cray missed a glorious chance when Jessica Oldfield’s effort was saved into the path of Hannah Atkins and, with the goal at her mercy, she stuck the ball into the left side netting.
After that glaring miss, Cray thought perhaps they had been given a second life when Chloe Francis was bundled to the floor in the box for a second penalty. With Millie Main having come off, this time Frankie Mardon stepped up but the birthday girl could not find the net as her effort to the bottom left was saved away by Urban in an inspired second half performance to preserve her side a point.
Time will tell if it will be a point gained or two dropped for Cray but they certainly had the chances in the second half to win the game…
FT: 1-1.
Player of the Match
Emily Symonds
