WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT
By Charlie Bradford
Gravesham Girls & Women FC 1
(Golding 62)
Cray Wanderers Women 7
(Francis 14, 25, 76, Cole 29, Oldfield 47, 80, Bone 65)
GoCardless Kent F.A. Women’s Plate Second Round
Sunday 23rd November 2025, 1:30 PM @ Cascades Leisure Centre
A week later than build because of a waterlogged pitch last weekend, Cray Wanderers Women finally travelled to Cascades Leisure Centre to take on Gravesham in the Kent F.A. Women’s Plate Second Round, looking to keep up the momentum of their last cup game and a 7-0 win over Park Regis.
With Cray eight points off of Tonbridge Angels now and third in the table, the cup represented a chance to gain some confidence going into their next run of league fixtures.
Opponents Gravesham came into today’s game in similar league form – third in the league below of the South East Counties Women’s Football League Kent Division One Central – meaning Cray could not take them lightly with the muddy pitch perhaps a recipe for a leveller and banana skin.
Indeed this was Cray Wanderers Women’s first game on grass for over eight months but you wouldn’t have known that based on their start with Ellie Rivers heading a corner past the right post before Maddie Bone had a shot saved in two hands by Gravesham goalkeeper Lily Lambell.
The Wands Women then took the lead in the 14th minute when Chloe Francis managed to find the top left corner from just inside the box.
And, after Katie Jackson fired a shot over the bar, Chloe Francis and Cray had their second in the 25th minute when she was on hand at the far right post to head home an Ellie Cole corner.
Ellie turned from provider to goalscorer four minutes later when her free kick from the left side of the box flew into the top right corner in a masterful shot.
Cray continued to keep their foot on the pedal with Emily Symonds having a shot hit the bar, Katie Jackson having a volley to the bottom left brilliantly saved around the post by Lambell, and Chloe Francis having an effort to the bottom left saved.
Gravesham then had their first real chance of the game in the 44th minute when Lily Miller was denied one on one by Cray goalkeeper Zaira Aimey.
HT: 0-3
Cray rung the changes at half time and one of them did not take long to make an impact – Jessica Oldfield making it 4-0 in the 47th minute when she headed home a cross from the right.
Oldfield then had a few good chances to score again – having one effort saved, another finish past the left post, and lastly a shot to the bottom right saved around the post by Lambell.
Gravesham arguably scored the goal of the game in the 62nd minute when Phillipa Golding came up with a brilliantly placed 20 yard free kick into the top left which Cray goalkeeper Zaira Aimey could do very little about.
Three minutes later however Cray restored a four goal lead when Maddie Bone ran down the right and drilled a shot into the net.
The 76th minute saw Chloe Francis complete her hat trick from the penalty spot after Jessica Oldfield was bundled to the floor.
And then, four minutes later, Oldfield scored herself when she was on hand to tap home the rebound into the empty net after Sarah White’s shot was saved into her path.
Cray therefore advance to the next round having put in a professional performance in difficult conditions and can be pleased with scoring seven goals in back to back games.
FT: 1-7.
