Match Report - Hertfordshire FA Women v Kent FA Women

Trip down to Hertfordshire this Wednesday evening to watch my 2nd match from this season's East Anglian Counties Championship (The Fred Welham Women's Cup) at the County Ground in Letchworth, Hertfordshire FA Women v Kent FA Women.

  4 Counties are competing in the 2015/16 season, with Suffolk and Essex the other counties involved. Hertfordshire won the East Anglian Counties Championship 2 season's ago with Cambridgeshire the current holders not entering a representative side this time around. Kent although not an East Anglian county have been invited to join the competition as they look to give their footballers more representative football.

		Pl	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Suffolk	1	1	0	0	5	1	4	3
2	Kent	1	1	0	0	4	2	2	3
3	Essex	2	1	0	1	6	5	1	3
4	Hertfordshire	2	0	0	2	2	9	-7	0

 Hertfordshire have not gotten off to a good start this time around losing both their opening matches 5-1 away to early leaders Suffolk and the 4-2 at home to Essex in November. This is the 1st time Hertfordshire have faced Kent at home as they look to find their 1st win of the competition. Have a large pool of players that can be called upon, tonight's squad is largely represented by ERWFL Premier Division side, Stevenage Ladies.

  Kent started their East Anglian Counties Championship campaign with a home match winning 4-2 against Essex. Their squad tonight is from a wider pool of sides several plying their trade in the FAWPL with players from the likes of Charlton Athletic Women, West Ham United Ladies, C&K Basildon Ladies as well as Gillingham FC Ladies. Millwall Ladies FC Centre of Excellence along with Herne Bay and Meridian Ladies have players representing.

The Country Ground pitch looking good under the floodlights a good size on a chilly but clear and dry evening.   
  Hertfordshire FA Women starting XI - Chrissy Roberts (Stevenage Ladies), Chloe Rouse (Stevenage Ladies), Hayley Wood-Thompson (Stevenage Ladies), Tanya Blacksley (Stevenage Ladies), Dominique Godbeer (C) (Stevenage Ladies), Rebecca Day (Hitchin Town Ladies), Donna McGuigan (Stevenage Ladies), Holly Jardine (Stevenage Ladies), Nicola Perschky (Stevenage Ladies), Jo Rutherford (Luton Town Ladies) & Sammy Tinsley (Stevenage Ladies).
  subs - Sarah Payne (Stevenage Ladies), Amy Josland (Stevenage Ladies), Abi Cartwright (Stevenage Ladies) & Steph Palfrey.

  Kent FA Women starting XI - Molly Povey (C&K Basildon Ladies), Emma Brown (Herne Bay Ladies), Georgia Pearch (Charlton Athletic Women), Paige Bradley, Hannah Wheeler (West Ham United Ladies), Katie Gilligan (Millwall Lionesses FC C of E), Danielle Ritson (West Ham United Ladies), Sammy Brooker (Millwall Lionesses C of E), Jade Keogh (C)(Gillingham FC Ladies), Lydia Wills (Gillingham FC Ladies) & Amy Russ (Meridian Ladies FC).
  subs - Charlie Spice (Charlton Athletic Women) & Victoria De-Waal

(roll on roll off subsititutes)

Hertfordshire kitted out all in blue have the kick off 1st half with Kent in an all orange kit ready opposite to take them on. The home side look to work the ball through the middle, played forwards into striker Jo Rutherford she holds the ball up with Donna McGuigan looking to make a run to get in behind the Kent defence, Rutherford rolls the ball into her path, is closed down by Kent's Hannah Wheeler the defender getting hold of the ball.

   A rapid counter attack from the visitors the ball played out into space on the right with Amy Russ leading the line for Kent going after it and winning a corner kick. The set piece is played to the edge of the area comes to Jade Keogh wearing the captains armband can't get the ball under control before the Hertfordshire defence close her down. 

   Kent midfielder, Sammy Brooker brings the ball over half way sends her pass forwards for Paige Bradley 20 yards out left side of the D has Keogh on the overlap gives her the ball, she looks to hit her shot on the run the effort charged down by Hertfordshire captain Dominique Godbeer. Kent have started the brighter getting players forwards Russ always looking for space to run into is given the all shifts it to make herself room for a shot outside the box, hooks the shot wide of the goal.

  Hertfordshire are struggling to get anything going through the middle, having more joy down the wings, Holly Jardine linking well with Nicola Perschky, takes the ball down to the byline, can't pick out anyone with her cross as Kent retrieve and bring the ball out. Russ travels with the ball through the middle, sweeps her pass out to Brooker moving ahead of her on the right, he attempted cross is put out for a corner by Godbeer. Given the ball from the corner right 20 yards out Georgia Pearce looks to play a high ball into the box, Tanya Blacksley heads clear for Hertfordshire.

 Nearly 20 minutes on the clock neither goalkeeper has been tested, Chrissy Roberts in the Hertfordshire goal is the 1st to get a feel of the ball as as Russ, wins the ball from Chloe Rouse at the back and carries t 5 yards further on before hitting her shot bouncing as it reached Roberts lacks any power to trouble her. Blacksley does well for Hertfordshire keeping her eye on a dropping ball sent up the pitch for Russ to attack, and despite the attackers presence, Blackley does well to get a firm header on back-pedalling to get it cleared.

   McGuigan looks to hook the ball on from the middle with Rutherford making a break for the box, controls the dropping ball excellently nodding it down into her path right of the goal looks to stab a shot, Kent goalkeeper coming to close her down get's down well to save.

  Kent winning a good number of throw ins as they look to progress down the right, from one the ball is swept on the diagonal clears everyone flocking to the near post area dropping behind no orange shirt is ready to pounce on the ball Hertfordshire look to clear it the ball lands at the feet of Bradley 25 yards out in the centre drags her shot well wide of the goal. Hertfordshire make a change bringing on Amy Josland.

   The visitors have a goal disallowed for offside. Lydia Wills plays the ball in from the left just over half way with Russ racing through on goal gets her stooping header in before Roberts can gather to turn the ball past her into the back of the net, went too early the offside flag is raised. Has become a more even contest as the 1st half enters the last 15 minutes. Keogh plays a long pass over the Hertfordshire defence with Russ looking to peel off the last defender, right side is pushed wider by Rebecca Day, Russ still attempts the shot and angle against her can't get it back across goal goes wide near post.

  Jardine takes the ball forwards force her way into the Kent area, the visitors forced to concede the corner. The ball put in from the right his headed on at the near post Katie Gilligan  headers clear Kent counter Keogh putting it long for Russ to chase, getting the ball at her feet midway inside Hertfordshire's half has Georgia Pearch making a fantastic run down the right, Russ looks to sent her away, Blacksley gets across to put in the ball winning tackle, Kent keep the pressure on as they have the throw deep in Hertfordshire territory, get a cross into the box cleared drops for Jardine 20 yards out flicks the ball up to hit on the half volley the swing on the shot takes the ball away from goal.

  GOAL! Late in the 1st half Hertfordshire are awarded a free kick on the left just inside their own half. Day plays the ball long looking for Rutherford to attack and head on, gambling she will get it, Perschky makes a move coming from right to left across the D to burst into the box as Rutherford does get her head to the ball nods it down into her run now left of goal closing in on the six yard line, Perschky shoots sending the ball across the keeper and scores 1-0.

Half-time Hertfordshire FA Women 1-0 Kent FA Women

  The stale mate is broken just before half-time with Hertfordshire getting their noses in front slightly against the run of play with Kent pushing players forwards, nevertheless a well worked set-piece to give them the narrow advantage. A relatively quiet 1st 45 minutes as the teams returned to the pitch the 2nd half was going to be anything but...

   Hertfordshire make a change at half-time with Sarah Payne being introduced to the action. Kent get the 2nd half underway. 

  GOAL! Just 2 minutes into the 2nd half and Kent come back to get themselves level get players forwards quickly, the move starts with Danielle Ritson the West Ham United Ladies midfielder on the ball brings it into the Hertfordshire half left side she plays a fantastic crossfield pass out to Wills on the right side, Keogh is in front of her wants it rolled into her reaching the corner of the area looks to cross put the ball in for Russ to attack central, the striker looks to turn her header back across the keeper, closing her down Roberts just about manages to get a glove to it, the ball drops is loose at the post as Brooker charging in gets her laces over it to fire it over the line 1-1.

   A good run down the right from Payne for Hertfordshire covering alot of grass, turns inside evading two challenges as she looks to enter the third challenge just about stops her, however Hertfordshire retain possession of the ball played out to the right corner McGuigan see's her cross turned behind for a corner, a good height put in from the right it's a Kent head that latches onto it as Keogh brings the ball out running the length of the pitch before sending her shot/cross wide across the face of the Hertfordshire goal. Kent make a change sending Charlie Spice on.

  Keogh with the ball on the right coming over half way puts her pass into the feet of Russ back to goal right corner of the area comes inside, shifts the ball between her feet, left, then right opening up the shooting opportunity hitting it low towards the near post, Roberts gets down sharply to make the save pushing the ball behind for a corner. The corner comes to nothing Kent are soon back on the attack Emma Brown winning the ball back putting it into Ritson who sends it long down the line for Wills to chase, left side she cuts the ball back for Keogh corner of the box, looks to hit her shot 1st time swept wide across the six yard box.

   GOAL! Hertfordshire get themselves back into the lead. Good work from Rutherford down in the right corner get's her side a corner. Rutherford to take is a fantastic ball swept into the box cutting across the six yard box comes through to Godbeer who unmarked rifles her header into the back of the net 2-1.

   Game has livened up 2nd half both sides having plenty of willing runners when they win the ball look to attack. Rutherford slips the ball forwards with McGuigan looking to get into the box, Kent's Pearch stays on her shoulder, tackle well timed to reclaim the ball. More good defending up the other end with Brooker putting Russ through centrally Godbeer tracking back with her manages to hold her off see the ball into her keepers gloves. Abi Cartwright enters the field for Hertfordshire. 

   GOAL! PENALTY! Kent are on the attack down the left Keogh giving the ball to Spice out wide taking it to the byline looks to cut her cross back in a metre high across the six yard box, Godbeer is adjudged to handle the ball and the referee points immediately to the spot. A no nonsense penalty kick from Russ she sends Roberts the wrong way smashing the ball into the net to put Kent back on level terms for the 2nd time in the match 2-2

  70 minutes played the referee pulls play back with no advantage on for Russ as she was fouled 25 yards out left side looking to run the ball into the box. Ritson is the player over the free kick, is encouraged to have a go on goal from her bench, get's it up and over the wall is going to drop over the line inside the post, but for Roberts her gets across to save with her knee the ball out for a corner.

   Roberts is needed again to make the save as Russ wins a difficult bouncing ball off the Hertfordshire defence on the right rushes in on goal with Keogh up with her on her left Roberts satys big saves Russ's shot with her legs, the rebound flies a foot wide of Keogh who can't react in time. Sammy Tinsley is back on for Hertfordshire.

  GOAL! 15 minutes to go and Kent score to have the lead for the 1st time in the match. Keogh and Russ have linked up well all game. The ball is put into Russ back to goal edge of the box spins off her defender laying the ball out to Keogh coming to support on the right, playing the 1-2 Keogh returns it to Russ closing in on the near post, turns and hits her shot across the goal and scores her 2nd 2-3.

  GOAL! The lead doesn't last for long as from the restart Hertfordshire take it up the other end win a corner. On the left played into the near post is put behind a 2nd corner awarded. Same again put into the crowd at the near post squeezes through this time Povey right behind makes the save but coming at her so quickly can't get hold of the ball, falls to the ground his pushed out towards the face of the box, Payne is there her eyes light up as she races towards it, hits the ball hard takes a deflection but ends up it the back of the net none the less 3-3.

  Chance for Russ to claim her hat-tick as the visitors break away Wills up the right gives the ball to Keogh who looks to play the diagonal ball between the Hertfordshire centre backs with Russ looking to make the run the  pass looks a little heavy however Russ finds an extra yard of pace gets to the ball just before the onrushing Roberts sends her shoot wide across the six yard box.  

  GOAL! 4 minutes of injury time have been played the visitors have been pushing hard as they look for winning goal. Kent have it down in the left corner Hertfordshire back defending concede the corner. Kent send players forwards from defence. The delivery is whipped in low evading the players gathered at the near post Kent have runners charging in behind and the ball is turned home at close range with Wheeler the play getting the telling touch and with it the winning goal as the final whistle blows and Kent take it 3-4 to put them at the top of the table.

   A thrilling end to the match 7 goals scored, the game coming alive 2nd half. Edging a 4-3 thriller especially with a last gasp goal feels brilliant, losing it though hurts alot. Hertfordshire will no doubt feel hard done felt they had done enough to earn the draw as it is suffer 3 defeats. Kent with 2 wins out of 2 in the East Anglian Counties Championship.

   My thanks to the staff at Hertfordshire FA for their assistance with the teams tonight.