New signing Hannah Gardener’s brace eased Bay through to the semi-finals of the Kent Women’s Cup for the second year in succession after Kate Foster opened her account for the season and skipper Rachel Tracy stepped on to the pitch for the 100^th time in a Bay shirt.

“It was an all-round good performance”, said Herne Bay Ladies manager Anthony Deer, “we created a lot of chances today, it’s a good result, we spurned a few chances but we’re getting there”.

In truth this was a comprehensive display from Herne Bay in what could have been something of a banana skin match for them against a side from the league below.

If you like, it was a role reversal from the game against Gillingham the previous week in the Women’s FA Cup.

Bay never looked at risk though and Kate Foster, deputising at right back for Emma Brown away on England Futsal duty, had ample opportunity to maraud down the right wing.

She did so in the 21^st minute winning the corner that would lead to her first goal of the season and the Bay’s opener for the afternoon. Daniella Farmer swung the ball over and Foster sent a looping header in at the near post out of reach of the Lane’s Chanelle Hasten.

Six minutes later the pacey Hannah Gardner shot wide but then in the 29^th minute delivered a cheeky chip to double Bay’s advantage. Nine minutes before the interval it might have been three but Carly Farrow flicked wide at the near post from Daniella Farmer’s foray down the right wing.

After the break it was more of the same as the home side piled on more pressure. Within a minute of the restart, Hannah Gardner fired across goal and tantalisingly wide of Hasten’s right hand upright but with just 13 minutes to go she put the game to bed with a solo effort, running through the right side channel then slotting home from the edge of the penalty area.

It was a comfortable afternoon for Herne Bay and with cup holders Gillingham losing in their quarter-final there must now be a new name on the Kent Women’s Cup. Maybe, just maybe, this could be Herne Bay Ladies time.

“Everyone was outstanding today, it’s difficult to not mention every single one of them” said Deer, “the back four was solid, Sarah’s not had to make a single save, we kept the ball well today.”

Herne Bay will now play Meridian in the semi-final on Sunday 17^th January with home advantage.

 

Herne Bay Ladies: Sarah Cooper, Kate Foster, Rachel Tracy, Debbie Blackmore, Beth Nugent, Carly Farrow, Nicola Morris (Kayleigh Mount 83), Daniella Farmer (Amber Guyatt 69), Alex Roy, Harriett Chapman (Emily Brown 69), Hannah Gardner.

Subs not used: Lucy Harrington, Rebecca Longley.

 

Long Lane: Chanelle Hasten, Tayia Everett, Demi Brown, Sharne Harris, Chelsie Billings, Sally Duggan, Megan Burrows, Charlie Jenkins (Hayley Irving 61), Bethany Stace, Leah Grovener, Lelannah Shegbamimu.

Subs not used: Jessica Hill, Alana Garrett, Chana Hinds (4 subs named only)

 

Referee: Mark Harris

Herne Bay Ladies Player of the Match: Nicola Morris

 

Herne Bay Ladies (2) 3

Kate Foster 21

Hannah Gardner 29, 77

 

Long Lane (0) 0

 

Kent Reliance Kent FA Women’s Cup Quarter Final

Sunday 15^th November 2015

 

at The Altira Park Stadium, Winch’s Field

 

Attendance: 73

 

(photo credit Terry Kemp – two goals from Hannah Gardner eased Bay through)