Herne Bay FC Ladies were dumped out of the FA Women’s Cup by a Kent Football United side, two divisions above them in the pyramid, and who had clearly strengthened considerably during the summer.

On a cold, wild and windy afternoon in the teeth of driving rain, the match did not start well for the Bay. Two goals down inside 7 minutes Bay lost Rachel Tracy to injury with Alice Phillips replacing her.

Asmaa Hatim almost pulled one back in the 20th minute with a fierce shot from 20 yards that the home ‘keeper did well to tip over the bar and Bay matched their higher league opponents for the rest of the opening half.

But after the interval, United stepped up a gear scoring, it seemed, at will. Sarah Cooper resumed her place between as the Bay custodian and to make a miserable afternoon worse almost had to be replaced in the 50th minute when she was by KFUs Adeyemi who slide in catching her amidrifts.

Adeyemi was booked and after lengthy treatment Cooper continued but it looked for a while as though someone else would have to go between the sticks. Kate Foster’s near post header from Kerry Grant’s 71st minute corner went across goal and narrowly wide of the far post.

The Ladies will rarely come up against this strength of opposition this season but dreams of a cup run in a competition they had done wel in in previous years were dashed, if not lashed, in the relentless rain.

“We have worked so hard in pre season and attracted rave reviews due to our team spirit and style of play. I don’t want this result against a side two divisions above us to create negativity”, said manager Peter Whittaker, “our priority is the league which starts next Sunday and a chance to put this result behind us”.

Herne Bay FC Ladies: Sarah Cooper, Rachel Tracy (Alice Phillips 16), Kayleigh Mount, Kerry Grant, Megan Pearce, Kate Foster, Katie Reeves (Isabelle Quinney 63), Emma Brown, Asmaa Hatim, Abigail Duff, Saraya Phillips.

Sub not used: Jemma Barton