Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Plenty to ponder after ‘devastating’ setback
Canterbury Ladies
Player-coach Jen Wilson admitted she was devastated by a shock 3-2 defeat at home to East Grinstead in the Investec National Premier Division.
With Surbiton having effectively sealed top spot with victory earlier in the day, the second-placed city club slumped to a 3-0 half-time deficit at Polo Farm and despite fighting back, couldn’t avoid their first defeat to a team other than Surbiton in more than two years.
Wilson admitted: “In terms of points and league places, the result might have been irrelevant but it was important for our momentum at an important time.
“I was devastated to lose the game. The strange thing was that we played some decent hockey in the first half but came in 3-0 down. Their coach was as surprised as anyone but that is no consolation.
“In the second half we showed a bit of spirit and passion. We looked determined to win the game. That character is going to be important as we face the play-offs and Europe.”
Wilson could not remember Canterbury ever falling 3-0 behind in any game, adding: “They were all in the space of about 12 minutes.
“One was a slightly lucky call from a short corner but the other two were sloppy errors being punished by international calibre players.
“It’s a useful lesson. We can’t afford to switch off. It’s highlighted areas for us to focus on. I am almost glad, it might be perfect timing, we have the ability to work on things and do something about it before we get into the play-offs.”
Wilson predicted a “cautious match, maybe even a stalemate” when her side host University of Birmingham on Saturday (2pm) in their final league game.
A draw would be enough for Canterbury to finish second, although they will face their visitors again in the Championship play-off semi-final on April 16 even if they lose and finish third.
She added: “I’m sure neither coach will want to give too many secrets away. Both teams know we’ll be facing each other again soon and with a place in Europe at stake to the winner.
“We have a big squad and want to give players the chance to put their hand up for places and give me selection headaches in the weeks to come.”
Both of Canterbury’s goals came from the returning Dirkie Chamberlain, who deflected home a short corner strike from Susannah Townsend and then another deflection from a reverse strike to narrow the gap.
The 2nds saw their hopes of returning to the East League Premier Division hit by a 3-1 home defeat to Folkestone in their penultimate game.
A nervous warm-up didn’t seem to affect the team as they went 1-0 up through a good team goal finished by Vicky O’sullivan.
After a quick counter, Folkestone were awarded a corner against the run of play which deflected off a defender and past keeper Becca Smith. Both teams wasted chances to add to the scoring before the visitors broke through the middle and a cross from the left was turned in at the back post.
After the break the city club pressed for an equaliser and saw two shots come back off the post and another blocked on the line.
Optimists, however, broke the length of the pitch from a short corner and made it 3-1 to seal the points.
Canterbury 2As went down 4-2 at home to Division 2 South East promotion-chasers Wapping 2nds in a physical battle which saw the city club end with 10 players.
The 3rds slipped into the bottom three in Kent League Premier Division after a 2-1 defeat to fellowstrugglers Meopham.
Despite a bright start, two quick goals left the city club 2-0 down and although the hosts pulled one back early in the second-half, they couldn’t find a leveller.
The 3As lost 2-1 to Bromley & Beckenham 4ths while the over-35s beat St Albans 4-1 in the semi-final of the England Hockey Cup to join the over-45s at Lee Valley.