Ladies triumph to secure third

Herne Bay

Herne Bay Ladies clinched third place in Kent League, Division 1 with a game to spare after a 2- 0 success at home to fifth-placed Ashford 2nds.

Going into the game Bay knew it was going to be hard fought and they were right as the visitors put them under pressure early in the first half.

Ashford had a couple of chances that were dealt with well by the mean Bay defence, hoping to make it three clean sheets in four games.

The first half was end to end with chances at both ends but half-time arrived goalless.

The second half started like the first, both teams applying pressure but not getting anything from it.

Bay managed to win a penalty corner midway through the half and even though it didn’t go to plan, man-of-the-match Amy Mason managed to lob the keeper to make it 1- 0.

Ashford focused on getting one back and put a lot more pressure on the Bay defence however after an Ashford attack was broken up, some fine passing from midfield helped free Paris Gasson who slotted the ball neatly in to make it 2- 0 and seal the points. Bay: Mackinnon, Marks (C), Nash, Coffey, Wong, Edmunds, Gentry, Mason, Watson, Godden, Buchanan, Gasson, Forwood

The 2nds were edged out 3-2 at Sevenoaks 6ths in Division 4, despite goals from Karen Atkinson and the prolific Gemma Cathcart.

Herne Bay men dropped two places to fifth in South League Kent Division 2 without playing.

The 2nds made it seven games without defeat and stayed third in Kent Open Premier B after a 2- 0 win at Holcombe 4ths.

Bay defended solidly in the opening half with keeper Darren Hollands in top form and after the break Tom Salvatori broke the deadlock with a half-volleyed finish amid a scramble before Sam Thompson sealed the points after a fine passing move.

The 3rds continued their run of big wins with an 8- 0 win over Gore Court 5ths to stay second in Division 1.

Fine keeping kept the Bay lead to 2- 0 at half-time but the floodgates opened after the break with James Nash, Lee Gardener and Adam Stevens getting two goals each and Jordan Bennett and Matt Newman one each.

The 4ths made it six games unbeaten and sit third in Division 4 after a late 4-3 win at Ashford 6ths.

Bay led 2- 0 at the break through Lewis Quirke and Ashley Horwell but Ashford battled back to halve the deficit before Sam Watson’s penalty stroke was saved.

Tom White made it 3-1 but Ashford drew level at 3-3 before White kept a cool head to net his second to win it.