Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Defence kept at full stretch by visitors
Canterbury Ladies
Canterbury Ladies slipped to seventh in the Investec National Premier Division after going down 3- 0 to old foes and reigning champions Surbiton at Polo Farm on Saturday.
The visitors brought a lot of energy and skill to their performance with the home side struggling to string any passes together.
Surbiton opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a penalty corner that was slipped to the left post and deflected in by Jo Hunter.
They doubled their lead through Hannah Martin whose stick skills bamboozled the defence as she sliced down the middle of the D to make it 2- 0 at halftime.
The second half saw a more positive performance from Canterbury but the home side were still having to defend for long periods and Surbiton scored from another penalty corner as Rebecca Middleton deflected in from the right.
Despite Canterbury’s best efforts they were unable to fashion a single chance in the second half but the work rate in defence was impressive throughout the game.
The city club welcome Kent rivals Holcombe to Polo Farm on Saturday (4pm).
The 2nds suffered a 2-1 defeat in a physical game against Wapping at Lee Valley in East League Division 1 South.
Despite creating several early chances, a defensive slip allowed the hosts a free run on goal to make it 1- 0 at the break.
Despite more pressure after the interval it was Wapping who struck the second goal and though Moira Clewes swept home to narrow the deficit and Vicky O’sullivan deflected a late pen- alty corner into the net, the strike was ruled out and the city club could not find a leveller.
Canterbury 2As enjoyed a 4-2 success against Southend & Benfleet in Division 2 South East.
Canterbury had the majority of the chances in the first half and were rewarded with two goals, one from the hard-working Katie Robins.
Southend had a few chances on the break but Katie Knight in goal dealt with them well.
After the break Canterbury kept up the pressure and went four goals ahead, with Robins netting her second, though as Canterbury started to wane they saw a succession of sin-binnings and Southend were able to capitalise with two consolation goals.
The 3rds recorded their first win at the fifth time of asking in Kent League Premier Division with a last-gasp 3-2 win at Kings Alleyn.
The hosts went ahead inside 10 minutes but Sue Spight and Nixon combined to tee-up Mel Lea to level, only for the city side to concede again from a penalty corner just before the break.
Nixon latched onto a throughball to round the keeper and slot the equaliser after the turnaround and the city club stole the points when player-of-thematch Amiee Plumb exchanged passes with Forsyth before playing in Lea to score the winner.
The 3As suffered a fourth straight defeat, going down 3- 0 at home to unbeaten Sevenoaks 5ths in Kent League Division 2.