Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Late goals prevent victory
Canterbury Ladies
Canterbury Ladies stopped the rot in the Investec Premier Division but twice allowed two-goal leads to slip in a thrilling 4- 4 draw at the University of Birmingham on Saturday.
It was an open game throughout but Birmingham were causing problems early on and Canterbury did well to thwart these attacks.
Birmingham were awarded a penalty stroke after the ball struck Mel Clewlow on the line but for the second week running, keeper Helen Fagg saved from the spot to keep it goalless.
Canterbury took the lead through Mary Flint’s first goal for the 1sts, tapping in at the back post after some scrappy play in the circle.
It was 2- 0 less than two minutes later after an Eliza Brett rebound from a corner ricocheted off the bar only for Sarah Kerly to volley home.
The hosts pulled a goal back from the pushback at the start of the second half through Amelia Andrew and an attempted clearance from a penalty corner rebounded into the net off Jo Turnbull to make it 2-2.
Undeterred, Tinesha Carey scored her first goal for the club to make it 3-2 and Clewlow converted a penalty corner to increase the lead to 4-2 with just eight minutes left.
However, Canterbury turned the ball over in midfield and Birmingham capitalised through GB Olympic gold medallist Lily Owsley who made it 3.4-
With seconds remaining, Canterbury were robbed of possession 35 yards from their own goal and the hosts won a penalty corner as the final whistle was blown.
Pretty much summing up Canterbury’s season so far, a deflection off the Canterbury runner took Erica Sanders’ shot over Fagg in goal to allow the hosts to snatch a point.
Canterbury are back in action at home to Bowdon Hightown on Saturday (2pm). The 2nds eased to a 3- 0 success against Crostyx at Lee Valley to go second in East League Division 1 South.
Moira Clewes put the visitors ahead and as the pressure continued, Lizzie Jenkins made it 2- 0.
Laura Buttimer netted the third from a short corner although keeper Becca Smith was player-of-the-match for keeping the home side at bay with a series of saves.
The 2As improved to third in Division 2 South East after their 2- 0 win against Basildon at Polo Farm.
The hosts piled on the pressure from the start and wasted a host of chances in the first half and it was not until the second half that Katie Robins finished a fine move in the D to break the deadlock, with Nikki Triggs adding the clincher soon after.
The struggling 3rds went down 3- 0 at home to Sevenoaks in Kent League Premier Division.
Oaks led 2- 0 at the break despite some fine goalkeeping and good defending and the visitors increased their lead in the second half.
The 3As won 5-3 win at Gore Court 2nds in Division 1.
The hosts saw an early goal disallowed and although Jess Sabine turned in a Phoebe Neyton cross to put the city club ahead, Court responded with two goals to lead at the break.
Pippa Griffiths levelled after exchanging passes with Lou Coppin and although Court restored their advantage with a third goal, Canterbury stormed back with three goals in the final 15 minutes.
Kim Van Hinsbergh and Neyton set-up Sabine to equalise before a great move saw Kate Berry put the visitors ahead.
Coppin and Berry then combined to free Griffiths on the right and after easing past defenders and cutting inside, she clinically fired home the fifth.