Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Beaten finalists to persevere
Canterbury ladies
Co-captain Helen Fagg insists Canterbury’s time will come at the national indoor championships after they lost in the Wembley final for the second straight year.
The city club beat Bowdon Hightown 4-2 in the semi-final on Sunday to book a date with Slough later in the day but a 2-0 defeat ensured the 14-time champions claimed the title and the sole spot in Europe.
Fagg said: “Of course we are disappointed but we loved the experience and are determined to keep going – it will be our year soon.”
Slough scored early in the final through a well-taken penalty corner from former Polo Farm player Dilly Newton on six minutes.
Canterbury hit back and Sarah Kerly’s mazy run ended with a shot which flashed just wide.
The city club had a gilt-edged opportunity when Victorine Van Kemmel was brought down resulting in a penalty stroke, although Grace Balsdon’s effort was saved low to her right by Asha Tranquille-day.
Slough made them pay a minute before the break as they doubled their lead through Georgie Whittaker.
Canterbury came out strongly in the second half and Balsdon had a penalty corner cleared off the line by Ash Bhogal but despite a couple of runs from Kerly and some enterprising play from Nina Steikowski, they could not find a way through.
With time running out, Canterbury forced a penalty corner which was slipped to Kerly who looked certain to score until Harriet Ward appeared from nowhere to block.
There was still time for Tranquille-day to see off a penalty corner from Balsdon as Slough held on.
Fagg said: “Slough did to us what we did to Bowdon in the semi-final. They kept hold of the ball and prevented us having too many chances.”
She added: “Indoor can be all about momentum and it was a shame that they got the first goal in the final, just as we had done in the semi-final.”
A hat-trick of penalty corners from Balsdon against Bowdon had secured Canterbury’s spot in the final.
Balsdon’s accuracy from the top of the circle proved to be a game changer and the Canterbury defender helped herself to goals in the ninth and 17th minutes before Tina Cullen pulled one back.
Eliza Brett notched a third for Canterbury on 25 minutes and Balsdon completed her hat-trick with six minutes remaining and despite a late goal from Sally Walton, Canterbury were not to be denied.
Fagg added: “We were tactically good, patient, clever in winning short corners and Grace is a specialist and scored some beautiful goals.”
Canterbury return to outdoor action in the Investec Premier Division with a derby game at Holcombe on Saturday (4pm).
Fagg added: “Indoor can help your outdoor game because your fitness levels are high and you have that sharpness.
“Holcombe is always a big game, we are local rivals and they are always close games.”
Lizzie Neal will be assessed after being ruled out of the indoor final with concussion after a collision in the semi-final, while Steikowski has returned to Germany.