Play-off hopes recede with defeat

Canterbury ladies

Canterbury Ladies’s hopes of making a late charge at the Investec National Premier Division play-offs were dealt a huge blow by a 3-2 home defeat to Leicester who began the day a place ahead of them. Rachel Mack put the visitors ahead from a deflected penalty corner after five minutes at Polo Farm and Katie Long made it 2- 0 after being played clean through six minutes later. Elizabeth Honar then put the visitors three up with another deflected effort after 24 minutes. Grace Balsdon pulled one back on the stroke of half-time from a short corner and Canterbury improved after the break. Eliza Brett superbly scored her fifth of the campaign to reduce the deficit with 26 minutes to play but two yellow cards interrupted Canterbury’s momentum and they could not find an equaliser. They now need to close a 10-point gap on fourth-placed Clifton with just five games remaining. The first is at home to Slough on Saturday. The 2As held East League Division 2 South East leaders East London to a 2-2 draw at Polo Farm. The visitors dominated much of the game but were unable to convert their chances, with player-of-the-match Katie Knight impressing in goal. Goals from Paris Gasson and Robins, who touched home a Jen Milne cross, had Canterbury 2- 0 ahead but the visitors rallied to secure a point.

The under-14 girls stormed to an 8-3 win against Sevenoaks in the National Cup. Sian Emslie and Flora Brett netted two each before the break as the city club led 4-1 and although Oaks pulled one back, Tilly Tillings and Alex Ferguson made it 6-2. Oaks registered a third but there was still time for Emslie to complete her hat-trick and Tillings to grab her second as Canterbury finished top of their group, undefeated with four wins and a draw to progress to the regional round. Canterbury’s under-18 boys beat Watford side OMT in the last eight of the National Plate. Despite illness and unavailability, the city club side went in 1-1 at half-time. The hosts spurned an open goal after the restart and Canterbury made them pay with two goals in seven minutes.

Picture: Ady Kerry Canterbury’s Lucy Barnes loses out to Leicester’s Katie Long