Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Ladies increase the gap despite being held
Canterbury ladies
Canterbury moved five points clear of the Investec National Premier Division bottom-two despite being held to a 1-1 draw by thirdbottom Slough at Polo Farm.
Victorine Vankemmel opened the scoring for the hosts on 25 minutes when a short-corner strike was deflected into her path to slickly tuck away a bouncing ball.
However, a lapse in concentration allowed the hosts to hit back within 60 seconds when Louise Bevan pounced on a loose ball in the D to slot under keeper Helen Fagg.
Canterbury bossed much of the second half but were thwarted by the Slough keeper and had to settle for a point. Canterbury visit second-bottom Bowdon Hightown on Saturday (1.45pm) knowing victory would leave them just a point from securing their Premier Division status for another season. Canterbury were missing Grace Balsdon who netted on her England debut on Saturday. She converted a penalty corner for the final goal two minutes from time in a 4-2 win in the opening Test of a series with South Africa in Cape Town.
She also played in a 3-0 win over the hosts the following day.
The Ladies 2nds won 4-2 at home to Folkestone to keep their grip on second place in East League Division 1 South. The 2As lost 5-2 at title-chasing Burnt Ash in Division 2 South East.
The city club made a slow start and fell 1-0 down but Canterbury rallied and drew level when Nikki Triggs finished off a wellworked team goal.
Jenny Preston then setup Katie Robins to turn the game with a second goal but Ash came back fighting and equalised just after the break before they breached some dogged Canterbury defence with three more goals in the closing stages.
The struggling 3rds went down 4-0 at Marden Russets in Kent League Premier Division, while the 3As are 9th in Kent Area Division 1 after a 5-3 defeat at Holcombe 3rds.