Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Ladies edge victory to maintain title challenge
Canterbury Ladies
Canterbury Ladies are three points off the top of Investec National, Premier Division with two games remaining after beating rock-bottom Buckingham 3-2 on Saturday.
With Surbiton playing later in the day, the city club went briefly top of the pile after Sarah Kerly reacted first to slot in a low shot after a rebound off the keeper.
Buckingham replied with a shot from a short corner with a deflected effort but Kirsty Greaves volleyed in a loose ball after another short corner to make it 2-1 to Canterbury at half-time.
Canterbury started the second half the quickest with a sublime bit of skill from Alice Brown to finish off a cross and make it 3-1.
It was Buckingham, however, who finished the stronger and their pressure paid off with a consolation after keeper Helen Fagg had been tripped.
The ladies entertain East Grinstead at Polo Farm on Saturday (4pm).
Canterbury 2nds tightened their grip on second place in East League Division 1 South with a 2-1 win at Bishop’s Stortford.
During the first half Canterbury’s back line prevented Bishop’s Stortford from having any opportunity to score while Canterbury failed to convert chances, including two short corners.
After the break, Canterbury redoubled their efforts and a pass to Sophie Briggs saw her engage the defender before passing the ball to Woody Woodgate who found the bottom corner.
Stortford’s quick attackers began to apply pressure and there was a green card for Jackie Laslett and yellow for Vicky O’sullivan, although the hosts could not beat keeper Becca Smith from a penalty flick.
The save gave nine-player Canterbury a boost and with 10 minutes to go, Bishop’s Stortford substituted their goalie for a kicking back.
Canterbury took advantage with an excellent aerial pass from Laura Buttimer to Vicky O’sullivan, who attacked down the right, entered the circle and saw her shot deflected in by a defender to seal the points.
The 2As were edged out by the odd goal in five late on against Ashford in East League Division 2 South East.
The city club made a strong start and Gemma Luckhurst managed to tuck in a rebounded strike from a short corner but the visitors hit back before the break with a deflection of their own from a short corner.
Canterbury began the second half well and after Jackie Laird was fouled on the edge of Ashford’s circle, Georgie Kemsley took the free hit quickly, drove into the circle and lifted the ball over the keeper to make it 2-1. Canterbury seemed to switchoff however and Ashford capitalised with two quick goals to win it.
A depleted 3rds suffered a 5-1 defeat at home to Gravesend to stay ninth in Kent League Premier Division.
They fell 1-0 behind against the run of play but it was 3-0 at the break and despite a second-half improvement from Canterbury, it was 5-0 before the city club pulled back a consolation.
Canterbury Ladies over-45s booked a place in the final of the national plate for the second straight year with a 3-1 win at Bedford in the semi-finals.
Sue Spight converted a quickly-taken free-hit from Kate Jain to open the scoring, although Bedford hit back to level before half-time.
The city club survived a short corner scare after the turnaround before Wendy Cameron restored their lead from a set-piece of their own and Kelly Lichfield netted a late third to seal a place in the final at Lee Valley on April 30.