Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Fagg staying positive
DEFEAT TO RUNAWAY LEADERS IS NO SURPRISE BUT CANTERBURY STILL HARBOUR PLAY-OFF ASPIRATIONS Hockey
Helen Fagg says Canterbury Ladies have not given up on making the play-offs but admits the next month is vital, writes Mark Stokes.
Saturday’s 4-1 defeat away to runaway leaders Surbiton left Canterbury seventh in the Investec Women’s Premier Division, 10 points adrift of fourth-placed University of Birmingham.
This Saturday they host Leicester, the side immediately above them, at Polo Farm and over the next three weeks they face all the sides below them, Slough (February 25, home), Bowdon Hightown (March 4, away)and Reading (March 11, home).
Co-captain Fagg explained: “The next four games are going to be really big for us I think.
“There is a gap (to the top four) but it’s not mathematically impossible for us to close it and until it is that is going to be our focus.”
Fagg admitted Canterbury were very much second-best against Surbiton which was no surprise given the south west London side are unbeaten in 54 matches.
Jo Hunter’s 10th minute strike put Surbiton ahead with Jenna Woolven doubling their advantage just before the halfhour.
Grace Balsdon’s 41st minute penalty corner effort – from one of just two shots on target by the visitors – made it 2-1 but within three minutes Hannah Martin had restored Surbiton’s two-goal cushion, and Naomi Evans rounded off the scoring in the final minute.
Fagg said: “It was a tough game but then we expected that because you don’t go unbeaten for as long as they have without being a quality side.
“Their ball control and their ability to string passes together was very good.
“Their third goal was disappointing because we’d had good momentum for 10 minutes in the second half and the goal took it out of us.
“The fourth goal was purely because we were still trying to score right at the end and that’s what I like about our side, that we always look to attack whenever we can.”
Canterbury lost 3-1 at Leicester in November in what Fagg admitted was one of their poorest displays the season but she says she hopes the Polo Farm crowd can cheer them to a crucial victory this weekend.
The game starts at 4pm and is followed, at 6pm, by the men’s equally vital National Premier League clash with Reading.
Fagg added: “I’ve never played for a better club in terms of home support, and when we have a double-header the atmosphere is always very special.”
Canterbury 2nds produced a good team performanceto win 2-0 at Upminster in East League Division 1 South
The win, which keeps them in second, came courtesy of two second-half strikes after an even first period had finished scoreless.
Canterbury increased the intensity of their play in the second half moving the ball quicker and showing some excellent running off the ball.
Their efforts were rewarded when a defensive clearance from Alice Dunn found Savage in space on halfway.
She dispal;yed some good skills before turning to find Moira Clewes who deftly reversed the ball past the keeper from the top of the D.
Canterbury continued to play well and were even able to absorb pressure after going down to 10 when Alice Brett received a rather harsh green card for not being five.
Brett almost scored on her return when Clewes found her from the 50 yard line unmarked and running to the circle, but the home keeper did well to intervene.
Some great individual efforts kept Canterbury in control and another beautiful ‘crack’ from Dunn at the back found Sophie Brigg on the Upminster 25 yard line and she unselfishly set Alice Brett up to slot home.
The games involving the 2As, the 3rds and the 3As were allpostponed due to the weather.