Cray Wanderers Women vs Margate Women
SCEWFL Premier – Sunday 3rd November – Match Report
Cray Wanderers Women 3
Jackson 3 mins, Main 10, Gregory 48
Margate Women 3
Beach 31, 73, 83
Cray Wanderers Women’s first of three successive November home fixtures ended with a point following an exciting game vs Margate FC Women at Flamingo Park. The Wands would be disappointed not to claim all three having led 3-1 with less than twenty minutes to go after goals from Katie Jackson, Millie Main and Olivia Gregory but a Michaela Beach hat-trick for the visitors turned the game around. Cray were dealt a blow when Jackson had to go off with a knee injury and were reduced to ten late on when Annemarie Blanche was sent off for dissent but came lose to winning but Hrystyna Kulishko was denied by a fine save.
Cray were looking to build on the momentum of their last game, a 7-0 win against Woodcoombe Sports and certainly hit the ground running in this game which began forty minutes late with the referee delayed on arrival. In the 3rd minute Cray took the lead when Katie Jackson continued her great scoring form when she scored direct from a left wing corner which went in at the right post.
Margate looked to get back into it and Beach headed an effort off target but Cray were looking dangerous each time they attacked.
In the 10th minute it was 2-0 when Olivia Gregory cut inside and charged down the right and put over a cross which was held up for Millie Main to shoot from just outsde the box which went in through the keeper’s hands.
Margate came close when a cross was punched away by Sam Sharp and fell for the no 14 who shot over the top while for Cray, Gregory’s right wing cross went across goal and then shot wide of the right post on the volley.
The no 8 shot wide for Margate but Cray were still looking the most likely to score and Chloe Ashdown found Jess Pooley who hit a shot from 14 yards which was held by the keeper. This was followed by Jackson shooting wide.
Margate pulled a goal back in the 31st minute when Fleur Charman set up Beach for a calm finish down the left of the area.
Cray went back on the attack and Annemarie Blanche shot over and Hrystyna Kulishko set up Pooley but was denied by a block from the keeper.
Margate wouldn’t go away and the no 14 was put in on goal but Sharp did well to prevent a shot and the ball went wide.
Before half time the game was going from end to end and a cross from the no 4 for Margate fell to the no 14 but miskicked in front of goal. Then Beach was put through but lobbed over the bar. For Cray Ashdown shot wide of the left post and for Margate the no 11 poked wide from Beach’s cross.
HT: 2-1
The second half began much like the first with Cray starting well and in the 48th minute made it 3-1 when Sharp’s ball forward found Gregory who went through down the right and fired in a crisp finish wide of the keeper and into the net.
This was followed by Main setting up Gregory for a shot held at the near post but Margate came close to pulling one back when Beach down the right went round Sharp but shot across goal.
Then Sharp excelled herself with a great double save first to deny the no 14 and then following up from Beach held on the line.
In the 65th minute Jackson had to go off after a spell of treatment with what appeared to be a knee or ankle injury and from all the club we wish Katie well and hopefully will return soon when she is ready.
Cray still looked likely to score and from a corner down the left Ellie Cole’s cross was met by Kulishko’s header which was turned behind by the keeper for another corner.
The game kept producing chances, for Margate the no 14 shot over while for Cray, Hannah Gilmour’s cross was volleyed wide by Ashdown and the 14 volleyed over for Margate.
In the 73rd minute Margate pulled another goal back when Beach was played through and her first shot was bravely blocked by Sharp but following up tucked home the rebound.
The game was now on a knife edge and in the 83rd minute Margate completed the comeback when a ball was played through to Beach down the left who held off Gilmour to fire in at the near post.
There was still time for more drama and Hannah Atkins saw a shot held down the right and there was controversy in the third minute of stoppage time when a ball was played through to Atkins but the flag went up and play was brought back for a foul and a free kick for Cray. From this Blanche was sent off for dissent
Cray came close to claiming the three points when Atkins made a run in the box and set up Danielle Smith whose shot was deflected for a corner. Then from Cole’s left wing corner into the box the ball fell for Kulishko but her shot was turned round the left post by the keeper.
The last chance fell to Margate and the no 11 who saw a shot held but in the end finished 3-3 and another fine afternoon’s entertainment.
The point means Cray are 5th in the table on 13 points, six behind the leaders London Road but have played three games less and still have the best goal-difference in the league.
Despite the disappointment of missing out on three points, credit must be given to Margate who looked better than their position of 7th and kept on going after a ropey start.
For Cray there are still plenty of positives. They have settled in the Premier Division very quickly and certainly know where the goal is and play with a refreshing honesty and are a real credit to Cray Wanderers.
The Wands are at home next Sunday on Remembrance weekend vs 6th placed Tunbridge Wells Foresters and is likely to be another great game to watch. Kick off 4.30 pm.
Cray Wanderers: Sam Sharp, Hannah Gilmour, Megan Webster, Ellie Cole, Millie Main (Grace Dodds, 76), Annemarie Blanche, Olivia Gregory (Kiera Syms, 70), Hrystyna Kulishko, Chloe Ashdown (Danielle Smith, 76), Katie Jackson (Hannah Atkins, 65), Jessica Pooley (Okasia Brown, 55)
Sent Off: Blanche 90+3
Booked: Pooley 40
