Kings Hill Women v Cray Wanderers Women
South East Counties Women’s Football League Premier Division – 16/3/25
Report – Charlie Bradford
Kings Hill Women 1
Rodriguez pen
Cray Wanderers Women 6
Ashdown 24, Symonds 29
Main 49, 52, Kulishko 51, Pooley 77
With the title out of reach, second is the best the Wands Women can achieve this season and they came into today in fifth, five points off second but with four games in hand over second placed Maidstone United.
Kings Hill meanwhile came into the game bottom of the table, four points off safety but with two games in hand, so they desperately needed points.
There was only one thing to do for the Wands Women – go all out for second place in the league and consolidate last season’s Division One West title with a second place finish in the league above – no mean feat for a team which is only in its second season of existence.
The girls therefore had to get their shirts sweaty this afternoon and well, quite frankly, where do I start with a game that was beyond mayhem?!
Well bottom of the table Kings Hill actually had the first chance in the game – Freya Boxer having a 25 yard shot finish in the right side netting.
After that, as the score line suggests, the game was one sided with Cray opening the scoring in the 24th minute when a ball in from a free kick by Ellie Cole caused confusion and Kings Hill’s mature goalkeeper Helen Marsh did not deal with it and Chloe Ashdown was on hand to bundle home.
Five minutes later and it was 2-0 to Cray when Cray’s Emily Symonds had a dig from 25 yards and Helen Marsh came to punch the ball away but was later than a 51 bus as she missed the ball completely and the ball ended up in the back of the net!
Now at this point Ellie Cole had to be subbed off injured for Cray when she got caught in the face (more on that in due course) setting a precedent for a niggly game in which Cray had a couple more opportunities in the first half including Emily Symonds shooting at Helen Marsh from the edge of the box before Chloe Ashdown flicked a ball from the right past the left post.
HT: 0-2.
The second half was only four minutes old when Cray made it 3-0 – Millie Main controlling a ball from the right and finishing in the bottom right corner.
Two minutes later and it was 4-0 to Cray when a shot from 20 yards flew into the top right corner from Hrystyna Kulishko.
A minute later Cray completed a nap hand when Millie Main managed to find some room at the top of the box to slot into the bottom left corner.
Cray were desperately unlucky not to add a sixth with both Emily Symonds and then Jessica Pooley having efforts crack off the crossbar.
Then came the chaos! In what can only be described as a loss of one’s head, Kings Hill’s Freya Boxer was more like Freya Wrestler, rugby tackling Cray’s Kiera Syms to the ground in the most obvious red card referee Connor Wood will give all season!
However, five minutes later, it was 10 a piece when Cray goalkeeper Samantha Sharp mis-controlled the ball in her box before rugby tackling Kings Hill’s Megan Kemp to the ground for another stone wall red card and a penalty.
Up stepped Millie Main to take the gloves for Cray and Izzy Rodriguez to take the penalty for Kings Hill – a penalty which she tucked into the top right.
Cue more bizarreness in the Cray goal. You know I said about Ellie Cole going off injured in the first half?! Well in that level of women’s football there are roll on, roll of subs and so Millie Main went back outfield and Ellie Cole went in goal with another Cray player going off! So three goalkeepers in one game for the same club – possibly a groundhopping first for myself?!
Anyway the drama was far from over as Jessica Pooley restored a five goal lead for Cray when she headed home a cross from the left in the 77th minute.
Two minutes from time all hell broke loose as a huge kerfuffle occurred when Kings Hill’s Chloe Love certainly did not show any Love to Cray’s Emily Symonds as the two scrapped with fisticuffs which saw the pair sent off which, in my slightly biased eyes anyway, seemed harsh on Symonds who simply was trying to stand her ground whilst Love had steam coming out of her ears and looked willing to fight anyone…!
All the nonsensical fighting rather overshadowed an impressive Cray victory in which Cray keep their hopes of a top two finish alive.
FT: 1-6.
Team: Sam Sharp, Lauren Henry, Vittoria D’Urso, Megan Webster, Ellie Cole, Emily Symonds, Hrytyna Kulishko, Keira Syms, Ellie Rivers,
Chloe Ashdown, Mille Main: Hannah Gilmour, Annemarie Blanche, Olivia Gregory, Jess Pooley
Cray Wanderers U15s Girls v Hashtag United Girls – London FA Cup Final – 16/3/25
Cray Wanderers U15s 2
Miller 82, McPherson 92
Hashtag United U15s 0
AFTER EXTRA TIME
Cray Wanderers U15s Girls quest for a treble of silverware this season goes on as Danny Stanton’s side added the London FA Cup to trophies won in the past couple of seasons after victory against Hashtag United after extra time at Barking FC.
The Wands after a bright start from Hashtag United generally had the better of the game, creating the clearer openings but two good defences and keepers gave the match a rare goalless result after 80 minutes play. However barely a couple of minutes into extra time, Cray’s class told and from a corner down the right the ball played into the area was headed goalwards by Faye Miller and although cleared off the line the ball was behind and the deadlock was broken.
Two minutes into the second half of extra time, Cray added a second and a deserved goal for player of the match Myng McPherson following up a saved shot and an epic battle was decided.
Cray had advanced past Balham, Hoo FC and Impact FC to advance to the final while Hashtag United made it through Broomswick, Ebbsfleet United and Charlton Athletic to reach the final.
Hashtag began the game on the front foot and came close to scoring early on when Annie Holbrook look to go through but her shot on target was saved by Maisie Pitt.
Cray though were very much in the game and Myng McPherson fired a shot wide of the right post and a cross from a corner was glanced just past the left post.
The half was very competitive with Hashtag playing well and Olivia-Mai Durrant saw a shot held while for Cray, Lola Baxter from a free kick saw her shot claimed by the excellent Chloe Barwick in the United goal.
Lexie Benns shot wide for Hashtag but before half time though Cray were getting a grip on the game and Libby Keeler saw a shot held and a couple of minutes later turned inside the box and again tested Barwick with a low shot.
The lively McPherson did well to set up Chloe Boys for a shot that was saved but Cray came closest before the break when McPherson down the left of the area broke close to the byline but the angle was narrowing and hit the goal frame and behind.
HT: 0-0
Cray began the second half carrying on where they left off and came desperately close to scoring right after half time when from a corner down the right the ball was headed out to Mofi Adepoju whose first time volley was pushed onto the bar and over spectacularly by Barwick and over for a corner.
The Wands continued to threaten and McPherson put over a cross from the right out to Baxter but the ball wouldn’t quite sit up for her but got in a shot which went over the top.
Then from a corner the ball came to McPherson who from outside the area hit a hooked shot which rattled the bar and over.
Hashtag were hanging in the game but not threatening too much but Cray had to be alert and defended superbly.
Towards the end of the game Adrianna Zak shot wide, McPherson saw a shot deflected for a corner from which Rosa Brin headed wide.
Finally for the half and the game heading for extra time, Izzy Pantony’s cross was headed wide by Faye Miller.
FT: 0-0
It was probably justice that the game should have gone to an extra twenty minutes as would have been hard on any side to lose late in the game.
Cray though took the lead two minutes into the first period of extra time when from a corner down the right the ball was played perfectly into the six yard box where Faye Miller got a glance to the ball and although cleared off the line the ball was adjudged to have crossed the line with the follow up going into the net.
Cray continued to be on top for the rest of the half but with Hashtag tiring the Wands added a second again two minutes into the second half of extra time when down the right Adrianna Zak cut into the area and saw her shot well saved by Barwick but following up at the second attempt McPherson notched the goal her performance deserved and the game was practically up.
Cray had had to show patience and desire to win the game but credit to Hashtag United who were a credit to their management, parents and fans and it was a terrific final one which perhaps would put some adult men and women’s finals to shame.
The Wands are also in the Semi Finals of the JPL Cup vs Hartlands United on 29th March and the Final of the Kent County Cup on 6th April vs Foots Cray Lions at Maidstone United but part one of the treble completed after a titanic battle.
The Girls play Watford U15s in the JPL Girls League on Saturday morning, 10 am at Flamingo Park.
Cray Wanderers: Maisie Pitt, Frankie Davis, Ellie Harkin, Jamelia Smith, Faye Miller, Chloe Boys, Mofi Adepoju, Lola Baxter, Myng McPherson, Libby Keeler, Ava Thompson: Izzy Pantony, Izzy Pamy, Maddie Waite, Ruby Foames, Onyi Onuzubiuke, Adrianna Zak, Rosa Brin
Hashtag United: Chloe Barwick, Jessica Page, Daisy O’Connor, Ellie Baker, Dolly Bennett, Lexie Benns, Jasmine Addington, Olivia-Mai Durrant, Poppy Baalham, Lilly-May Kehler, Annie Holbrook: Ava Little, Isabel Collins, Amelie Ayers, Lyla Rooney, Bella Pleasance, Charlotte Hooper
Bromley U16s vs Cray Wanderers U16s
Kent Youth League Cup Semi-Final – 16/3/25
Bromley U16s KYL 0
Cray Wanderers U16s KYL 1
Anderson-Green 48
Cray Wanderers U16s hopes of a league and cup double remain intact Brett Cheeseman’s side advanced to the Final of the Kent Youth League Cup Final after an excellent performance earned a 1-0 win at Bromley with Cameron Anderson-Green’s early second half goal proving decisive. Cray will now play the winners of the Ebbsfleet United or Welling United semi-final.
Cray who are second in the Kent Youth League North, two points behinds Maidstone United had advanced to the Semi-Finals in some style with wins against Folkestone Invicta, Glebe, Herne Bay (A) and a fine 2-1 win at home to Ramsgate in the Quarter-Final. Bromley had reached the Semi-Final with wins against Rochester City, Kent United, Dover and on penalties past Corinthian in the Quarter-Final.
On a fine and sunny Sunday morning at the terrific 3G facilities at Hayes Lane, this was a proper cup semi-final, competitive and a game where you knew from the outset that this wasn’t going to be walk in the park for either team and was an excellent tie.
Cray perhaps surprisingly for an away side took the game to Bromley after a cagey opening and what chances came in the first half were predominately all from the Wands.
The Wands threatened down the right and Finn Garraty saw a shot deflected through to the Bromley keeper. Then Jake Fowler down the left cut inside and fired a shot wide of the right post.
Cray came closest when from a corner Freddie Newman’s effort was cleared off the line and Garraty’s follow up was blocked by the no 4.
Then Tommy O’Donnell down the left saw a near post shot pushed out well by the Bromley keeper.
The half became more competitive after that and certainly Wands midfielder Seb Amatt was the target of some robust Bromley tackling and led to a couple of bookings for the home side.
Aside from a cross-shot out on the left which was claimed by George Clark there were no real scares at the Wands end and a half time it looked like a tie where one goal may win it.
HT: 0-0
The second half began with Cray close twice in opening exchanges as once again Cray set the pace and the home keeper had to be alert to save a header at the left post and Cray won a couple of corners.
From the second of these, Cray took the lead when down the right, O’Donnell’s ball to the far post was headed into the net by Cameron Anderson-Green to cap off a well worked set-piece.
From here Bromley had to come more into the game and the no 14 down the left added guile and pace and came close but his near post shot was pushed out well by George Clark who was a nominated substitute for the first team at Carshalton on Saturday. Shortly after the no 14 cut inside and saw another effort held.
To be fair, Cray once they went ahead defended superbly with Ashton Bignell at the back outstanding and the game management was gold standard with Cray counter attacking cleverly but not over committing.
Anderson-Green down the right, almost like a Tyrone Sterling for fans of a certain vintage was constantly involved and for Cray Charlie England saw a shot go wide of goal.
There was a slight scare when Bromley were awarded a very soft free kick in the last minute just outside the area but the no 11 curled his shot over. Then the no 3 whipped a shot well past the post and Cray held out for a fine win and keep the hopes of a double very much on track.
This is a very good side with some potential U18s, U23s and first teamers of the future and play Bromley again on Sunday 30th March in the Kent Youth League North.
Team: George Clark, Freddie Newman, Seb Amatt, Tommy O’Donnell, Jack Denton, Ashton Bignell (Capt.), Finn Garraty, Charlie England, Harley Clark, Frankie Chipping, Jake Fowler: Johnny Gwynne, Frankie Cheesman, George Hardy, Daniel Dilley, Cameron Anderson-Green
