Cray Wanderers Women vs Sevenoaks Town Women
SECWFL League Cup 2nd Round – Sunday 1st December – Match Report
Cray Wanderers Women 1
Cole 22 pen
Sevenoaks Town Women 3
Cleary 12, 30, Donaldson-Shach 90+5
Cray Wanderers went down to defeat against SECWFL Premier League leaders Sevenoaks Town in an entertaining League Cup tie at Flamingo Park in a match which was still in the balance towards the end when Sevenoaks added a third goal.
The teams had met in the league on 13th October with Sevenoaks winning fairly comfortably but this was a much different match and although the visitors generally shaded it Cray played their part and gave a good performance.
The match began fairly even with Cray threatening down the left and Chloe Ashdown put a good ball across the box while at the other end Hannah Cleary headed wide.
From a free kick, Ellie Cole played a ball into the box which caused consternation in the area and Ashdown looked to get a touch towards goal but was claimed on the line by keeper Emily Orchin.
Sevenoaks though took the lead in the 12th minute when Cleary picked up the ball outside the area and lofted a shot from 20 yards which went over the outstretched hand of Sam Sharp and into the net.
Sevenoaks then had a good spell of pressure winning corners and then a Zoe Parsons cross came to Cleary and her shot was blocked for a corner. Then from another corner, Nancy Housego nudged the ball towards goal and was cleared off the line.
Cray got back into the game on 22 minutes when Emily Symonds played a good ball through to Hrystyna Kulishko down the right and from just inside the area was brought down by Orchin for a penalty. From the spot kick Cole made no mistake to make it 1-1.
The Wands had their tails up then and Hannah Atkins was put through on goal but Orchin made a good save with her legs and Cray forced a couple of corners.
Sevenoaks though went back in front in the 30th minute when down the right, Chloe Jardine found Cleary down the left of the area who scored with a tidy finish.
Before half time, for Cray, Atkins hit a shot which flew into the arms of Orchin and then Cole found Atkins who saw her shot deflected past the left post for a corner.
Then, Cleary for Sevenoaks saw a shot saved and Ashdown from distant also saw her effort held.
HT: 1-2
The second half lacked the goals of the first half but there was plenty of good defending with Sevenoaks perhaps having the edge.
For the visitors, Jardine set up Cleary who saw her shot held by Sam Sharp and for Cray, Ashdown down the left curled in a shot claimed by Orchin. Then Cole from 30 yards hit an effort into the arms of Orchin.
The game then went through a bit of a lull with Sevenoaks having an element of control but Cray were unlucky not to score in the 75th minute when Atkins down the right took the ball round Orchin and her shot on goal seemed to take an age to reach the line and was cleared by Olivia O’Rourke.
Then up the other end Jardine linked up well with Cleary and headed wide a cross from the right.
Before the end of the game Sevenoaks had an element of control and Cleary found Caroline Kemp who set up Jardine to score but was disallowed for offside.
With Cray pushing for a leveller to take the game to penalties, Sevenoaks caught the Wands in stoppage time when Jardine broke away, Cray looked to have stemmed the tide but with Sharp slightly out of position the ball came out to Anwen Donaldson-Shach who from outside the area placed a shot into the net at the right post to seal the win.
Cray were without the likes of Millie Main, Danielle Smith, Jess Pooley and the injured Katie Jackson and Claire Goldsmith so not at full strength but still gave the league leaders a good game and the Wands next return to league action at Parkwood Rangers looking to maintain a title challenge.
Cray Wanderers: Sam Sharp, Hannah Gilmour, Vittora D’Urso (Lauren Henry, 83), Megan Webster, Ellie Cole, Emily Symonds, Louise Chenery (Kiera Syms, 80), Ellie Hyner (Annemarie Blanche, 55), Chloe Ashdown (Ellie Rivers, 60), Hannah Atkins, Hrystyna Kulishko
Sevenoaks: Emily Orchin, Natalie Graves, Abi Washington, Charlotte Bennett (Anwen Donaldson-Shach, 64), Nancy Housego, Zoe Parsons, Lauren Parsons (Caroline Kemp, 70), Olivia O’Rourke, Hannah Cleary, Ruth Goode, Chloe Jardine: Sub: Angelika Gomolka
Referee: Alexis Stacchini
