Cray Wanderers Women vs Tonbridge Angels Women
SCEWFL Premier – Sunday 8th September
Cray Wanderers 3
Jackson 24, 83, Kulishko 61
Tonbridge Angels 1
Churchill 27 pen
Cray Wanderers began the SCEWFL Premier Division season in style with a champions performance to beat Tonbridge Angels in a battle of the two promoted side from the West Division with an excellent second half display.
The Angels got off to a positive start but it was Cray who took the lead in the 24th minute through Katie Jackson who is in a rich vein of form. However, Tonbridge levelled three minutes later with an Aimee Churchill penalty. The game was played with intensity and quality and despite a downpour in the second half, Cray began to dominate and Hrystyna Kulishko swept Cray in from just after the hour and seven minutes from time, Jackson lofted home her second and her fifth of the season for a class piece of finishing.
Last season’s league games were dramatic with a 2-2 draw at Tonbridge after Cray were two nil down but the Angels won the corresponding game at Flamingo Park in April, 4-3 after being 3-1 down late in the game. So there was plenty at stake as the two teams kicked off their league season.
Tonbridge started the match well and came close in the 2nd minute when Hope Mumford pass put Aimee Churchill through on goal but her shot was held by Sam Sharp.
Then, Hermione Dorsett played a ball over the top for Grace Mayhead down the right of the area and her shot was again saved by Sharp.
Cray though were playing well and Millie Main saw a shot from outside the area which was pushed out well by Ashleigh Rhodes.
However, Tonbridge came close when Mumford inside the area set up Mayhead whose shot was tipped onto the crossbar by Sharp and following up Mumford was flagged offside.
For Cray, Katie Jackson’s cross from a left wing corner came to Hrystyna Kulishko but her shot was blocked. Then from another left wing corner, Jackson’s excellent ball into the box was headed off the line and over by Alice Grandpierre for a corner. Meanwhile, for Tonbridge, Churchill cut inside from the right and hit a shot which was saved by Sharp at the right post.
Cray though took the lead in the 24th minute when a ball forward was helped on by Hannah Atkins and breaking into the area Jackson made no mistake with a well placed shot wide of Rhodes and into the net.
The lead however lasted only three minutes when a penalty was awarded following a corner into the area and a handball was given from a close range shot. From the spot, Churchill scored to make it 1-1.
Before half time, Jackson made a great run cutting inside from the right and her shot on target was well held and also another low shot held. At the break the game was well balanced at 1-1 and about right on the balance of play.
HT: 1-1
The second half began with steady rain eclipsed by sunshine, a mini hail storm and a dual rainbow to add to the colour of the occasion.
Cray began the second half well and Keira Syms down the right hit a low shot which was held by Rhodes. Then, Olivia Gregory, who scored two superb goals in the corresponding game last season found Jackson who turned on the edge of the area and saw her shot held.
The Wands were beginning to get well on top and Jackson curled a shot wide and then down the right put over a cross met by the head of Kulishko but was pushed away well by Rhodes.
However, two minutes later Cray were ahead when the ball was worked down the right and a ball across fell to Kulishko who smashed the ball into the net. However, there was a wait as the flag was raised for offside but after consultation with the referee the goal was given.
Tonbridge looked to get back into the game but Cray were defending superbly with Lauren Henry, Vittoria D’Urso, Megan Webster and Ellie Cole outstanding and with Millie Main in great form.
In the 83rd minute there was daylight between the teams when Cray scored a third when Main cleared a dangeround Angels attack and the ball came to Chenery who played a terrific ball through to Jackson down the right and with Rhodes committed off her line, lofted the ball into the net for a great goal and similar to her third goal in the FA Cup last week.
Before the end for Cray, Hannah Gilmour shot over and Louise Chenery saw a shot held by Rhodes at the second attempt. Then Gilmour’s ball fell to Jackson and her shot was saved.
There was a great moment when in the dying minutes, Claire Goldsmith who had been out of action since last March through injury came on in the back four and completed a great afternoon for Cray.
Tonbridge looked to get back into the game but unlike the last meeting couldn’t turn the game around and Cray saw out the remaining minutes to win 3-1 and get the season off to a great start.
Next Sunday, Cray head to Tunbridge Wells Foresters who won 5-2 at Margate, 3 pm ko but have laid down their marker for the start of the season and make no mistake this was an excellent Wands performance in a fine match.
Cray Wanderers: Sam Sharp, Lauren Henry, Vittoria D’Urso, Megan Webster, Ellie Cole, Millie Main, Kiera Syms, Chloe Ashdown, Hrystyna Kulishko, Hannah Atkins, Katie Jackson: Subs: Claire Goldsmith, Louise Chenery, Olivia Gregory, Hannah Gilmour, Emily Symonds
Tonbridge Angels: Ashleigh Rhodes, Jade Folkard, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Lucy Harrington, Aimee Churchill, Hope Mumford, Hermione Dorsett, Alice Grandpierre, Claudia Lane, Freya Jones, Grace Mayhead: Subs: Julia Smolarek, Megan Gill, Holly MacLaren, Grace Nicholson, Amelia Cooper
Referee: Ashley Rodi
