Maidstone United vs Cray Wanderers Women
Match Report – SECWFL Premier – 6/10/24
Maidstone United 1
Ascott
Cray Wanderers 2
Gregory 28, Cole 45
Match report kindly provided by Claire Willecombe
In a highly anticipated match Cray came out on top in what was a very good team performance albeit a nervy end!
In the first 10 minutes both teams spent time sussing each other out but it was Cray with the first chance of the game Katie Jackson latching on to a ball over the top and shooting just wide.
Cray then picked up from here gaining momentum with some lovely possession based passing, with Syms, Main and Jackson combining,winning a corner which Jackson duly delivered to the back post finding Blanche whose shot went to the Stones keeper Reece.
It would be Maidstone’s turn to attack soon after,with Whites shot going wide of the Cray goal.
The game then went into a little chaotic phase ,with neither side creating any chances and some pinball passing.
Maidstone then went on the attack again on 20 minutes, a good long ball over the top nearly latched on to by Ascott but Goldsmith put in a brave last ditch tackle to stop the ball being struck at Cox.
Cray then won another corner after some more good play by Gregory,Cole and Blanche, freeing Kulishko for a shot,which was saved well by Reece. The corner drifted well over the top and Maidstone cleared for a throw-in.
Cray were then perhaps unfortunate as Gilmour received the ball from the throw-in, hit a long pass over the top for Jackson to latch onto but she was deemed offside,a very close call.
On the 28th minute Cray broke the deadlock, a long ball by Cox touched down by Syms,passed back to Gilmour who hit a long pass on the right hand side,Jackson determined to get to it crossed it from the byline,with Kulishkos touch just taking it past Reece in goal,bobbling past the stones defender with Gregory well placed to smash it into the goal,1-0 to the wands!
Cray should have made it 2-0 ten minutes later, Cole finding herself free in the box from a Jackson corner but just heading over the bar.
Cray had a few more chances with Gilmour and Main taking long shots but Cole would make up for her earlier miss on the stroke of half time, a throw in by Cole to Webster who played the 1-2 back to Cole, a fine cross-shot looked to be stopped by Reece but it slipped through her hands and into the net to make it 2-0.
HT: 0-2
The second half started much the same way as it has for the Wands in recent games. A drop in performance slightly allowed Maidstone to have the better of the chances but they couldn’t convert them.
Gregory produced some fine play down the left hand side releasing Kulishko whose shot was blocked and the ball falling to Blanche who couldn’t quite get the ball out of the net.
The game started to seem rushed with some ping pong passing from both teams and rushed shots making it a frenzy for a spell of around 10 minutes but Cray created another chance on 60 minutes with the ball being cleared well by Maidstone and allowing Culpitt to have a long distance shot which just went over the bar.
Cray then gave away a free kick which the Stones took quickly, the Wands still setting up their positions and not picking up Ascott who headed in from a few yards out, 2-1.
Maidstone had the ball in the back of the net again a few minutes later but rightly ruled out for offside.
In a nervy final 15 minutes there were a few chances from both sides but all in all the Wands kept the ball better with Reece in goal for the Stones making some good brave decisions to deny Oldfield, Gregory, Jackson and Main.
Relief at the final whistle, a game in which Cray played better again first half but again showed grit and determination in the second half to get the three points.
Cray: Jessica Cox, Hannah Gilmour, Claire Goldsmith, Megan Webster, Ellie Cole, Millie Main, Kiera Syms, Annemarie Blanche, Olivia Gregory, Katie Jackson, Hrystyna Kulishko: Subs: Grace Dodds, Vittoria D’urso, Louise Chenery, Chloe Ashdown, Jessica Oldfield.
Maidstone: Stevie Reece, Till Rowsell, Lauren Bullen, Jasmine Etheridge, Erin Fox, Annie White, Kady Wilkinson, Georgia Culpitt, Kylie Manktelow, Aimee Ascott, Sarah White: Subs: Freya Boorman, Hazel Bailey, Charlotte Alner, Maddie Dale, Beth Taylor.
Referee: Dave Hooker
