Merit Kent U14s Girls Cup Final: 7/4/24 – Gallagher Stadium, Maidstone
Cray Wanderers 2
Boys 37, Nwokedi 59
Foots Cray Lions 1
Compton 10
MATCH REPORT KINDLY PROVIDED BY DEREK PULLMAN
Make no mistake about it, this was a proper cup final. Hard fought, close, tense and with two red cards handed out in added time. Cray Wanderers were hot favourites and dominated throughout. To their credit Foots Cray came ready for the task and never gave up. CWFC’s free scoring forwards found themselves confronted by a massed defence while their defence had to deal with speedy counter attacks- which they did admirably.
However it was Foots Cray who scored first on ten minutes. The ball broke kindly to Lily Compton on the edge of the penalty area and her well placed shot flew just inside the post. Cray Wanderers probed continuously with Chloe Boys and Lola Baxter catching the eye with clever dribbles and passing. But shots on goal were at a premium so half time arrived with Foots Cray still in the lead.
Just over a minute into the second half scores were level when another neat passing move saw Heidi Whatton’ shot from 18 yards fumbled in by the keeper. The Wands pressed hard but resolute defending and wayward finishing foiled them. The usually prolific Chidemma Nwokedi endured a frustrating day. Finally, with fifteen minutes left, a precise pass from Faye Miller freed her and she drove into the box to score with an unstoppable shot.
Cray Wanderers continued to press but Foots Cray were still resolute and the keeper redeemed herself with a fine one on one save from Boys. At the final whistle there was no doubt that the better team had won and not even an unsightly scuffle from which one player from each side had to be sent off could spoil a game from which all players take great credit.
CWFC squad: Marie Pitt, Jamelia Murki-Smith, Sofia Stanton, Frankley Davis, Ellie Harkin(c), Faye Miller, Moyfiyinfoluwa Adepoju, Chloe Boys, Chidemma Nwokedi, Heidi Whatton, Rayne Bryan, Izzy Pantony, Maddie Waite, Isabella Fehy, Arianna Zak, Daisy Jarrett, Lola Baxter.
Match Report – SCEWFL Division One West – 7/4/24
Crayford Arrows 1 (Botten 83)
Cray Wanderers 4 (Chenery 7, Atkins 29, 54, Main 46)
Cray Wanderers moved three points clear at the top of the SCEWFL Division One West after victory on a breezy afternoon at Crayford Arrows. The Wands also remain unbeaten in the league with three more matches to play.
The Wands move on to 37 points, three clear of Petts Wood and six clear of Tonbridge Angels who the Wands meet next Sunday at Flamingo Park, 2 pm Ko having both played 13 out of 16 games to play.
Cray started the game on the front foot and Millie Main volleyed over in the second minute, then four minutes later, Louise Chenery down the right saw her fierce shot pushed out by keeper Lauren Montgomery. A minute later, Cray took the lead when from a throw in down the left the ball was worked into the area and Chenery did well to get to the ball and slot under Montgomery and into the net.
Cray came close to a second through Main who fired across goal and wide down the right but in the 29th minute did score again when Hannah Atkins from inside the area tucked away a composed finish.
The second half began with Cray starting like a house on fire and made it 3-0 a minute after half time when down the right Hrystyna Kulishko put over a tempting cross which Main got to turn the ball into the net.
In the 54th minute it was 4-0 when Main was the provider down the right and her near post cross was turned in for her second of the afternoon by Atkins.
Cray looked to add to the scoresheet and Atkins saw a shot blocked and Emily Symonds fired wide and twice Main down the right saw efforts go over the top, Symonds shot over and Main’s effort was blocked.
Crayford Arrows kept on going and Ella Jarvis shot over and then in the 83rd minute pulled a goal back when Hannah Botten sent a dinked effort over Sam Sharp and into the net.
Cray though had done enough over the game to pick up the necessary points and next Sunday versus Tonbridge Angels promises to be huge.
Team: Sam Sharp, Okasia Brown, Lauren Henry, Claire Goldsmith, Danielle Smith, Hannah Gilmour, Louise Chenery, Millie Main, Hrystyna Kulishko, Hannath Atkins, Chloe Ashdown; Annemarie Blanche, Eve Sales, Charlotte Knipe, Grace Dodds, Emily Symonds.
Crayford Arrows: Lauren Montgomery, Brittani Rumble, Vic Ryder, Lisa Donaldson, Lara Botten, Erin Shelbourne, Maddie Tedder, Ellia Jarvis, Hannah Botten, Charlotte Rayiru, Kirsty Cameron; Sasha Davis
Referee: James Grimley
