Aylesford Ladies Reserves 3 Margate Ladies 4
Sunday 7th May 2023
South East Counties Women’s Football League Premier Division

A visit I’d been planning all season finally came into being as the season was drawing to a close. Aylesford were one of the first teams who followed me on Twitter where I’d spent some time chatting with them and finding out more about the club. They are a growing club and doing things the right way, building a solid base of boys and girls age groups to go with men’s and women’s teams, and more recently adding inclusivity for youngsters with disabilities to play football. Aylesford have this year added a new 3G pitch to the grass pitches they have available and really are a wonderful family and community based club.

This was to be my longest single day journey of the season and, leaving at 10 o’clock to get to the ground just after 2pm, it seemed to be a never ending one which stopped at virtually every station between Berkshire and Kent! After a scenic but brisk 20 minute walk from the station and a brief visit to an “interesting” pub, I’d reached the ground (after a couple of detours…thanks once more to Google Maps sending me into a cul-de-sac!).

Aylesford have a nice clubhouse with changing rooms, a nice little tea bar with a friendly and very welcoming couple serving teas & coffee, a small hall and a nice seated area outside. I did my customary wander around, had a good chat with the referee and picked up the team sheets, and also managed to grab a quick chat with Margate manager Steph Meek. As Margate were short handed for this match Steph had the unenviable task of trying to juggle being manager, pulling on her boots to play and captaining the side in this game. Definitely not an easy thing to do!

Margate brought a decent sized group of supporters with them including the choir from East Kent FC Under 10s who didn’t stop singing and encouraging all game! It’s always wonderful to see future generations of footballers enjoying a day out and getting involved.

So, onto the game. Margate were on top during the early stages and thought they’d scored an early opener when Paige Godden broke through and struck a fierce shot past Sheena Sedge into the bottom left corner only to find play pulled back for an offside which looked a tight decision.

It didn’t take Margate long to put that disappointment behind them and take the lead. Another defence splitting ball was picked up by Jessica-Jay Speller who, facing a one on one with Sedge, calmly placed the ball beyond the keeper and into the net. 0-1

Aylesford responded well and a through ball from Zara Chapman found the run of Hollie Reader but her effort cleared the crossbar. The hosts were level minutes later, a free kick was won on the right flank, Alex Ibaceta fired a long distance effort over the top of Lauren Montgomery in the Margate goal and into the roof of the net. 1-1

Aylesford were buoyed by this goal and went looking for a lead. First Zara Chapman found space outside the box and rifled a shot goalwards only to see it hit the back of her team mate and loop harmlessly wide, and in their next attack, Chapman again with a good strike from the edge of the area but it went straight into the arms of a well positioned Montgomery.

Margate were starting to look more dangerous especially down the wings but couldn’t carve out anything to worry Sedge. Ibaceta made a good run down the right flank for Aylesford and found Lucy Harrington in the box but she could only put her shot wide of the post under pressure from Annabelle Ashby.

The visitors regained the lead in the 26th minute when Harriet Chapman picked up the ball just inside the Aylesford half and made a superb driving run through to the edge of the area where she fired past Sedge. 1-2

Margate doubled their advantage 5 minutes later when a Chapman cross from the right was flicked on by a defender leaving Steph Meek and Jessica-Jay Speller all alone at the far post where the latter stroked the ball past Sedge. 1-3

Aylesford had a chance to reduce the deficit just before the break following more good work by Ibaceta to win the ball back and pick out Gemma Sullivan but her first time shot was saved well by Montgomery.
H-T: Aylesford Reserves 1 Margate 3

The second half started with Aylesford searching for a way back into the game and did just that a minute after the restart, the impressive Zara Chapman running with the ball down the left flank before putting in a lovely cross which Gemma Sullivan touched into the net. 2-3

Margate were looking to exploit the flanks with pace and energy from Alicia Conabeer and Rebecca Niblett impressing down the right and Speller still looking dangerous down the left flank. The visitors won a corner on the left which Niblett lifted towards the penalty spot where it was headed on but Chapman was there to block in the 6 yard box and clear.

Annabelle Ashby played a delicious ball down the left for Speller to run onto but this time she was beaten by a classy piece of covering defence by Emma Cahill. Margate restored their two goal lead in the 72nd minute, Rebecca Niblett running into the area and playing a cross/shot into the area which took an unfortunate touch from Sheena Sedge and ended up in the Aylesford net. 2-4

Margate went hunting to kill the game off with Paige Godden winning the ball back well, she shaped to shoot but instead played in Niblett who fired the ball across the 6 yard box but the onrushing forwards just failed to get the all important touch. Aylesford nearly grabbed a goal back after more fine play from Chapman and a diagonal cross from the left but neither Sullivan or Reader managed to get on the end of it.

A lovely touch and first time pass from Niblett set Conabeer free on a lungbusting run down the right. She crossed from the byline into the area but Speller couldn’t get a clean strike in and the ball skewed wide of the post.

With two minutes left Aylesford did get a goal back. Chapman received the ball on the left corner of the area beat the defender and fired home at the near post. 3-4

Margate were left to survive a few nervous moments but they defended well and took the victory in a hard fought topsy turvy match which was a credit to both sides. Aylesford always seemed to be playing catch up and never quite made it but should be happy with their overall performance. Margate will be happy to pick up the three points despite missing six players, having no substitutes and having a couple of players carrying injuries throughout the game.
F-T: Aylesford 3 Margate 4

An entertaining match and a deserved win in the end for the visitors. So many possibles for my player of the match, the pace and direct running from Speller and Niblett, the quality from Ibaceta and Chapman for the home side, an impressive midfield performance from Lily Kemp who broke up countless Aylesford attacks, but my pick would go to Alicia Conabeer. Very good defensively and tireless running up and down the right flank supporting every attack.

Great to have a chat with Steph again after the game even though she was knackered after managing to put in a full 90 minutes! Enjoyed everything about the day and once again met some wonderful people, I’ll definitely be seeing both sides again next season. All that was left was the long journey back (thanks for the lift back to the station!) giving me plenty of time to go through the notes and plan my next game.

Wycombe Wanderers Women 1 Maidenhead United Women 0
Sunday 14th May 2023
Sponsors & Fans Appreciation Day Friendly

Another chance to visit the 1878 Stadium at Burnham wasn’t to be missed and, as it turned out, it was a lovely sunny and warm day, the first for quite a while! My train journey went swimmingly and I enjoyed a 30 minute walk in the sunshine from the station to the ground, meeting local legend and 1878 official food connoisseur Brin Jones along the way.

Once in the bar there was time for a catch up with Burnham chairman Paul Butler, a beer and another of their lovely hot dog baguettes before wandering into the ground. There I met up with several brilliant people I’ve come to know over the course of the season from both sides which was great, and I then decided I wouldn’t take any notes on the game, giving myself a rare treat of being able to watch a game without worrying I’d missed something while typing notes into the phone!

Wycombe, a division lower in the pyramid than their visitors, looked to have a strong team out while Maidenhead were missing three first teamers and had six triallists named in their squad.

It was a fairly even opening half with Rosie Wilmott-Joyce being the busier of the two goalkeepers making a couple of important saves. Indeed, Wycombe did have the ball in the Maidenhead net early on through Amy Leach but this was ruled out for offside. An interesting decision which certainly wouldn’t be the last of some bizarre decisions from the officials on the day.
H-T: Wycombe Wanderers 0 Maidenhead United 0

In the second half Wycombe pressed higher up the pitch which caused their visitors problems as they couldn’t get their usual passing game going. Wycombe were rewarded when they won a penalty which was dispatched nicely by Katie Riddington. They were given another minutes later in another of the mystifying decisions by the referee. This time Wilmott-Joyce guessed the right way and saved well to her right.

Maidenhead only really came into the game in the last 15 minutes, for the first time they managed to push Wycombe back but the hosts defence held strong and deservedly went on to lift the Sponsors Cup.
F-T: Wycombe Wanderers 1 Maidenhead United 0

Stand-outs for me were Bobby Lynch & Kara Howes for Wycombe while Simone O’Brien and one of the triallists caught the eye for Maidenhead. The visitors just couldn’t get going and never really looked like scoring over the 90 minutes, some of their disjointed performance could be explained by the new faces and missing players but you certainly couldn’t take anything away from a very good performance on the day from Wycombe. They look a good solid side and will hopefully be challenging for honours at the top end of the league next season.

Also lovely to meet up with Kara Howes, the Wycombe Women’s captain and subject of one of my portraits this year after the game!

Tilehurst Panthers 3 Eversley & California Reserves 2
Sunday 21st May 2023
Thames Valley Counties Women’s Football League – League Cup Final

This game is one I’d pencilled in to attend a good couple of months ago and it certainly didn’t disappoint! Firstly though I have to mention a quite incredible game which took place preceded it, the TVCWFL League Plate Final between Milton Keynes City and Shinfield Rangers. I only arrived at half time to find the scoreline was 4-1 to Milton Keynes. The second half was quite mad.

I was perched in the bar area at Arbour Park keeping one eye on the game and the other on the TV screen watching Ascot United in the FA Vase Final at Wembley. Shinfield Rangers, looking for an unlikely comeback, scored from a penalty early on to bring it back to 4-2, then a crazy lob from fully 30 yards made it 4-3, then just as Ascot were taking the lead at Wembley astonishingly Shinfield got another one to make it 4-4.

It was end to end and Shinfield, being roared on by a decent size following, then went ahead 5-4. They had a chance to put the game to bed when they were awarded another penalty for shirt pulling but this time the keeper saved it to keep the final alive. Shinfield did manage to see the game out for a stunning 5-4 win. Superb entertainment from both sides.

For this tie, Tilehurst Panthers were favourites, they were sitting second in the Division One table, a point behind Ascot United Reserves (I’m not sure when or if their final game against Ascot will be played) and winning the Berks & Bucks Cup, beating Wargrave in the final. Eversley & California had also enjoyed a wonderful season, taking the Division Three South title just the week previous, edging out Larkspur on the last day and scoring 109 goals in 20 league games.
Two in form teams indeed!

The game began with the favourites taking control of the early stages and they came close to taking the lead when Georgia Hayes, with her back to goal, turned her marker and fired a shot across the face of Suzana Traguedes’ goal which just whistled past the far post. At the other end Laura Comerford pounced on a loose ball and hit a shot inches wide of the near post although I think Maalani George in the Panthers goal had it covered.

In the 19th minute the Panthers took a deserved lead, they won a free kick in, what would be called short corner territory in hockey, Hayes lifted the ball into the box where it was headed out but fell back to Hayes who controlled, knocked the ball past the defender and rifled her shot into the roof of the net. 1-0.

Tilehurst continued to dominate with Leah Why’s pace and direct running a constant danger and they nearly made it two when Rhianna Langham tried to curl her shot into the top corner but it was just too high. Comerford was looking Eversley’s most dangerous player in the first half hour and worked hard to make herself enough space to get a shot away but it was too close to George and she managed to gather.

The Boars were coming back into the game and on the half hour mark were awarded a penalty when Lily May Varney was brought down just inside the box. Chloe Barton stepped up to take the spot kick but pulled it wide going for the left corner.

Ciara Joliffe picked up a loose ball on the left and played a great ball in to Comerford who hit a first time shot which was parried by Panthers keeper George falling backwards which she managed to gather at the second attempt. Back came Tilehurst and Deanna Cane picked up a bouncing through ball and thundered a shot goalwards but again it was a fraction too high. The Panthers took a one goal lead into the break following a good pulsating half.
H-T: Tilehurst Panthers 1 Eversley & California Reserves 0

Eversley came out showing much more purpose at the start of the second half, pushing their opponents back and levelled a minute after the restart. Joliffe again working hard down the right hand side, she knocked it back to Barton whose teasing cross was hammered into the bottom corner from the edge of the area by the impressive Comerford. Game on! 1-1

The Boars were now in full flow, Lauren Broadhurst did well to play in Varney who took it to the byline only to see Jacqueline Asamoah clear just as Broadhurst looked likely to score. Asamoah was having a great game, her defensive covering was a feature of this game and she looked a very good player.

Comerford again managed to make herself another chance out of nothing and hit a sliding shot from just inside the area which grazed the post. Mia Leonard hit a shot from distance as the Boars looked to take the lead but George again did enough to snuff out the danger at her near post.

It was all Eversley in the first fifteen minutes of the second half but Tilehurst gradually managed to get a foothold in the game, mostly coming from the impressive double act of Leah Why and Deanna Cane. Why brought a long ball down beautifully but mishit her shot under pressure with the ball rolling back harmlessly to Traguedes.

Why again made a good run down the right flank, cut in and hit a fierce effort towards the near post which Traguedes managed to get a hand on and pick up the loose ball. Eversley came back and once more some excellent play from Comerford down the left led to her firing a ball across the six yard box which Varney could only poke wide.

Varney made amends in the 72nd minute when she picked up a loose ball on the left corner of the box before cutting back inside and hitting a stunning curling strike into the top corner. 1-2

Back came Tilehurst once more and captain Rhianna Langham’s corner found it’s way to Cane who made no mistake, firing low from 10 yards to level the scores. 2-2

Lauren Broadhurst’s run down the right won Eversley a corner which was lobbed into a dangerous area by Rachel Stevens which was headed back at the far post to Broadhurst where she mishit her shot but George was still called upon to make a save low down. In the 85th minute Tilehurst retook the lead with a fine goal. Why made the most of a defensive mistake, running to the edge of the box before squaring the ball to Cane who again finished well, placing the ball across Traguedes and into the bottom corner. 3-2

Eversley threw everything at the Panthers as the time ticked away but just couldn’t find that all important equaliser. The closest they came was a good run from Katie Sayer, she flashed the ball across the six yard box and it was met by a stretching Barton but her effort skewed just wide of the post. Tilehurst managed to come through the last few nervy minutes to take the cup and add to their impressive trophy haul this season.
F-T: Tilehurst Panthers 3 Eversley & California Reserves 2

Tilehurst Panthers probably just about deserved the win today but were pushed all the way by the never say die attitude of this Eversley team. Stand out Panthers players for me were Georgia Hayes, Jacqueline Asamoah, Deanna Cane and Leah Why with the latter being my pick for player of the match. Asamoah looked a very assured defender and covering well many times during this match, a very good performance from her.

You couldn’t ask any more from the Eversley team and they definitely gave their coaches everything they had today. So many good performances all over the pitch but Laura Comerford had a superb game and would be my pick for them today but this was a total team performance against a team two divisions higher. Players I haven’t mentioned in the report also deserve some plaudits, Lucy Thompson was solid in defence and Megan Averill and Daisy Cooke both did well in midfield and certainly covered some yardage today!

A cracking game of football between two very good sides and this match was a great advert for women’s football. I’m already looking forward to catching up with both sides next season!