Women and GirlsKent hampered in opening game
Monday, 22 October 2007.
Kent found themselves up against a very organized Hampshire side in the opening game of the Home Counties League.
With nine players from the high flying Portsmouth Ladies side Hampshire swept into a three goal lead within 18 first half minutes.
The first goal came from a through ball by Southampton winger, Krystal Whyte whose pass split the Kent defence to find Zoe Nash who fired pass Sarah Hardy in the Kent Goal.
Three minutes later Lizzie Laws picked up a ball some 30 yards out and her shot took a wicked deflected off Zoe Nash and wrong footed Hardy.
With Hampshire on top Leeta Rutherford played through the middle to Kirsty McKee and although her first shot hit the foot of the post, it rebounded nicely for her to make it 3-0.
Kent kept pushing for a route back into the game when Jade McDermott broke clear of the Hampshire defence to see the onrushing visiting keeper Roxanne Roberts, adjudged to have handled ouside the box. The referee awarded a free kick but did not punish the Hampshire stopper further.
Kent started the second half in a much more attacking mood and could have scored three times in a ten minute spell. Kelly Philpot sent a free header wide and within a minute the Hants keeper had to beat the ball off the line twice from efforts by Mel Bishop. The away team Keeper continued to impress keeping out a certain goal from a cross from McDermott midway through the second half.
Hampshire recovered from the Kent onslaught and play switched quickly to the other end where Zoe Nash completed her hat trick in the 57th minute, when completely unmarked following a great ball from Lawes.
Philpott and Bishop created a couple more chances for the home team with no joy.
Kent went five down in the 70th minute after Nash laid on a simple chance for McKee to score her second.
The sixth goal soon followed when Player of the Match Nash found Whyte in the six yard box and her effort gave the keeper no chance.
With time almost up Rutherford found the bottom corner of the net from 25 yards out to make it 7-0 but Kent replied in added time with a consolation goal from Kelly Philpott.
Kent Team Sarah Hardy (Canterbury), Tamar Upton (Ebbsfleet), Rebecca Pattenden (Ebbsfleet), Hannah Chambers (Ebbsfleet), Vicky Moore (Crystal Palace), Emily Wells (Ebbsfleet), Tracey Duxbury (Westham), Chelsea Fowler (Westham), Kelly Philpott (Ebbsfleet), Mel Bishop (Ebbsfleet), Jade Mcdermott (Ebbsfleet). Subs Harriett Hill (Ebbsfleet), Debbie Blackmore (Canterbury), Debbie Burgess (Canterbury), Donna Harris (Gillingham), Natasha Bartlett (Gillingham)